View source for Geography of Nicaragua

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Infobox country geography
| name               = Nicaragua
| map                = File:Envisat image of Central America ESA238704 (cropped).jpg
| continent          = [[North America]]
| region             = [[Central America]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|13|00|N|85|00|W|type:country}}
| area ranking       = 96th
| km area            = 130,370 
| percent land       = 92.04
| km coastline       = 910
| exclusive economic zone = {{convert|123,881|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| borders            = Total border: {{convert|1231|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| geographic center  =
| highest point      = [[Mogotón]] <br> {{convert|2,085|m}}
| lowest point       = [[Pacific Ocean]] <br> {{convert|0|m}}
| longest river      = [[Coco River]] <br> {{convert|750|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| largest lake       = [[Lake Nicaragua]] <br> {{convert|8,264|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}
[[File:Nicaragua_regions_map.png|thumb|right|280px|Regions of Nicaragua]]
[[Image:Nicaragua Topography.png|thumb|right|300px|Topography of Nicaragua]][[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_NIC_1991–2020.svg|thumb|300px|Nicaragua map of Köppen climate classification zones|alt=|left]]

'''[[Nicaragua]]''' (officially the '''Republic of Nicaragua''' {{langx|es|República de Nicaragua}} {{IPA|es|reˈpuβlika ðe nikaˈɾaɣwa||República_de_Nicaragua.ogg}}) is a country in [[Central America]], bordering both the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the North [[Pacific Ocean]], between [[Costa Rica]] and [[Honduras]]. Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America in square kilometers.

Nicaragua covers a total area of 130,370 square kilometers (119,990 square kilometers of which is land area) and contains a variety of climates and terrains.<ref name=":0">{{citation-attribution|1={{cite encyclopedia|title=Nicaragua: a country study|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/94021664/|last=Gilbert|first=Dennis|date=1994|editor-last=Merrill|editor-first=Tim|edition=3rd|pages=55–60|isbn=0-8444-0831-X|oclc=30623751|entry=Climate and terrain}} }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{citation-attribution|1={{Cite web|last=August 11, 2021|date=August 11, 2021|title=Nicaragua|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nicaragua/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812173053/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nicaragua/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2021|access-date=2021-08-13|website=[[The World Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]}} }}</ref> The country's physical geography divides it into three major zones: the Pacific lowlands, the wetter, cooler central highlands, and the Caribbean lowlands.<ref name=":0" />

==Natural regions==
[[Image:Nicaragua rel 97.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Shaded relief map of Nicaragua]]
[[Image:Nicaragua pol 97.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Political map of Nicaragua]]
[[Image:Nicaragua econ 1979.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Economic activity map of Nicaragua, 1979]]
[[Image:Nicaragua land 1979.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Land use map of Nicaragua, 1979]]
The [[natural region]]s of Nicaragua are the Pacific lowlands, central highlands, and Caribbean lowlands.

===Pacific lowlands===
The Pacific lowlands extend about 75 kilometers inland from the Pacific coast.<ref name=":0" /> Most of the area is flat, except for a line of young [[volcano]]es, many of which are still active, running between the [[Golfo de Fonseca]] and [[Lago de Nicaragua]].<ref name=":0" /> These peaks lie just west of a large crustal fracture or structural rift that forms a long, narrow depression passing southeast across the isthmus from the Golfo de Fonseca to the [[San Juan River (Nicaragua)|Río San Juan]].<ref name=":0" />

The rift is occupied in part by the largest freshwater lakes in Central America: [[Lake Managua|Lago de Managua]] (56 kilometers long and 24 kilometers wide) and Lago de Nicaragua (about 160 kilometers long and 75 kilometers wide).<ref name=":0" /> These two lakes are joined by the Río Tipitapa, which flows south into Lago de Nicaragua.<ref name=":0" /> Lago de Nicaragua in turn drains into the Río San Juan (the boundary between [[Nicaragua]] and [[Costa Rica]]), which flows through the southern part of the rift lowlands to the Caribbean Sea.<ref name=":0" />

The valley of the Río San Juan forms a natural passageway close to sea level across the Nicaraguan isthmus from the Caribbean Sea to Lago de Nicaragua and the rift.<ref name=":0" /> From the southwest edge of Lago de Nicaragua, it is only nineteen kilometers to the Pacific Ocean.<ref name=":0" /> This route was considered as a possible alternative to the [[Panama Canal]] at various times in the past.<ref name=":0" />

