Managua, with a population of about 1,723,100 in 2004, is the capital of Nicaragua. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua, the city was made the national capital in 1855; previously the capital had alternated between the cities of León and Granada. Managua is overwhelmingly populated by Spanish-speaking Mestizos. There are also European communities. Managua is considered very confusing for visitors, because it has no street names or addresses. After the 1972 earthquake the city regrew organically and street signs were generally not replaced. Directions are always given relative to landmarks, but landmarks are often used which no longer exist.
Managua is also the birthplace of Nicaraguan Sign Language. The Sandinistas gathered deaf children who never learned to speak, but who could communicate clumsily with parents and family members using gestures, and put them together in an effort to engender "socialistic" education. The children then proceeded to communicate among themselves, and, in doing so, invented one of the world's newest languages.
