Lake Nicaragua: description of the reservoir. Lake Nicaragua and its scary inhabitants
Lake Nicaragua is connected to the Caribbean Sea by the navigable San Juan River. Fresh water is supplied by numerous rivers and streams, among which the deepest is the Tipitapa River, flowing from Lake Managua.
At one time, when planning to connect the waters of two oceans - the Atlantic and the Pacific, there were projects that included the construction of a canal through this lake. However, these ideas sometimes pop up today. The only question is the sources of financing.
Lake Nicaragua, according to scientists, was formed on the territory of the Pacific Ocean gulf that existed in ancient times. Over time, the depression in which the bay was located lost contact with the ocean, and a lake formed in its place. However, the past oceanic connections of the lake remain alive in its waters and often remind of themselves. We are talking about unique fish that live in the waters of the lake - the famous sharks of Lake Nicaragua. Sharks are not found in any freshwater lake on the planet, at least as permanent inhabitants. But in Lake Nicaragua they have been living and thriving for many millennia.
Sharks of Lake Nicaragua
They learned about sharks in Nicaragua only in 1877, and for a long time they could not determine what type of shark they belonged to. Scientists later concluded that the sharks of Nicaragua are gray bull sharks. Bull sharks are a small family of sharks, to which only eight species belong, but sharks of this family can be found in absolutely different corners planets. The residents of the shores of Nicaragua themselves claim that the lake is home to not one, but two species of sharks - the white-bellied visitante and the red-bellied tintoreros. Only visitante, unlike tintoreros, swims from the ocean, so it is smaller and more mobile. How else do these two types of sharks differ, despite the eloquent names, none of the local residents can say. However, they are equally afraid of them.
The sharks of Lake Nicaragua have a quite typical appearance for their species. Dense head with small eyes, rounded mouth. The lower surface of the body is white and the upper surface is gray. The teeth of the front jaw are smaller and sharper, while the teeth of the back jaw are larger and stronger. Although members of the bull shark family usually lay eggs, Lake Nicaragua sharks are viviparous.
Their length is also very atypical for their family. The sharks of Lake Nicaragua are quite large and can reach up to four meters in length, but the most common specimens are two and two and a half meters long. Why these fish can live in fresh water is still unknown.
One American physiologist suggested that this ability is influenced by the presence of urea in the blood of sharks. In humans, this would cause uremia - poisoning of the body with protein. However, the physiologist could not prove his theory. She also did not explain why some sharks are so eager for fresh water.
There are so many sharks in Lake Nicaragua that commercial fishing for this fish is carried out in the reservoir. Fishermen claim that they catch seven thousand individuals a year. Shark attacks on the lake are far from uncommon, so the state has set a reward for their extermination. Every year at least one person is killed in a shark attack in Lake Nicaragua. But the number of attacks is far from limited to one per year.
Many victims lose limbs and suffer numerous injuries, while others do not survive this unequal battle at all. In the middle of the last century, a shark attacked three people at once, and two of them died. The sharks of Lake Nicaragua are so dangerous because, unlike sharks that live in the ocean, they come very close to the shore. Of the reported attacks, the vast majority occurred in shallow waters.
Even if some sharks live in the lake all their lives, many individuals still get there from the ocean. Scientists have long wondered: What draws them to Nicaragua? While the luminaries of science are racking their brains over it, the Indians living on the shores of the reservoir have long had an answer to this question. There is a legend that previously, in order to appease sharks, the bodies of dead tribesmen were lowered into the water, and they were richly decorated. The bodies were washed out into the ocean and there they became prey for sea predators. Since then, sharks began to swim further down the river into the reservoir in order to profit from their next prey.
Other inhabitants of the lake
Visitors to Lake Nicaragua are surprised not only by the sharks that live there. Some other exclusively marine inhabitants are also found here. These are sawfish and even swordfish. For fans of sport fishing, special services have been organized where, for a low fee, you will be provided with gear and everything you need for fishing.
In general, the fish of the mountain lakes of Central America are predominantly carnivorous, i.e. predators. This is not surprising - there is little aquatic vegetation and plant food here. Also in Lake Nicaragua live flat-headed catfish (microgran catfish, steelhead pimelodus Blocha, sorbium paddlefish), common catfish, and fish of the perciforme order of the Cichlid family.
