Nicaragua, Lake

Nicaragua, Lake, 3,089 sq mi (8,001 sq km), c.100 mi (160 km) long and up to 45 mi (72 km) wide, SW Nicaragua; the largest lake of Central America. It is drained into the Caribbean Sea by the San Juan River. Lake Nicaragua, along with Lake Managua (which drains into it from the northwest), occupies part of the Nicaragua Depression, an extensive lowland region stretching across the isthmus. Once part of the sea, the lake was formed when the land rose. There are several islands in the lake (the largest is Isla de Ometepe); and small volcanoes rise above its surface. The freshwater of Lake Nicaragua contains fish usually associated with saltwater, including tuna and sharks, which have adapted to the environmental change. The lake is a transportation route; Granada is its chief port. Located only 110 ft (34 m) above sea level, the lake reaches a depth of 84 ft (26 m). It was to be an important link in the proposed Nicaragua Canal.

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Nicaragua, Lake

Lake, southwestern Nicaragua. It is 102 mi (164 km) long, with a surface area of about 3,100 sq mi (8,000 sq km). The largest freshwater lake between the U.S. and Peru, it is connected to Lake Managua by the Tipitapa River and is drained by the San Juan River. It is the only freshwater lake in the world containing marine animal life, including sharks, swordfish, and tarpon. Its largest island, Ometepe, is the preeminent site in Nicaragua for pre-Columbian archaeological finds.

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Nicaragua, Lake 

a lake in Nicaragua, and the largest lake in Central America. It has an area of 8,430 sq km and a maximum depth of 70 m. The lake is situated in a tectonic depression at an elevation of 32 m. It receives the Tipitapa River, which flows out of Lake Managua. The San Juan River connects Lake Nicaragua with the Caribbean Sea. The coastline is for the most part low-lying. Ometepe Island, with a volcano of the same name, lies in the western part of the lake. The lake is used for navigation, and a plan has been proposed to incorporate it into an interocean canal.