The reserve is located within city limits of the capital, Managua, and is a popular tourist attraction. Restaurants and stores line the walls of the lagoon, while canopy rides provide a panoramic view of the old downtown where only a few buildings survived the 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90 percent of the capital city. Of course, many new buildings and shopping malls have been built since then. Many pre-Columbian artifacts have been found in and around lagoon and reserve. The lagoon has its unique ecosystem with its own characteristic flora and fauna and height.