Along the shores of the lake there are numerous large (up to 60 cm) helmet-nosed basilisk lizards, capable of running on their hind legs even on the surface of the water. There are also numerous tiger ambystomas - representatives of the order of amphibians, reminiscent of salamanders.
It is noteworthy that some fish living in the lakes of Central America, including Lake Nicaragua, are known as beautiful and unique aquarium fish that are in great demand among aquarium enthusiasts. These include lemon and diamond cichlids, some types of catfish and other small fish.
The islands of Lake Nicaragua are home to 76 species of parrots and toucans.
Islands
The area near the lake is by no means deserted; in its water area there are about three hundred small and large islands, only a few of them are inhabited.
The largest of the islands is Ometepe (translated from Indian as “two mountains”), on which there are two volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcien. Monuments have been preserved on the island ancient civilization pre-Columbian era - petroglyphs on the rocks depicting animals and birds, and stone idols marking the sites of former Indian burials. Among the Indians, this island has long been considered sacred because of the volcano located on it.
Currently, Ometepe is a biosphere reserve (since 2010), home to rare species of animals, including spider monkeys.
The largest city on the coast is Granada, the third largest city in the country (the first two places are occupied by Managua and Leon). This is one of the oldest cities in Latin America, founded by Europeans (founded in 1524). Today Granada is major center tourism.
Another large Nicaraguan city is San Carlos, located at the mouth of the river of the same name on the border with the state of Costa Rica. The municipality of San Carlos includes the island of Solentiname, which is a natural reserve due to its rich fauna.
Ancient petroglyphs were discovered on the Solentinam Islands - drawings on rocks depicting parrots, monkeys and people. The country's authorities have assigned the Solentinam Islands the status of national natural monument Nicaragua.
The climate on the islands is tropical, characterized by high humidity. The average temperature is 28–30 degrees. The water level in the lake depends on rainfall: from December to April there is a dry season, but from May to October the season of tropical downpours begins, which raise the water level in the lake.
Population
The population living on the shores of the lake are mainly mestizos, descendants of the ancient Indians. Their main occupation is growing bananas, coffee, avocados and cocoa. The plantations are located where the soil is fertilized with fertile volcanic ash, which, combined with the humid, favorable climate of those places, allows for huge harvests. The traditional crafts of the people include wood carving and twig weaving.
What to do on the islands?
Lake Nicaragua and its surrounding islands mainly attract amateurs active rest– sport fishing and surfing.
Beach holidays are not very popular there: the sands on the islands are gray, of volcanic origin, with small shells. And swimming on the islands is not the most pleasant because of the proximity to sharks.
IN Lately In connection with the increasing incidence of attacks by marine predators on people and animals, the Nicaraguan authorities have allowed commercial fishing for these sharks. So now the inhabitants of the islands offer tourists such a type of recreation as shark hunting.
The islands also have their own small fishing fleet, which allows them to serve numerous tourists - lovers of sport fishing and surfing. Tourists are provided with all the necessary equipment for this for a small fee.
- Since the 16th century, the island of Ometepe has been favored by pirates who took refuge there from persecution by the Spanish authorities, and because of this, the local population was forced to move higher to the slopes of the volcanoes.
- The Nicaraguan shark can reach a length of 4 meters, the average length of a shark is 2-2.5 meters.
- At one time, it was planned more than once to build a Nicaraguan canal that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but these plans remained on paper.
There are so many unexplored corners on our planet, where nature presents unexpected gifts, captivates and impresses! And if you just think about the fact that almost 90% of reservoirs have not been explored at all, it becomes even a little scary. What do the azure depths conceal? For example, Lake Nicaragua?
"Sweet Sea"
Local residents are accustomed to the proximity of their lake and have not thought about its secrets for a long time. They call it the "sweet sea." I wonder why? Because of the sweetness fresh water? Or the vastness of its edges? The population of Granada calls the reservoir Lake Granada, but the rest of the planet knows only Lake Nicaragua, or Lago de Nicaragua. It is one of the largest bodies of water in the world and the only source of fresh water in all of Latin America. The dimensions are impressive, the view is beautiful, but the unusual inhabitants make you nervous. Only here you can see sea creatures, despite the fact that it is a lake. Scientists believe that the presence of ichthyofauna in the lake clearly proves the fact that Nicaragua was previously part of the Pacific Gulf. Why has everything changed?
