Granada

Granada

Historically one of the most important cities in Nicaragua, both economically and politically, Granada is located on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. The city has a rich colonial heritage, which is evident in the architecture and structure of the city. During the colonial period, pirates from England, France, and the Netherlands sailed up the San Juan River in an unsuccessful attempt to seize control of the city. The vegetation that surrounds Granada is a reflection of its climate, with both dry and humid forests surrounding the Mombacho volcano. The Mombacho Volcano is known to harbor a diverse fauna. A variety of marine and freshwater species, including the unique Nicaraguan Shark, live in Lake Nicaragua, the twentieth largest lake in the world. The lake is popular for fishing, with anglers catching guapote, mojarras and sardines. But because of declining populations, Nicaragua has recently prohibited fishing for Nicaraguan Sharks and sawfish. Granada's economy is still growing, and the city is becoming increasingly popular with tourists. Although it is still Nicaragua's sixth largest city, it is well known for its preservation of some of the most beautiful colonial-era buildings in the country. Granada has fertile agricultural land within the municipality, although it is now heavily dependent on tourism. Within its borders, there is significant production of organic coffee and cacao, cattle, plantains and bananas.