Surrounding the lakes and extending northwest of them along the rift valley to the Golfo de Fonseca are fertile lowland plains highly enriched with [[volcanic ash]] from nearby volcanoes.<ref name=":0" /> These lowlands are densely populated and well cultivated.<ref name=":0" /> The natural vegetation of the Pacific lowlands is [[Central American dry forests|dry forest]], but much of it has been converted to agriculture or pasture. More directly west of the lake region is a narrow line of ash-covered hills and volcanoes that separate the lakes from the Pacific Ocean.<ref name=":0" /> This line is highest in the central portion near the cities of León and [[Managua]].<ref name=":0" />

Because Western Nicaragua is located where two major [[tectonic plate]]s collide, it is subject to [[earthquake]]s and volcanic eruptions.<ref name=":0" /> Although periodic volcanic eruptions have caused agricultural damage from fumes and ash, earthquakes have been by far more destructive to life and property.<ref name=":0" /> Hundreds of shocks occur each year, some of which cause severe damage.<ref name=":0" /> The capital city of [[Managua]] was virtually destroyed in 1931 and again in 1972.<ref name=":0" />

===Central highlands===
The triangular area known as the central highlands lies northeast and east of the Pacific lowlands.<ref name=":0" /> These rugged mountains are composed of ridges 900 to 1,800 meters high and a [[Central American pine–oak forests|mixed forest of oak and pine]] alternating with deep valleys that drain primarily toward the [[Caribbean]].<ref name=":0" /> Very few significant streams flow west to the Pacific Ocean.<ref name=":0" /> Those that do are steep, short, and flow intermittently.<ref name=":0" />

The relatively dry western slopes of the central highlands, protected by the ridges of the highlands from the moist winds of the Caribbean, have drawn farmers from the Pacific region since colonial times.<ref name=":0" /> The eastern slopes of the highlands are covered with [[Central American montane forests|montane rain forests]] and are lightly populated with pioneer agriculturalists and small communities of indigenous people.<ref name=":0" />

===Caribbean lowlands===
The eastern Caribbean lowlands of Nicaragua form the extensive (occupying more than 50 percent of national territory) and still sparsely settled lowland area known as the Costa de Mosquitos ([[Miskito Coast]]).<ref name=":0" /> The Caribbean lowlands are sometimes considered synonymous with the former department of [[Zelaya (Nicaragua)|Zelaya]], which is now divided into the [[North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region]] (Región Autónoma de la Costa Caribe Norte, RACCN) and the [[South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region]] (Región Autónoma de la Costa Caribe Sur, RACCS) and constitutes about 45 percent of Nicaragua's territory.<ref name=":0" />

These lowlands are a hot, humid area that includes coastal plains, the eastern spurs of the central highlands, and the lower portion of the [[San Juan River (Nicaragua)|Río San Juan]] basin.<ref name=":0" /> The soil is generally leached and infertile.<ref name=":0" /> [[Miskito pine forests|Pine and palm savanna]]s predominate along the Caribbean coast as far south as the [[Laguna de Perlas]].<ref name=":0" /> There are extensive areas of tropical rain forest, including the [[Isthmian–Atlantic moist forests]] extending southwards from the Laguna de Perlas past the Río San Juan into Costa Rica, and the [[Central American Atlantic moist forests]] lying between the savannas and the central highlands, and along rivers through the savannas.<ref name=":0" />

Fertile soils are found only along the natural levees and narrow floodplains of the numerous rivers, including the Escondido, the Río Grande de Matagalpa, the [[Prinzapolka]], and the [[Rio Coco|Coco]], and along the many lesser streams that rise in the central highlands and cross the region en route to the complex of shallow [[bay]]s, [[lagoon]]s, and [[salt marsh]]es of the Caribbean coast.<ref name=":0" />

==Climate==
{{Further|Climate change in Nicaragua}}
Temperature varies little with the seasons in Nicaragua and is largely a function of elevation.<ref name=":0" /> The ''tierra caliente,'' or "hot land", is characteristic of the foothills and lowlands from sea level to about {{convert|750|m|ft|0|sp=us}} of elevation.<ref name=":0" /> Here, daytime temperatures average {{convert|30|to|33|°C}}, and night temperatures drop to {{convert|21|to|24|°C|°F|1}} most of the year.<ref name=":0" />