After a volcanic eruption
It turns out that previously the reservoir was open, but tectonic changes and numerous volcanic eruptions provoked the flow of lava into the strait. So, part of the ocean separated and turned into an inland body of water, separating the inhabitants from the outside world. Slowly but surely they were displacing freshwater streams, but you can’t evict them that easily. Gradually they had to adapt to new conditions. Among these opportunists were sharks. By the way, the existence of the latter has not yet been practically proven, since their adaptation to fresh water is very doubtful. Some doubt that there are sharks in Lake Nicaragua, citing the fact that accidentally encountered marine predators come here from the ocean, leaving behind a distance of 200 km and traveling along the San Juan River. Then there is another question - what attracts sharks here?
A mystery for all time
The freshwater shark of Lake Nicaragua haunts scientists around the world with its habitat, but the Indians can answer this question. They believe that sharks “paved a path” into the lake many centuries ago, and the reason was the ancient ritual of burying the dead in water. The bodies floated into the ocean and became prey to predators. So, sharks got used to the taste of human meat and did not want to give up such a “diet”. Now they do not feel fear when swimming in shallow water, where it is easier to attack victims. The problem became more and more complicated every year, which became the reason for the introduction of extreme measures to destroy toothy fish.
Paradise for tourists
Lake Nicaragua has long been a tourist destination. Moreover, they are not even afraid of the threat of being bitten. Adults and even children boldly climb into the water, albeit in compliance with certain safety measures. For example, you cannot be distracted and forget about the threat. You should not swim with an open wound or during menstruation. In short, if you are tempted by the opportunity to dive into Nicaragua (lake), sharks will not be a serious obstacle. Tourists come to the town of Granada, which is located next to the reservoir. This is an amazingly atmospheric place that attracts walks and adventures. By the way, the walk will not be tiring, because the town is very small. IN central park you can try the famous Nicaraguan dish Vigoron, and there are carriages with excursions to the lake. The trip will take no more than twenty minutes. Lake Nicaragua beckons with its magic. It is one of the twenty largest lakes in the world.
Educational excursion
If you come to Lake Nicaragua with a large group, it is profitable to rent a separate boat for an hour or more. The rental price is symbolic - only $13, but you will have to bargain, since at first the price is unacceptably inflated. The islands near Granada were bought by local rich people. These are mainly summer residences, since the islands are simply tiny and are unlikely to accommodate more than one house. It turns out that one island is one villa. Some of them can be rented for the weekend, for a large company or several families. The amount is also very pleasant - $300 for a house for the weekend. There are many monkeys in some lands. They are almost not afraid of people, but they also do not pay much attention - only 3-4 individuals come to feed. In general, walks around the islands are educational and interesting. There are unusual and bright ones, similar to which they slowly and importantly walk along the ground, sweeping it with their tails.
Now it’s time to turn our attention directly to Lake Nicaragua.
Description of the reservoir: its charms and beauty
A beautiful picture - a surface of water reminiscent of a mirror. It's amazing here fresh air and the largest reserves of fresh water in Latin America. The maximum depth of the lake reaches 70 meters, and its area is almost 8600 square meters. By the way, the border with Costa Rica passes here. The lake is connected to the Caribbean Sea by the San Juan River, and fresh water flows from many rivers and streams. The deepest is the Tipitapa River, which flows from Lake Managua. Scientists believe that the reservoir appeared on the site of the ancient Pacific Gulf. Now the bay has been transformed, but the connection with the past remains. It manifests itself in the unique inhabitants of the reservoir, which are called sharks of Nicaragua. These cannot be found anywhere else, because this individual is a close relative of the gray
Scary visions
The legendary bull shark can be a truly shocking sight. Even without seeing her, but only after hearing the stories, you can give free rein to your imagination. This type is also distinguished by its ease of adaptation to desalinated water and can hide for a long time in river mouths. The size of such a “toothy” is simply indecent, and the danger to humans is serious. They say that they are not indigenous, but swam here and were unable to swim away after the volcanic eruption. Many scientists actively object to this position, saying that the bull shark can jump the San Juan River rapids, like salmon. To prove their assumptions, they cite the presence of a shark of this type in open ocean. It was even found that the voyage of sharks from the lake to the sea and back can take from a week to 11 days. This is how scary Lake Nicaragua can be, and the bull shark is found there quite often, if you believe the stories of local residents.
