Lake Managua (, ), also known as Lake Xolotlán (), is a freshwater lake in Nicaragua. At 1,042 km², it is approximately long and wide. Similarly to the name of Lake Nicaragua, its other name comes from the Nahuatl language, possibly from the Spanish Tlaxcaltec and Mexica allies but most likely from the Nicarao tribes that had already settled in the region. The city of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, lies on its southwestern shore.
Islands
There are two uninhabited lake islands:
- , a volcanic island. There is another nearby volcano, on the mainland: Momotombo.
- Isla Rosa, an islet
Flooding
The level of Lake Managua rises significantly during periods of heavy rain. The highest water level was recorded during the flooding of 1933., especially since 1927 when it became the dumping point for Managua's raw sewage Despite the situation, many people still live along the lake's shores and eat the fish from it.