The ''tierra templada'', or "temperate land", is characteristic of most of the central highlands, where elevations range between {{convert|750|and|1600|m|ft|0|sp=us}}.<ref name=":0" /> Here, daytime temperatures are mild ({{convert|24|to|27|°C}}), and nights are cool ({{convert|15|to|21|°C}}).<ref name=":0" />

''Tierra fria'', the "cold land" at elevations above {{convert|1600|m|ft|0|sp=us}}, is found only on and near the highest peaks of the central highlands.<ref name=":0" /> Daytime averages in this region are {{convert|22|to|24|°C|°F|1}}, with nighttime lows below {{convert|15|°C}}.<ref name=":0" />

=== Rainfall ===
Rainfall varies greatly in Nicaragua.<ref name=":0" /> The Caribbean lowlands are the wettest section of Central America, receiving between {{convert|2500|and|6500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rain annually.<ref name=":0" /> The western slopes of the central highlands and the Pacific lowlands receive considerably less annual rainfall, being protected from moisture-laden Caribbean trade winds by the peaks of the central highlands.<ref name=":0" />

Mean annual precipitation for the rift valley and western slopes of the highlands ranges from {{convert|1000|to|1500|mm|in|1|sp=us}}.<ref name=":0" /> Rainfall is seasonal—May through October is the rainy season, and December through April is the driest period.<ref name=":0" />

During the rainy season, Eastern Nicaragua is subject to heavy flooding along the upper and middle reaches of all major rivers.<ref name=":0" /> Near the coast, where river courses widen and river banks and natural levees are low, floodwaters spill over onto the floodplains until large sections of the lowlands become continuous sheets of water.<ref name=":0" /> River bank agricultural plots are often heavily damaged, and considerable numbers of savanna animals die during these floods.<ref name=":0" />

The coast is also subject to destructive tropical storms and hurricanes, particularly from July through October.<ref name=":0" /> The high winds and floods, accompanying these storms often cause considerable destruction of property.<ref name=":0" /> In addition, heavy rains (called papagayo storms) accompanying the passage of a cold front or a low-pressure area may sweep from the north through both eastern and western Nicaragua (particularly the rift valley) from November through March.<ref name=":0" />

Hurricanes or heavy rains in the central highlands where agriculture has destroyed much of the natural vegetation also cause considerable crop damage and [[soil erosion]].<ref name=":0" /> In 1988, [[Hurricane Joan-Miriam|Hurricane Joan]] forced hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans to flee their homes and caused more than US$1 billion in damage, most of it along the Caribbean coast.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Fox, Robert [http://perc.ca/PEN/1989-03/fox.html Nicaragua Still Reeling in Wake of a Hurricane] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050320125718/http://www.perc.ca/PEN/1989-03/fox.html |date=March 20, 2005 }} accessed April 10, 2006</ref><ref>Preston, Julia, [[Washington Post]] (1988) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/hurricane/poststories/joan.htm Response Tepid to Managua's Aid Plea] accessed April 10, 2006</ref> In November 2020, two major hurricanes: [[Hurricane Eta|Eta]] and [[Hurricane Iota|Iota]], made landfall on the nation in nearly same locations in consecutive weeks, causing hundreds of deaths throughout the Caribbean region and causing millions of dollars in damage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/11/25/hurricanes-eta-iota-hit-nicaragua-with-743-million-in-economic-losses.html|title=Hurricanes Eta, Iota hit Nicaragua with $743 million in economic losses|website=The Jakarta Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-21|title=Monitoreo Azul y Blanco reporta 28 muertos por el huracán Iota en Nicaragua|url=https://confidencial.com.ni/monitoreo-azul-y-blanco-reporta-28-muertos-por-el-huracan-iota-en-nicaragua/|access-date=2020-11-23|website=Confidencial|language=es|archive-date=2020-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123000035/https://confidencial.com.ni/monitoreo-azul-y-blanco-reporta-28-muertos-por-el-huracan-iota-en-nicaragua/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Examples===