Ecology and problems
In general, the lake remains a unique body of water, but its location causes some concern among environmentalists, because it is polluted by wastewater from nearby industrial plants. According to statistics, over the past 37 years, at least 30 tons of untreated sewage entered the lake every day. The marine fauna and flora of the reservoir are very diverse. Water lilies bloom here and fish swim, which are more likely to live in salty waters. These include sawfish, herring, tarpon and even sawfish.
A process of self-purification occurs in the lake, and all the dirt from the wastewater that enters the water disappears. The reservoir has its own special character: in the east the water is calm and quiet, but in the west the influence of the trade winds manifests itself, and there are constant strong ripples. Powerful storms are not uncommon.
Not all islands on the lake are inhabited. The largest was formed on the basis of two volcanoes, which is reflected in the name - Ometepe (“ome” - two, “tepe” - mountain). In 2010, the territory of this island was recognized as a biosphere reserve. In the west there is also a third volcano - Mombacho. In general, volcanoes on the lake caused ash contamination.
The population here is represented mainly by mestizos. These are the descendants of the Indians who lived here in ancient times. They are mainly engaged in agriculture - they grow coffee, bananas and cocoa. Some of the plantations are located on islands where the ground is covered with volcanic ash, which, by the way, is very useful for crops.
Helmet-bearing basilisks crawl along the banks. These are large lizards that run on their hind legs and can walk on water. It turns out that Lake Nicaragua and its scary inhabitants may be quite cute.
On the island of Solentiname there are rocks with ancient drawings. There are almost a hundred species of parrots and toucans on the local islands.
It feels like paradise, but even paradise had its difficulties. So what can you expect from the earth?
Lake Nicaragua (Lago de Nicaragua) is the most big lake in Nicaragua. It is of tectonic origin, fills a tectonic depression and ultimately has an almost perfect oval shape. The shores of the lake are predominantly low-lying. Its appearance is the result of the work of a volcano: lava filled a narrow strait, separating the bay from the ocean and turning it into an inland body of water. Over time, the salt water in the newly formed lake was replaced by fresh water from the forty rivers that flow into Nicaragua.
The largest of the inflowing rivers is the Tipitapa, which flows from the nearby (heavily polluted) Lake Managua. The San Juan River flows out of the lake and flows into. This connection allows us to call the lakeside city of Granada an Atlantic port, although it is closer to the Pacific Ocean. This geographical location Granada in the old days led to sad consequences: in the middle of the 17th century. pirates passed the river to rich Granada and besieged it three times.
Lake Nicaragua ranks first in terms of surface area among freshwater lakes in Latin America and second among all lakes in Latin America. Depending on the counting system, it ranks 19th or 20th on the list of the largest lakes in the world.
Like most large lakes, Nicaragua has its own special character. In the eastern half of the lake, protected by mountains, the waters are quite calm; on the western side, influenced by the trade winds, there is a constant strong swell. Powerful storms are not uncommon here.
Only a few islands on the lake are inhabited. The largest island, Ometepe, is formed by two volcanoes - Concepcion (1610 m) and Maderas (1394 m). The name of the island reflects the story of its origin: in the Nahuatl Indian language, “ome” means two, and “tepe” means mountain. In 2010, the territory of Ometepe Island was recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve.
The third volcano, Mombacho (1344 m), is located on west coast lakes. The presence of volcanoes in the vicinity of Lake Nicaragua caused its clogging with ash brought by rivers from volcanic areas.
Even before the Panama Canal was built, a plan to create a Nicaraguan Canal had long been contemplated. All projects boiled down to the construction of a canal across Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River. Back in the 16th century. the Spanish king Charles V of Habsburg (1500-1558) ordered the exploration of the isthmus in Nicaragua in order to connect the two oceans, but the level of technological development at that time did not allow construction to begin, and the Spaniards themselves did not seek to invest money in large-scale projects in Latin America .
This project was repeatedly returned to later, and often the authors of new proposals were outright adventurers who collected money from gullible investors.
After the construction of the Panama Canal, interest in the Nicaraguan Canal project waned, but sometimes this idea becomes relevant again, especially in moments of international political crises.
