Lake Managua

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Lake Managua from space, January 1986

Lake Managua (also known as Lake Xolotlán) (located at [12°20′N 86°25′W]) is a lake in Nicaragua. It is approximately 40 miles long and 15 miles wide. Similar to the name of Lake Nicaragua, its name was coined by the Spanish conquerors from "Mangue" (their name for the Mánkeme tribes) and agua ("water").

The lake has been severely polluted, in part by Kodak dumping mercury into the lake in the 1950s. Despite the pollution, some of the people of Managua still live along the lake's banks and eat the fish

It rose 10 feet in 5 days during Hurricane Mitch in 1998, destroying the homes of many who lived on its edge.

It is also joined by a river to another lake, Lake Nicaragua; however, due to the extreme pollution, the bull sharks of Lake Nicaragua can't join Lake Managua.

View of Lake Managua from Tipitapa, circa 2003.

View of Lake Managua from Tipitapa, circa 2003. Volcanos Momotombo and Momotombito are visible in the background.

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