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = [[Managua]] (extremes 1952-present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 37.0
|Feb record high C = 37.1
|Mar record high C = 37.8
|Apr record high C = 38.5
|May record high C = 38.5
|Jun record high C = 37.5
|Jul record high C = 39.2
|Aug record high C = 35.7
|Sep record high C = 36.5
|Oct record high C = 36.6
|Nov record high C = 35.4
|Dec record high C = 36.2
|year record high C = 39.2
|Jan high C = 31.0
|Feb high C = 32.1
|Mar high C = 33.6
|Apr high C = 34.3
|May high C = 34.0
|Jun high C = 31.4
|Jul high C = 30.9
|Aug high C = 31.4
|Sep high C = 30.3
|Oct high C = 30.8
|Nov high C = 30.6
|Dec high C = 30.8
|year high C = 31.8
|Jan mean C = 26.3
|Feb mean C = 27.2
|Mar mean C = 28.5
|Apr mean C = 29.3
|May mean C = 29.3
|Jun mean C = 27.2
|Jul mean C = 26.8
|Aug mean C = 27.2
|Sep mean C = 26.8
|Oct mean C = 26.5
|Nov mean C = 26.3
|Dec mean C = 26.2
|year mean C = 27.3
|Jan low C = 20.4
|Feb low C = 20.6
|Mar low C = 21.7
|Apr low C = 22.6
|May low C = 23.4
|Jun low C = 23.0
|Jul low C = 22.6
|Aug low C = 22.4
|Sep low C = 22.2
|Oct low C = 22.1
|Nov low C = 20.9
|Dec low C = 20.0
|year low C = 21.8
|Jan record low C = 15.0
|Feb record low C = 15.2
|Mar record low C = 17.2
|Apr record low C = 19.0
|May record low C = 16.0
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 20.0
|Aug record low C = 19.0
|Sep record low C = 15.0
|Oct record low C = 17.0
|Nov record low C = 15.0
|Dec record low C = 16.2
|year record low C = 15.0
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm = 9
|Feb rain mm = 5
|Mar rain mm = 3
|Apr rain mm = 8
|May rain mm = 130
|Jun rain mm = 224
|Jul rain mm = 144
|Aug rain mm = 136
|Sep rain mm = 215
|Oct rain mm = 280
|Nov rain mm = 42
|Dec rain mm = 8
|year rain mm = 1204
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 4
|Feb rain days = 2
|Mar rain days = 2
|Apr rain days = 2
|May rain days = 10
|Jun rain days = 22
|Jul rain days = 20
|Aug rain days = 17
|Sep rain days = 20
|Oct rain days = 19
|Nov rain days = 10
|Dec rain days = 5
|year rain days = 133
|Jan humidity = 69
|Feb humidity = 64
|Mar humidity = 62
|Apr humidity = 61
|May humidity = 70
|Jun humidity = 80
|Jul humidity = 79
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 82
|Oct humidity = 83
|Nov humidity = 78
|Dec humidity = 73
|year humidity = 73
|Jan sun = 263.5
|Feb sun = 254.2
|Mar sun = 291.4
|Apr sun = 276.0
|May sun = 229.4
|Jun sun = 186.0
|Jul sun = 151.9
|Aug sun = 195.3
|Sep sun = 210.0
|Oct sun = 223.2
|Nov sun = 231.0
|Dec sun = 248.0
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 8.5
|Febd sun = 9.0
|Mard sun = 9.4
|Aprd sun = 9.2
|Mayd sun = 7.4
|Jund sun = 6.2
|Juld sun = 4.9
|Augd sun = 6.3
|Sepd sun = 7.0
|Octd sun = 7.2
|Novd sun = 7.7
|Decd sun = 8.0
|yeard sun = 7.6
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = ManaguaDWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787410_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Managua (Int. Flugh.) / Nicaragua
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 9 June 2017}}</ref>
|source 2 =  Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimatManagua>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1750
| title = Station Managua
| publisher = Météo Climat 
| language = fr 
| access-date = 27 June 2017}}</ref>
|date=July 2012
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = [[Bluefields]]
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan high C = 27.8
|Feb high C = 28.4
|Mar high C = 29.0
|Apr high C = 29.8
|May high C = 29.9
|Jun high C = 28.9