IN ancient times Lake Nicaragua was an ocean bay that, as a result of a volcanic eruption, turned into an inland body of water. Its waters are quite rich in fish, of marine origin. There are more than 400 islands on the lake, and some of them are inhabited.
Marine life such as sharks can be found in the fresh waters of Nicaragua.
The population on the shores of the island are mestizos, descendants of the Indians who lived here since ancient times. The main occupation of local residents is growing bananas, coffee and cocoa. A significant part of the plantations is concentrated on the islands, where the land is covered with extremely fertile volcanic ash, which, combined with a favorable climate, allows for large harvests. Nicaragua has its own lake flotilla, represented by both a small fleet and quite spacious vessels, intended, among other things, to serve numerous tourists. Lake Nicaragua is popular for surfing and sport fishing.
Nicaragua is the only freshwater lake in the world where sharks are found. This is the clearest evidence that the area now occupied by the lake used to be large. sea bay. When the exit to the sea was blocked by lava flows, sharks remained in the lake and became accustomed to the new conditions. This shark has its own scientific name: Nicaraguan shark Carcharhinus nicaraguensis.
Until recently, the Nicaraguan shark was mistaken for the bull shark, which also lives in the lake. It subsequently turned out that the bull shark enters the lake from Caribbean Sea, rises up the San Juan River against the current - like salmon - and ends up in Lake Nicaragua. This journey can take up to two weeks. Currently, there are so many sharks in the lake that surrounding residents are allowed to fish for them commercially.
In addition to sharks, Lake Nicaragua is home to marine life such as swordfish and tarpon, which looks like a very large herring. Although Lake Nicaragua is connected by the Tipitapa River to Lake Managua, due to the heavy pollution of the latter, sharks do not go there.
Granada is the most Big city on the shore of the lake. It ranks third in size in the country (after the capital and Leon), is administrative center department of Granada and proudly bears the title of the oldest city founded by Europeans in Central America (founded in 1524). Currently it is also the main tourist centre countries.
Another large city on the lake, San Carlos, stands where the San Juan River flows out of Lake Nicaragua, near the border with Costa Rica. The municipality of San Carlos includes the Solentiname Islands, which have the status of a national monument of Nicaragua. There is an exceptionally rich fauna here, and on the island of La Venada there is a preserved population of deer, after which the island is named (venado means “deer” in Spanish).
The beauty of the Solentiname Islands on Lake Nicaragua attracted artists and artists, including the poet and politician Ernesto Cardenal (b. 1925), who founded an artists' commune on the island in 1966 that still exists today, as well as an art gallery.
On neighboring island Ometepe preserved archaeological sites pre-Columbian civilizations - petroglyphs and stone idols - created, at the latest, in the 2nd millennium BC. e. In ancient times, the islands on the lake, due to their volcanic origin, were considered sacred by the Indians, which is why they were chosen as a burial place. Currently, there is a biosphere reserve here, which is home to rare species of koats - representatives of the family of spider monkeys.
general information
Location: Central America.Administrative affiliation: Republic of Nicaragua.
Origin: tectonic.
Food: mainly rain.
Largest rivers: flows into Tipitapa; flows out - San Juan.
Largest island: Ometepe Island (276 km 2).
The most important ports: Granada - 83,439 people. (2013), San Carlos - 15,157 people. (2013).
Numbers
Area: 8264 km2.
Catchment area: 23,844 km 2 .
Volume: 108 km 3.
Length: 177 km.
Width: 58 km.
Maximum depth
: 45 m.
Average depth: 13 m.
Type of mineralization: fresh.
Height above sea level: 32 m.
Number of islands: OK. 400.
Climate and weather
Tropical, trade wind.Average annual temperature: +28 - +32°С.
Average annual precipitation: 1200 mm.
Relative humidity: 70%.
Change in water level: Decreases during the dry season from December to April and increases during the rainy season from May to October.
Economy
Lake shipping.Fishing.
Agriculture: crop production (bananas, coffee, cocoa, avocado, cotton, corn).
Traditional crafts: wood carving, twig weaving.
Services: tourism (surfing, fishing), transport.
