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CENTRAL AMERICA » COSTA RICA » Country Info & Map

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Introduction

Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

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

Area

total: 51,100 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
land: 50,660 sq km

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: 4.41%
permanent crops: 5.48%
other: 90.11% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land

1,260 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Population

3,956,507 (July 2004 est.)

Capital

San Jose

Phone Code

+506

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