|Jul high C = 28.1
|Aug high C = 28.5
|Sep high C = 29.1
|Oct high C = 28.8
|Nov high C = 28.4
|Dec high C = 28.0
|Jan mean C = 24.9
|Feb mean C = 25.2
|Mar mean C = 26.2
|Apr mean C = 27.0
|May mean C = 27.0
|Jun mean C = 26.0
|Jul mean C = 25.6
|Aug mean C = 25.6
|Sep mean C = 25.8
|Oct mean C = 25.6
|Nov mean C = 25.3
|Dec mean C = 25.2
|Jan low C = 22.2
|Feb low C = 22.3
|Mar low C = 23.3
|Apr low C = 23.7
|May low C = 24.2
|Jun low C = 23.9
|Jul low C = 23.7
|Aug low C = 23.6
|Sep low C = 23.5
|Oct low C = 23.1
|Nov low C = 22.8
|Dec low C = 22.6
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 218
|Feb rain mm = 114
|Mar rain mm = 71
|Apr rain mm = 101
|May rain mm = 264
|Jun rain mm = 581
|Jul rain mm = 828
|Aug rain mm = 638
|Sep rain mm = 383
|Oct rain mm = 418
|Nov rain mm = 376
|Dec rain mm = 328
|Jan rain days = 19
|Feb rain days = 13
|Mar rain days = 10
|Apr rain days = 10
|May rain days = 15
|Jun rain days = 23
|Jul rain days = 26
|Aug rain days = 25
|Sep rain days = 21
|Oct rain days = 21
|Nov rain days = 20
|Dec rain days = 22
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|source 1 = HKO<ref name=hko.comBluefields>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/mx_cam/bluffields_e.htm|title=Climatological Normals of Bluefields, Nicaragua|access-date=2012-03-13|publisher=Hong Kong Observatory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702081444/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/mx_cam/bluffields_e.htm|archive-date=2015-07-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|date=March 2012
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = [[Puerto Cabezas]]
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| collapsed = Yes 
| Jan high C = 29.7
| Feb high C = 29.7
| Mar high C = 30.5
| Apr high C = 31.3
| May high C = 31.8
| Jun high C = 31.4
| Jul high C = 30.8
| Aug high C = 31.2
| Sep high C = 31.2
| Oct high C = 31.6
| Nov high C = 30.8
| Dec high C = 29.7
| Jan mean C = 25.0
| Feb mean C = 24.5
| Mar mean C = 26.5
| Apr mean C = 27.2
| May mean C = 27.8
| Jun mean C = 27.5
| Jul mean C = 27.1
| Aug mean C = 27.1
| Sep mean C = 27.0
| Oct mean C = 26.3
| Nov mean C = 25.8
| Dec mean C = 25.4
| Jan low C = 18.8
| Feb low C = 18.6
| Mar low C = 19.8
| Apr low C = 20.9
| May low C = 21.8
| Jun low C = 22.0
| Jul low C = 21.9
| Aug low C = 22.0
| Sep low C = 22.2
| Oct low C = 21.6
| Nov low C = 20.8
| Dec low C = 19.3
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 148
| Feb rain mm = 83
| Mar rain mm = 48
| Apr rain mm = 54
| May rain mm = 183
| Jun rain mm = 378
| Jul rain mm = 414
| Aug rain mm = 370
| Sep rain mm = 303
| Oct rain mm = 338
| Nov rain mm = 278
| Dec rain mm = 202
| Jan rain days = 16
| Feb rain days = 11
| Mar rain days = 7
| Apr rain days = 8
| May rain days = 12
| Jun rain days = 20
| Jul rain days = 23
| Aug rain days = 22
| Sep rain days = 20
| Oct rain days = 20
| Nov rain days = 19
| Dec rain days = 20
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| source 1 = Hong Kong Observatory<ref name=hkoPuertoC>{{cite web
|url = http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/mx_cam/puerto_cabezas_e.htm
|title = Climatological Information for Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
|access-date = December 6, 2012
|publisher = Hong Kong Observatory
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130926202159/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/mx_cam/puerto_cabezas_e.htm
|archive-date = September 26, 2013
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
| date = December 2012
| source = 
}}