Attractions
■ City of Granada: Convento San Francisco Museum, Cathedral Iglesia de Guadalupe.■ Natural: Mombacho Volcano, San Juan River, Ometepe Island (with a biosphere reserve), Tipitapa River, Concepcion Volcano, Maderas Volcano, Solentiname Archipelago (reserve wildlife Los Guatuzos).
■ Historical: monuments of pre-Columbian civilizations (Ometepe island).
■ Cultural: artists' commune (Solentiname Islands).
Curious facts
■ The San Juan River, which rises in Lake Nicaragua and flows into the Caribbean Sea, marks much of the border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica.■ Ometepe Island is the largest freshwater volcanic island on earth.
■ Last time the issue of building the Nicaraguan Canal was raised at a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Nicaragua on December 18, 2008.
■ One of the most famous Nicaraguan canal projects is called the Ecocanal.
■ Since the 16th century. pirates often landed on the island of Ometepe, choosing it as a refuge in case of persecution by the Spaniards and displacing the local population, who settled higher on the slopes of the volcanoes.
■ The islands of Lake Nicaragua are home to 76 species of parrots and toucans.
■ The Nicaraguan shark reaches a length of 2-2.5 m and is a species that poses a potential danger to humans.
■ The first option for laying a canal between Tikhim and Atlantic Oceans envisaged its construction across Lake Nicaragua, but lobbyists for the Panama Project cleverly used Nicaragua postage stamps with the image active volcano Momotombo, smoking against the backdrop of Lake Managua. Despite the assurances of the Nicaraguan authorities, who claimed that the Momotombo volcano was located too far from the canal construction site, the Panama project was accepted. In addition, it was three times cheaper than Nicaraguan. And the Momotombo volcano inappropriately began to erupt during the construction of the Panama Canal.
■ Large lizards live along the shores of the lake - helmet-bearing basilisks (up to 60 cm long), capable of running on their hind legs even on the surface of the water.
■ Ancient petroglyphs were discovered on the Solentiname Islands - drawings on rocks depicting parrots, monkeys and people. The country's authorities have assigned the Solentiname Islands the status of a national natural monument of Nicaragua.
■ Before the construction of the Panama Canal, the San Juan River, which flows from Lake Nicaragua, was used to transport goods and people between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. For a long time this was the shortest waterway with transfers from east to west of the United States. During the California Gold Rush, the American transportation company Vanderbilt used this route to transport miners to East Coast USA.
■ Between 1981 and 1990, opposition groups (“contras”), whose base camps were located in Costa Rica, almost completely blocked navigation on the San Juan River, which caused significant damage to the economy of Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is the only freshwater lake in the world where sharks are found. Due to this fact and due to the short distance to the Pacific Ocean, scientists believe that the area where the lake is now located was once a large sea bay. Over time, the passage to the sea was closed and a lake was formed, in which sharks still live.
Nicaraguans call it Lago Cocibolca or Mar Dulce (Fresh Sea). As at sea, there are strong waves here, which raise easterly winds that blow west towards the Pacific Ocean. There are entire groups of islands on the lake, such as Ometepe and Solentiname. Powerful storms periodically occur on the lake.
In July 2014, the route of the Nicaraguan Canal between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, which will pass through Lake Nicaragua, was approved. Construction began on December 22, 2014. This circumstance is associated with objections from opponents of construction, who fear that with the beginning of ocean navigation, the lake will lose its importance as a source of fresh water. But the organizers of the construction claim that they carried out the necessary dredging work on the lake, while refusing to use explosives in its waters.
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Excerpt characterizing Nicaragua (lake)
Sonya was softened, excited and touched by everything that happened that day, especially by the mysterious performance of fortune-telling that she now saw. Now that she knew that on the occasion of the renewal of Natasha’s relationship with Prince Andrei, Nikolai could not marry Princess Marya, she joyfully felt the return of that mood of self-sacrifice in which she loved and was accustomed to living. And with tears in her eyes and with the joy of realizing a generous deed, she, interrupted several times by tears that clouded her velvety black eyes, wrote that touching letter, the receipt of which so amazed Nikolai.At the guardhouse where Pierre was taken, the officer and soldiers who took him treated him with hostility, but at the same time with respect. One could still feel in their attitude towards him doubt about who he was (whether he was a very important person), and hostility due to their still fresh personal struggle with him.
