Nicaragua is one and a half times the size of Hungary, a Central American country affected by wars and revolutions, making it one of the poorest on the continent. It has a tropical climate, and most people rely on agriculture, but climate change makes farming difficult. Its main export is cocoa, which once thrived in rainforests without irrigation, but drought is ruining many farmers.Lake Nicaragua, the largest in Central America, is home to the Solentiname Islands, with about 1,000 residents. The lake is a key water source, but the planned Nicaragua Canal could turn it salty, causing an ecological disaster. Along the San Juan River, many depend on farming or seek seasonal work in Costa Rica. Though the canal project has been delayed, it resurfaces often.This vast freshwater lake and agriculture are Nicaragua’s greatest assets, yet economic interests threaten their survival.