== Environment ==
Nicaragua is subject to destructive [[earthquake]]s, [[volcano]]es, [[landslide]]s, and occasionally severe [[hurricane]]s.<ref name=":1" /> It currently faces [[deforestation]], soil erosion, and water pollution. It is a party to the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]], the [[Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol]], the [[Nuclear Test Ban]], and the [[Ozone Layer Protection]], and has signed but not ratified the [[Law of the Sea]].<ref name=":1" />

=== Tree cover extent and loss ===
[[Global Forest Watch]] publishes annual estimates of tree cover loss and 2000 tree cover extent derived from time-series analysis of [[Landsat program|Landsat]] satellite imagery in the Global Forest Change dataset.<ref name="GFWNICdashboard">{{cite web
 |title=Nicaragua Deforestation Rates & Statistics
 |website=Global Forest Watch
 |url=https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/NIC/
}}</ref><ref name="HansenEtAl2013">{{cite journal
 |last1=Hansen
 |first1=Matthew C.
 |last2=Potapov
 |first2=Peter V.
 |last3=Moore
 |first3=Rebecca
 |last4=Hancher
 |first4=Matt
 |last5=Turubanova
 |first5=Svetlana A.
 |last6=Tyukavina
 |first6=Alexandra
 |display-authors=3
 |title=High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change
 |journal=Science
 |volume=342
 |issue=6160
 |year=2013
 |pages=850-853
 |doi=10.1126/science.1244693
}}</ref><ref name="GFWTCLossAbout">{{cite web
 |title=Tree cover loss
 |website=Global Forest Watch Open Data Portal
 |url=https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::tree-cover-loss/about
}}</ref><ref name="GFWTCCover2000About">{{cite web
 |title=Tree cover (2000)
 |website=Global Forest Watch Open Data Portal
 |url=https://data.globalforestwatch.org/documents/gfw::tree-cover-2000/about
}}</ref> In this framework, tree cover refers to vegetation taller than 5 m (including natural forests and tree plantations), and tree cover loss is defined as the complete removal of tree cover canopy for a given year, regardless of cause.<ref name="GFRTreeCoverLoss2023">{{cite web
 |title=How much forest was lost in 2023?
 |website=Global Forest Review
 |url=https://gfr.wri.org/global-tree-cover-loss-data-2023
}}</ref>

For Nicaragua, country statistics report cumulative tree cover loss of {{convert|2001073|ha|km2|abbr=on}} from 2001 to 2024 (about 25.7% of its 2000 tree cover area).<ref name="GFWNICdashboard" /> For tree cover density greater than 30%, country statistics report a 2000 tree cover extent of {{convert|7773867|ha|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="GFWNICdashboard" /> The charts and table below display this data. In simple terms, the annual loss number is the area where tree cover disappeared in that year, and the extent number shows what remains of the 2000 tree cover baseline after subtracting cumulative loss. Forest regrowth is not included in the dataset.<ref name="GFWNICdashboard" /><ref name="GFRTreeCoverLoss2023" />

{{ChartDirect
 |type=bar
 |align=center
 |width=100%
 |x=2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024
 |xType=integer
 |y1=440.89,541.78,469.44,210.61,951.35,388.66,884.78,537.93,830.78,2124.82,432.80,336.91,440.30,755.50,355.21,1423.79,2116.99,713.61,778.28,1112.96,918.35,489.81,1175.37,1579.81
 |y1Title=Annual tree cover loss (km²)
 |caption=Annual tree cover loss in Nicaragua, 2001–2024.<ref name="GFWNICdashboard" />
}}

{{ChartDirect
 |type=line
 |align=center
 |width=100%
 |x=2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024
 |xType=integer
 |y1=77297.78,76756.00,76286.56,76075.95,75124.60,74735.94,73851.16,73313.23,72482.45,70357.63,69924.83,69587.92,69147.62,68392.12,68036.91,66613.12,64496.13,63782.52,63004.24,61891.28,60972.93,60483.12,59307.75,57727.94
 |y1Title=Extent minus cumulative loss (km²)
 |caption=Tree cover extent in 2000 minus cumulative tree cover loss in Nicaragua, 2001–2024 (loss-only residual; does not account for gain).<ref name="GFWNICdashboard" />
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Annual tree cover extent and loss<ref name="GFWNICdashboard" />
! Year
! Tree cover extent (km2){{efn|name=regrowth|This residual measure does not include forest regrowth.}}
! Annual tree cover loss (km2)
|-
| 2001 || 77,297.78 || 440.89
|-
| 2002 || 76,756.00 || 541.78
|-
| 2003 || 76,286.56 || 469.44
|-
| 2004 || 76,075.95 || 210.61
|-
| 2005 || 75,124.60 || 951.35
|-
| 2006 || 74,735.94 || 388.66
|-
| 2007 || 73,851.16 || 884.78
|-
| 2008 || 73,313.23 || 537.93
|-
| 2009 || 72,482.45 || 830.78
|-
| 2010 || 70,357.63 || 2,124.82
|-
| 2011 || 69,924.83 || 432.80
|-
| 2012 || 69,587.92 || 336.91
|-
| 2013 || 69,147.62 || 440.30
|-
| 2014 || 68,392.12 || 755.50
|-
| 2015 || 68,036.91 || 355.21
|-
| 2016 || 66,613.12 || 1,423.79
|-
| 2017 || 64,496.13 || 2,116.99
|-
| 2018 || 63,782.52 || 713.61
|-
| 2019 || 63,004.24 || 778.28
|-
| 2020 || 61,891.28 || 1,112.96
|-
| 2021 || 60,972.93 || 918.35
|-
| 2022 || 60,483.12 || 489.81
|-
| 2023 || 59,307.75 || 1,175.37
|-
| 2024 || 57,727.94 || 1,579.81
|}