But when, on the morning of another day, the shift came, Pierre felt that for the new guard - for the officers and soldiers - it no longer had the meaning that it had for those who took him. And indeed, in this big, fat man in a peasant’s caftan, the guards of the next day no longer saw that living man who so desperately fought with the marauder and with the escort soldiers and said a solemn phrase about saving the child, but saw only the seventeenth of those being held for some reason, by by order of the highest authorities, the captured Russians. If there was anything special about Pierre, it was only his timid, intently thoughtful appearance and French, in which, surprisingly for the French, he spoke well. Despite the fact that on the same day Pierre was connected with other suspected suspects, since the separate room he occupied was needed by an officer.
All the Russians kept with Pierre were people of the lowest rank. And all of them, recognizing Pierre as a master, shunned him, especially since he spoke French. Pierre heard with sadness the ridicule of himself.
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Lake Nicaragua is the largest freshwater body of water in all of Latin America.
Around it is one of the Central American states, which bears the same name as the lake - Nicaragua. South of the lake is another Central American country, Costa Rica.
Lake Nicaragua on the map
Characteristics of Lake Nicaragua
- Has tectonic origin
- The area of the lake is 8,264 square meters
- Width 68km
- Length 177km
- Lake volume 108 km 3
- The lake is located 32 meters above sea level
- Maximum depth 50 meters, average depth 13m
- The climate is tropical
- Average annual precipitation 900 - 1,200mm
- Average annual temperature +30 0 C
The emergence of the lake
According to scientists, this lake arose on the site of the Pacific Gulf. In the distant past, this bay was isolated from the ocean as a result of tectonic processes and volcanic activity.
Lake Nicaragua photo
Numerous freshwater rivers flowing into it displaced the salty sea water. Many of the local animals are completely unique and are not found in other fresh water bodies.
Fish
Fishes found in Lake Nicaragua:
Most of the fish in Lake Nicaragua are predators. There are also numerous small aquarium fish that are distinguished by their exquisite beauty. They are in great demand and popularity among aquarists.
Sharks of Lake Nicaragua
Lake Nicaragua is famous for its freshwater sharks. They come in two types, and Nicaraguans call them visitantes and tintoreros. Both of them are bull sharks, but the visitants, distinguished by their white bellies, swim from the ocean and are not permanent residents of the lake. They are viviparous.
Lake Nicaragua. shark photo
Lake Nicaragua. toucan on the island photo
Climate
Lake Nicaragua. islands photo
During the rainy season, which lasts from May to October, the water level in the lake rises significantly. And during the dry season from December to April it decreases noticeably.
Rivers
There are many streams and rivers flowing around the lake. The San Juan River flows to the east from Lake Nicaragua. It is navigable and connects the lake with the Atlantic. To the northwest of Lake Nicaragua there is another freshwater lake - Managua. (The capital of the Republic of Nicaragua bears the same name).
The Tipitapa River, wide and deep, flows from Lake Managua into Lake Nicaragua. It flows from Lake Nicaragua San Juan and flows into the Caribbean Sea.
Attractions
Actually big island The lake, which is called Ometepe, is dominated by a pair of volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcien. The name of the island is translated from the Indian language and means “two mountains”. On this, as well as on some other islands, there are monuments dating back to pre-Columbian times. These include rock paintings with images of animals and birds.
Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe island and volcanoes photo
In addition, on the island of Ometepe there are stone idols installed in burial places. Since 2010, a biosphere reserve has been established on Ometele Island. It is home to a significant number of rare representatives of flora and fauna, in particular spider monkeys. Another nature reserve created on the Solentinam Islands.
- In the 16th-17th centuries, many islands in Lake Nicaragua served as a convenient refuge for pirates. Because of them local residents I had to move away from the shores of the lake to the mountains, to the foothills of the volcanoes.
- At the end of the 19th century, when plans were made to build a canal capable of connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, it was initially planned to build it in the area of Lake Nicaragua. There is a story that opponents of this project allegedly sent letters to the prospective investor in stamped envelopes that depicted a volcano near Lake Nicaragua. And perspective volcanic eruptions frightened the recipients so much that in the end it was decided to build the canal on the Isthmus of Panama. However, the idea of building another canal in Nicaragua was periodically returned to. Since December 22, 2014, work has been underway on its construction.