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Costa Rica:
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Other pages in this profile of Costa Rica:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. |
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Location |
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama |
Geographic coordinates |
10 00 N, 84 00 W |
Map references |
Central America and the Caribbean |
Area |
total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco |
Area - comparative |
slightly smaller than West Virginia |
Land boundaries |
total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km |
Coastline |
1,290 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm |
Climate |
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands |
Terrain |
coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m |
Natural resources |
hydropower |
Land use |
arable land: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
1,080 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards |
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes |
Environment - current issues |
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
Geography - note |
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65 |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |