Located in center of the American continent, Nicaragua is the largest Central American country. Nicaragua is home to very rich biodiversity, a truly stunning array of flora and fauna. There are forests of different types, subtropical dry forest, tropical rain forest, mangrove forest, wetlands, grass savanna and tree savanna. On the Pacific side there is mostly tropical dry forest and savanna. In the north, in the mountainous regions, there are cloud forests and pine forests. The two longest rivers in Central America run along the borders of Nicaragua. The Rio Coco (the longest at 680 km or 423 miles) runs along the northern border with Honduras and the Rio San Juan runs along the border with Costa Rica in the south. The Rio San Juan area has both tropical wet forests and rain forests. There are many miles of coastline and beaches as well.

The Pacific Basin is dotted with innumerable volcanoes, lagoons and lakes. The two great lakes are Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua and there are also 15 crater lakes. In the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America and 21st largest by area in the world, is Ometepe Island formed by two volcanoes.

The climate (always hot) and the minimal altitudinal variation have created an environment where diversity has bloomed. There are about 250 species of amphibians and reptiles, about 250 species of mammals, 700+ species of birds, 640+ species of fish, 350+ species of trees, 12,000+ of species of plants (as many as 600 orchids alone) and perhaps more than 250,000 types of insects. There are many creatures as yet undiscovered in the wilds of Nicaragua.

Some standout species are the jaguar, puma, ocelot, tapir, deer, anteater, macaw, quetzal, harpy eagle, and toucan. There are diverse types of monkeys including spider, howler and capuchin monkeys. There are also many types of lizards and snakes, including boas. Plus birds, bats, frogs, crabs, spiders and crocodiles. There are sea turtles on both coasts and a species of shark, the bull shark, which can tolerate the fresh water of Lake Nicaragua.

All these species are distributed in the different biomes from the country. There are a number of protected areas with nearly 20 percent of the territory listed as protected. The Reserve of Bosawás is the third largest reserve in the world and has the second largest rain forest in the Americas after the Amazon. There are other vast reserves such as the Guatuzos and Indio-Maize Reserves and the central part of the country is sparsely populated. This has helped preserve the biodiversity but logging and deforestation are still a problem. Agriculture abounds in more populated regions. Agricultural products include coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soy and beans. Animal products include beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products, seafood, shrimp and lobster.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gustavo_Zorrilla

Soil is one of the most important and essential natural resources. Farmers and gardeners know this fact and go to great efforts to conserve it. They understand that when the soil is destroyed, then gardens will not be successful and good crops cannot grow. They also know that it takes a considerable amount of time for soil to form. Here we will look at elements that must come together in order to form soil.

Soil is defined as a covering over most of the earth's land surface. It is made of particles of rock and minerals, living things and the remains of living things. It takes thousands of years for soil to form just a few inches and for some parts of the country it has been less than that.

Soil is formed in two general ways:

· When weather conditions cause rock to break down.
· When soil is carried from one place to another.

How is soil made?

Air
Moving air, such as the wind blows sand against rock to wear it down.

Water
The force of running water can wear away rock. Rain and snow also help to break down rock into smaller particles.

Plants
Plants help the soil as they grow and when they die. As dead plants decay, it adds an organic material to the soil, which makes it more fertile.

Animals
The body waste of many animals helps to keep the soil fertile, as well as the remains of dead animals as they decay.

Now that you've had a lesson on the importance of soil as a natural resource and how it forms, you are now a more knowledgeable gardener. Use your knowledge to continually improve your gardening skills the next time you dig in the dirt to plant your flower or vegetable garden. Use your knowledge to develop an even greater appreciation for a natural resource that man cannot make, but has a responsibility to conserve and preserve for generations to come.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_McNeal

When you become interested in the birds and wish to join with others who have made birding the number one and fastest growing activity in North American today you are confronted with many choices in binoculars. In fact, there are so many choices of binoculars today that it is almost frustrating. Yet, it doesn't have to be.

