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Costa Rica was the first of the Central American nations to do so. Throughout the 1970s and 80s Costa Rica managed to stay relatively peaceful compared with its war-torn neighbours. This tropical country boasts an area of 19,710 square miles (51,060 square kilometers), which is ample space for its population of 5,264,000 people to call home. Lara, Sylvia Lara, Tom Barry, and Peter Simonson. A recommended response to "How are you?" [40] It soon became a high priority to developing an effective transportation route from the Central Plateau to the Atlantic Ocean. [144][145] Its best performance in the regional CONCACAF Gold Cup was runner-up in 2002. [79] In 2019, the country produced 99.62% of its electricity from renewable sources and ran completely on renewable sources for 300 continuous days. expect to save 40%-65% . Costa Rica finished a term on the United Nations Security Council, having been elected for a nonrenewable, two-year term in the 2007 election. Exceptions are Guanacaste, where almost half the population is visibly mestizo, a legacy of the more pervasive unions between Spanish colonists and Chorotega Amerindians through several generations, and Limn, where the vast majority of the Afro-Costa Rican community lives. [149], As of late 2021, Costa Rica's women's national volleyball team has been the top team in Central America's AFECAVOL (Asociacin de Federaciones CentroAmericanas de Voleibol) zone. "Hechos Militares y Polticos de Nuestra Historia Patria". The area is 51,100km2 of which 40km2 is water. Panama and Nicaragua are the bordering countries of Costa Rica. These factors, along with an established ecotourism industry, have attracted foreign investment, which shifted the countrys once agriculture-based economy to one dominated by services and technology by the late 20th century. . There are many islands of Costa Rica, the most remote being Cocos Island and the largest being Isla Calero. Costa Rica has a border with Nicaragua in the North which is 313 kilometers long and a border with Panama to the South which is 348 kilometers long. The people refer to themselves as "Ticos.". Some of the country's most notable avian species include the resplendent quetzal, scarlet macaw, three-wattled bellbird, bare-necked umbrellabird, and the keel-billed toucan. which forms their shared border. However, this is Central America and 2015 seems more likely especially since these two countries have ongoing border issues tainted by accusations of territorial expansionism. Straddling the Central Valley are the impressive mountain ranges, which include the Cordillera Volcanica to the north and the Cordillera de Talamanca to the south. Spaniards brought many new ingredients to the country from other lands, especially spices and domestic animals. [69] General Basic Education is mandatory and provided without cost to the user. This freeze lasted 47 years until President scar Arias Snchez re-established normal relations on 18 March 2009, saying, "If we have been able to turn the page with regimes as profoundly different to our reality as occurred with the USSR or, more recently, with the Republic of China, how would we not do it with a country that is geographically and culturally much nearer to Costa Rica?" Following the brief Costa Rican Civil War in 1948, it permanently abolished its army in 1949, becoming one of only a few sovereign nations without a standing army. The wetlands, which include the Tortuguero and Cao Negro wildlife refuges, are other vital geographical features. Despite enormous difficulties with construction, disease, and financing, the railroad was completed in 1890. While border runs - the process of leaving Costa Rica and returning immediately or in a matter of a day or two to renew one's legal permanence in the country - is not required until June 1,. The 2011 census classified 83.6% of the population as white or Mestizo; the latter are persons of combined European and Amerindian descent. Costa Rica (M) Dominican Republic . Mosses, orchids, and other tropical plants are abundant. The Honduran side of the border passes through departments such as Gracias a Dios, Olancho, and a few others. Costa Rican pride was assuaged for the loss of this eastern (or southern) territory with the acquisition of Guanacaste, in the north. It has 212km of Caribbean Sea coastline and 1,016 on the North Pacific Ocean. [152] Universal public education is guaranteed in the constitution; primary education is obligatory, and both preschool and secondary school are free. Geography and History of Costa Rica - ThoughtCo Costa Rica is tiny country in Central America, 9 degrees north of the Central American equator, directly south of Nicaragua and north of Panama. One national park, the Corcovado National Park, is internationally renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity (including big cats and tapirs) and is where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife. On this map, you can see the location of Costa Rica on a world map. Reasons include the high level of social services, the caring nature of its inhabitants, long life expectancy and relatively low corruption. [28] Costa Rica was described as "the poorest and most miserable Spanish colony in all America" by a Spanish governor in 1719. What countries do Italy border? Opinionator A Gathering of Opinion From Around the Web Borderlines The First Google Maps War By Frank Jacobs February 28, 2012 12:30 pm Comment Borderlines explores the global map, one line at a. It borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Pineapples have become a significant export, surpassing coffee as the number two export by the late 20th century. Stone tools, the oldest evidence of human occupation in Costa Rica, are associated with the arrival of various groups of hunter-gatherers about 10,000 to 7,000 years BCE in the Turrialba Valley. [69], Costa Rica has free trade agreements with many countries, including the US. [95], Costa Rica has a long-term disagreement with Nicaragua over the San Juan River, which defines the border between the two countries, and Costa Rica's rights of navigation on the river. In 19171919, General Federico Tinoco Granados ruled as a military dictator until he was overthrown and forced into exile. Mammalian life is both abundant and varied and has major ties to South and North American populations. Worth the Trip? A Look at Dental Tourism - constituent Otherwise to the north it's Peas Blancas, to the south and east the Panama border, and to the west the Santa Elena Peninsula. There 29 national parks of Costa Rica many conservation areas of Costa Rica. Temperatures vary with elevation. A new border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua over the Rio San Juan, which forms part of the border between the two countries, is scheduled to be open in 2014. On 15 September 1821, after the final Spanish defeat in the Mexican War of Independence (18101821), the authorities in Guatemala declared the independence of all of Central America. [111], According to the World Bank, in 2010 about 489,200 immigrants lived in the country, many from Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize, while 125,306 Costa Ricans live abroad in the United States, Panama, Nicaragua, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). For all these reasons, Costa Rica was, by and large, unappreciated and overlooked by the Spanish Crown and left to develop on its own. Northeasterly trade winds on the Caribbean provide ample year-round precipitation for the countrys east coast, with the heaviest amounts occurring in the Barra del Colorado region. [141][142][143], Football is the most popular sport in Costa Rica. This page was last updated on June 15, 2023, All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica - Unique Places Around the World, 9 Underrated Destinations In Michigan To Avoid Summer Crowds, These Small Towns in Florida's Emerald Coast Come Alive in Summer, 7 Most Underrated Cities In South Carolina, 9 of the Friendliest Towns in Pennsylvania. 