===REDD+ reference level and monitoring===
Under the [[UNFCCC]] [[REDD+]] framework, Nicaragua has submitted a national [[forest reference emission level]] (FREL). On the UNFCCC REDD+ Web Platform, the country's 2019 submission is listed as having an assessed reference level, while the other [[Warsaw Framework on REDD-plus|Warsaw Framework]] elements - a national strategy, [[Cancún safeguards|safeguards]], and a [[national forest monitoring system]] - are listed as "not reported".<ref name="UNFCCC_REDD_NIC">{{cite web |title=Nicaragua (NIC) - Submissions provided by Country |website=REDD+ Web Platform |publisher=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |url=https://redd.unfccc.int/submissions/by-country/country_detail/nic.html}}</ref>

The FREL was submitted in 2019 and technically assessed in 2020. It covers three REDD+ activities at national scale - reducing emissions from [[deforestation]], reducing emissions from [[forest degradation]], and enhancement of forest carbon stocks - and uses a 2006-2015 historical reference period. Following the technical assessment and a modified submission, the assessed FREL was 14,436,009 [[carbon dioxide equivalent|t CO2 eq]] per year, revised from 16,510,883 t CO2 eq per year in the original submission.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_NIC_2019">{{cite report |title=Report on the technical assessment of the proposed forest reference emission level of Nicaragua submitted in 2019 |publisher=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |date=24 July 2020 |id=FCCC/TAR/2019/NIC |url=https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/tar2019_NIC.pdf}}</ref> The technical assessment states that the benchmark represents the annual average of CO2 emissions and removals from the three included activities.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_NIC_2019" />

The modified submission used a forest definition of a continuous area of at least 1 hectare, with tree cover of at least 30 percent and average tree height above 4 metres; it explicitly included bamboo ecosystems, mangroves, natural palms, dry forests, riparian vegetation, and permanent crops with shade trees.<ref name="NIC_FREL_2019_MOD">{{cite report |title=Niveles de Referencia de las Emisiones Forestales - República de Nicaragua |publisher=Ministerio del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales, República de Nicaragua |date=July 2020 |type=UNFCCC submission (modified) |url=https://redd.unfccc.int/files/nref_nicaragua_vf_limpio_14072020.pdf}}</ref> The technical assessment reports that the FREL included [[biomass|above-ground biomass]] and [[biomass|below-ground biomass]] and reported [[carbon dioxide|CO2]] only, while excluding deadwood, [[plant litter|litter]] and [[soil organic carbon]]. Activity data were derived from visual interpretation of satellite imagery for 2005 and 2015 using a systematic sampling design linked to the national forest inventory grid.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_NIC_2019" />

== Extreme points ==

* Northernmost point: North of [[Liwa Sirpe]]<ref name=":1" />
* Southernmost point: Trinidad, [[Río San Juan (department)|Río San Juan]]<ref name=":1" />
* Westernmost point: Pacific coast at [[Gulf of Fonseca]], [[Chinandega Department]]<ref name=":1" />
* Easternmost point: [[Miskito Cays]] archipelago, [[North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region]]<ref name=":1" />
* Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m<ref name=":1" />
* Highest point: [[Mogotón]] 2,085 m<ref name=":1" />

== Maritime claims ==

* Contiguous zone: {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|lk=in}}<ref name=":1" />
* Territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1}}<ref name=":1" />
* [[Exclusive economic zone]]: {{convert|123,881|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name=":1" />

== See also ==
{{portal|Nicaragua}}
* [[List of ecoregions in Nicaragua]]
* [[List of islands of Nicaragua]]
* [[List of rivers of Nicaragua]]
* [[List of volcanoes in Nicaragua]]
* [[Protected areas of Nicaragua]]
* [[Territorial disputes of Nicaragua]]
* [[Water resources management in Nicaragua]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Nicaragua topics}}
{{Geography of North America}}
{{North America topic|Climate of}}

[[Category:Geography of Nicaragua| ]]