There are a few basics that one must know. First, the advances in the technology of optics have proved remarkable. Today's binoculars are much more lightweight, gather so much more light, and provide for more clear, precise images than ever before. One advance is the type of prism used: the roof prism. The main job of the prism is to right the image for the viewer. Yet, the use of the roof prism has allowed for internal focusing and the ability to water and fog proof the binocular. Secondly, the use of nitrogen and, most recently, argon gases to purge the internal system of moisture allows the use of binoculars under challenging conditions of humidity, fog, and even rain. Third, thin layer coatings have provided increased light transmission and corrections for aberrations in lenses that do not add significantly to weight.

When we begin to look at various models of binoculars we find a set of numbers on them, such as 8x42. The first number has to do with magnification and the second with the size of the objective lens. For most of us, whether a novice or a veteran, the magnification that works best is 8x. Really what this means is, when viewing the bird through your binoculars, the image created is as if you are only one eighth of the distance to the bird. So, if you were looking at a bird 100 feet away, it appears as if you are only about 12 feet away. The size of the objective lens, the lens closest to the object viewed, is of great importance because it is one factor in the amount of light gathering power of the binocular, but also influences the field of view. The larger the objective lens the more light gathering capability. However, the larger size contributes to increased weight. A 50 mm objective gathers more light than a 35 mm lens but is significantly heavier. Most people find the 42 mm lens to be a great compromise, gathering quite a bit of light while allowing for a weight that allows the binocular to be held for a long and satisfying look at the bird in question.

Beginning birders often have a period of time when they are learning to find the bird in their binoculars. One should consider finding a binocular with a large field of view in this case. Field of view is stated in feet at 1000 yards and also in degree measure. More easily understood is the former. If the specifications state 336 ft/1000 yards, this means 336 feet across the viewing area is visible in the lens 1000 yards from where one stands.

Having said all that, one of the best choices for the beginning birder would be the Stokes 8x42 Talon or the Vortex 8x42 Diamondback. These two have very similar specifications. Both have an amazing field of view, 420 feet. Both are offered at a very reasonable price.

Now, go get a binocular you will enjoy for a long time and go birding!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Smallwood

The cypress tree family is widespread, containing over 130 species. Through DNA analysis, it has recently been determined that both the juniper and giant sequoia trees are related to the cypress family. However, when someone mentions the cypress tree, they are generally speaking of one of three main species - the Bald Cypress, the Leyland Cypress, or the Arizona Cypress. These are the most popular and widely used cypress trees in America, and each has unique characteristics. You can be sure one of these species will fit your landscaping needs.

The Bald Cypress is the symbolic tree of the southern swamp; however, it is quite adaptable and has been grown successfully much further north. It is a large tree, can grow as tall as 70' and spread as wide as 25' at the bottom. It tolerates all soil types, is adaptable to wet or dry conditions and can withstand flooding. The Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer so it will not only produce cones, but will shed its needle shaped leaves in the winter. It has a uniform conical shape.

The Leyland Cypress is a fast growing evergreen and is very popular in landscaping. It is a large tree, can grow as tall as 60-70', with a smaller spread of about 15-20' at the base. It also grows in all soils, prefers full sun, and requires an average amount of rainfall. Unlike the Bald Cypress, this tree retains its blue-green needles throughout the winter. In maturity, the Leyland forms a columnar or slightly pyramidal shape and its dense branches make it a prime choice for forming windbreaks or privacy hedges. Although the Leyland Cypress prefers full sun, it does not adapt well to hot climates and becomes susceptible to a fungus known as Cypress Canker. Both the Bald Cypress and the Arizona Cypress perform better in the extreme southern states.

The Arizona Cypress is the southern belle of the cypress species and does not grow well in the middle or northern states. It is smaller and wider than the other species, growing to about 45' with a spread of 25-30'. The Arizona prefers full sun, grows in all soil types, and has normal moisture requirements, but has good drought tolerance. Due to its dense branches, gray-green needles, and uniform shape, it is widely grown for Christmas trees. It is also widely used in landscaping as a focal point or anchor.

These three varieties of cypress trees cover all the bases. Wet or dry soil, hot or temperate conditions - there is a cypress tree to meet your needs. Choose the melancholy Bald Cypress, the slender Leyland Cypress, or the elegant Arizona Cypress. Each and any one will add impact to your landscape.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Wainwright