Editing Lake Nicaragua (section)

==Lake ecology==
Lake Nicaragua, despite being a freshwater lake, has [[Largetooth sawfish|sawfish]], [[Atlantic tarpon|tarpon]], and [[Bull shark|shark]]s.<ref name="LakeNet"/> Initially, scientists thought the sharks in the lake were an [[endemism|endemic]] species, the Lake Nicaragua shark (''Carcharhinus nicaraguensis''). In 1961, following comparisons of [[Biological specimen|specimen]]s, it was [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonymized]] with the widespread [[bull shark]] (''C. leucas''),<ref name="elasmo">[http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/ecology/fresh-bull.htm Fresh Waters: Unexpected Haunts.] elasmo-research.org. Accessed 2008-04-06.</ref> a species also known for entering freshwater elsewhere around the world.<ref>Compagno, L., M. Dando, and S. Fowler. 2004. ''Field Guide to the Sharks of the World.'' {{ISBN|0-00-713610-2}}</ref> It had been presumed that the sharks were trapped within the lake, but this was found to be incorrect in the late 1960s, when it was discovered that they were able to jump along the rapids of the [[San Juan River (Nicaragua)|San Juan River]] — which connects Lake Nicaragua with the Caribbean Sea — almost like [[Salmon run#Obstacles to the run|salmon]].<ref>Crist, R. 2002. [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Carcharhinus_leucas.html ''Carcharhinus leucas'']. Animal Diversity Web. Accessed 2008-04-06</ref> As evidence of these movements, bull sharks tagged inside the lake have later been caught in the [[Pelagic zone|open ocean]] (and vice versa), with some taking as little as 7–11 days to complete the journey.<ref name= elasmo/> Numerous other species of fish live in the lake, including at least 16 [[cichlid]]s that are endemic to the general region. None of these are strictly endemic to Lake Nicaragua, although ''[[Amphilophus labiatus]]'' is native only to Lake Nicaragua and [[Lake Managua]].<ref>Homziak, Jurij. [http://www.lasuerte.org/cafta2.html CAFTA Interim Environmental Review – Lake Nicaragua] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003626/http://www.lasuerte.org/cafta2.html |date=2017-11-13 }}. lasuerte.org. Accessed 2008-04-06</ref><ref>Colodney, D: ''[http://badmanstropicalfish.com/cichlid_of_month/Lake_Nicaragua.html The Cichlids of Lake Nicaragua – Part I.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226150108/http://badmanstropicalfish.com/cichlid_of_month/Lake_Nicaragua.html |date=2014-12-26 }}'' Badman's Tropical Fish. Retrieved 26 December 2014.</ref> A non-native cichlid, a [[tilapia]], is used widely in [[aquaculture]] within the lake. Owing to the large amount of waste they produce, and the risk of introducing [[fish diseases|diseases]] to which the native fish species have no [[Immunity (medical)|resistance]], they are potentially a serious threat to the lake's [[Lake ecosystem|ecosystem]].<ref>[http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/18-lake-nicaragua.html Lake Nicaragua]. vianica.com. Accessed 2008-04-06</ref>

The nation's largest source of freshwater, Nicaraguans call it {{lang|es|Lago Cocibolca}} or {{lang|es|Mar Dulce}} (literally "Sweet Sea"; in Spanish, "freshwater" is {{lang|es|agua dulce}}). The lake has sizeable waves driven by the easterly winds blowing west to the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The lake holds [[Ometepe]] and [[Zapatera]], which are both [[volcanic island]]s, as well as the [[archipelago]] of the [[Solentiname Islands]]. The lake has a reputation for periodically powerful storms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-12 |title=Lake Cocibolca/Nicaragua|url=https://www.ilec.or.jp/wp-content/uploads/pub/09_Lake_Cocibolca_27February2006.pdf |access-date=2024-04-07 |author=Montenegro-Guillén, Salvador|quote=Meta-data on this paper says it was presented at the Lake Basin Management Initiative Regional Workshop for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas held at Saint Michaelʼs College in Vermont, USA, 18-21 June 2003." }}</ref>

In the past 37 years, considerable concern has been expressed about the ecological condition of Lake Nicaragua. In 1981 the [[Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Nicaragua)|Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources]] (MARENA) conducted an environmental assessment study and found that half of the water sources sampled were seriously polluted by [[sewage]]. It was found that 32 tons (70,000 pounds) of raw sewage were being released into Lake Nicaragua daily. Industry located along the lake's shore had been dumping [[effluent]] for an extended period of time. [[Total Petrochemicals USA|Pennwalt Chemical Corporation]] was found to be the worst polluter. Nicaragua's economic situation has hampered the building of treatment facilities nationwide (see: [[Water supply and sanitation in Nicaragua]]).

The country's worst drought in 32 years took its toll on the lake in 2014; the Nicaraguan government recommended citizens to raise and eat [[Ctenosaura similis|iguanas]] over chickens to reduce water consumption.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diariolibre.com/latinoamerica/2014/08/10/i739331_gobierno-nicaragua-recomienda-criar-iguanas-para-enfrentar-sequa.html |title=Gobierno de Nicaragua recomienda criar iguanas para enfrentar sequía - DiarioLibre.com |website=www.diariolibre.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811170823/http://www.diariolibre.com/latinoamerica/2014/08/10/i739331_gobierno-nicaragua-recomienda-criar-iguanas-para-enfrentar-sequa.html |archive-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Also, plans for the [[Nicaragua Canal]] through the lake could lead to saltwater and other contamination during construction and operation of the canal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicaragua Canal Poses Significant Environmental Risks {{!}} Hanover to Nicaragua |url=https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/kamen_lacs20_fa16/blog/nicaragua-canal-poses-significant-environmental-risks/#:~:text=The%20new%20canal%20is%20likely,the%20fragile%20ecosystem%20to%20collapse. |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=journeys.dartmouth.edu}}</ref>