Rivas

Town in, and administrative capital of, the department of Rivas in southwestern Nicaragua, lying 97 km/60 mi southeast of Managua and 5 km/3 mi from the western shore of Lake Nicaragua; population (1997) 22,300. Rivas lies between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean, on the Pan-American Highway, by which it is linked to the capital, Managua. It is an industrial centre with tanneries, dairies, and rubber goods factories. The town is also a commercial and manufacturing centre for the surrounding cacao- and coffee-growing district. Wheat, maize, beans, sugar cane, rice, and tobacco are also grown.

There is an 18th-century church in the town's central park. In its dome are frescoes showing sea battles against the Protestants and communists. The town was founded in 1736 and previously known as Nicaragua, and was once part of the route for Americans travelling to the California Gold Rush of 1849.

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, president of Nicaragua 1990–96, was born in Rivas. The drummer Juan Santamaría, Costa Rica's national hero, died here in 1856.

Rivas

Maritime department in southwest Nicaragua; area 2,149 sq km/830sq mi; population (1995) 141,800. It is situated between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean. The land is hilly inland, but lower and more fertile towards the coast in the west. Livestock is raised in the valleys. Cacao, rice, maize, tobacco, coffee, sesame, sugar cane, fruit, and cotton are grown. The capital is Rivas.