30 Costa Rica landmarks 30 Famous Landmarks of Costa Rica Iraz Volcano, Cartago Province La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Vara Blanca Cocos Island, Puntarenas Manuel Antonio National Park, Puntarenas Cathedral Point, Manuel Antonio National Park The Jade Museum, San Jose La Sabana Park, San Jose San Jos Metropolitan Church, San Jose Costa Rica shares a 313-kilometre (194-mile) border with Nicaragua to the north, and a 348-km border with Panama to the south. However, the country has many microclimates depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of each particular region. Other significant lakes include Lake Cote and Lake Bonilla. International Union for Conservation of Nature, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, "Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica, Volcn Arenal, Map, Eruptions", "Klimatafel von San Jos (Int. [41], Most Afro-Costa Ricans descend from Jamaican immigrants who worked in the construction of that railway and now make up about 3% of Costa Rica's population. [73] Coffee production increased by 13.7% percent in 201516, declined by 17.5% in 201617, but was expected to increase by about 15% in the subsequent year. A 2016 report by the U.S. government report identifies the current challenges facing the education system, including the high dropout rate among secondary school students. The literacy rate in Costa Rica is approximately 97 percent and English is widely spoken primarily due to Costa Rica's tourism industry. About 7% of GDP is allocated to the health sector, and over 70% is government-funded. [39] By the mid-1850s the main market for coffee was Britain. This case was entered in the General List of the Court under the title Certain Activities Carried Out by Nicaragua in the Border Area (Costa Rica v. Nicaragua) (hereinafter the " Costa Rica v. Nicaragua case"). Some languages, such as Teribe and Boruca, have fewer than a thousand speakers. Administrative divisions of Costa Rica include 7 provinces, 82 cantons, and 478 districts. [46][101] According to Deutsche Welle, "Costa Rica is known for its stable democracy, progressive social policies, such as free, compulsory public education, high social well-being, and emphasis on environmental protection. The Caribbean Plate began its eastward migration during the Late Cretaceous. In November 2017, National Geographic magazine named Costa Rica as the happiest country in the world,[129] and the country routinely ranks high in various happiness metrics. The main foreign policy objective of Costa Rica is to foster human rights and sustainable development as a way to secure stability and growth.[94]. Maritime claims. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. These were small and scattered, although the timing of the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture as the main livelihood in the territory is still unknown. [39] In 2015, the value of coffee exports was US$305.9 million, a small part of the total agricultural exports of US$2.7 billion. The primary language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish, which features characteristics distinct to the country, a form of Central American Spanish. It is also a member of many other international organizations related to human rights and democracy, such as the Community of Democracies. [72], Pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing, software development, and ecotourism have become the prime industries in Costa Rica's economy. Quiz, https://www.britannica.com/place/Costa-Rica, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Costa Rica, Costa Rica - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Costa Rica - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Costa Rica Geography Overview Many earthquakes in Costa Rica have occurred. Costa Rica claims an exclusive economic zone of 574,725 km 2 (221,903 sq mi) with 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi). There is a wide variety of tropical birds in the lowlands, and reptiles, such as snakes and iguanas, and frogs are common. The above blank map represents the Republic of Costa Rica, a Central American nation. Costa Rica claims an exclusive economic zone of 574,725km2 (221,903sqmi) with 200 nautical miles (370.4km; 230.2mi) and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2km; 13.8mi). Other: 88.54%. High levels of education among its residents make the country an attractive investing location. Costa Rica, country of Central America. Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. [13] The country spends roughly 6.9% of its budget (2016) on education, compared to a global average of 4.4%. 31 March Costa Rica has coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. The northwest, with the longest dry season, contains open deciduous forest. After the coup d'tat, Figueres became a national hero, winning the country's first democratic election under the new constitution in 1953. [74] Coffee production played a key role in Costa Rica's history and in 2006, was the third cash crop export. In alphabetical order, the provinces are: Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, and San Jose. Land borders and maritime boundaries are included and are tabulated separately and in combination. Coffee production remained Costa Rica's principal source of wealth well into the 20th century, creating a wealthy class of growers, the so-called Coffee Barons. Author of, Professor of Geography; Director of Latin American Area Studies, Texas Tech University, Lubbock. Here's what it does differently", "Costa Rica is the Happiest Places in the World According to National Geographic. With a size of 51,100 km2 (19,700 sq mi), it is one of the smaller countries. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is home to about 2,000 plant species,[21] including numerous orchids. [3], Costa Rica is a biodiversity hotspot. The total exports were US$12.6 billion for a trade deficit of US$2.39 billion in 2015. [127], About 10.7% of Costa Rica's adult population (18 or older) also speaks English, 0.7% French, and 0.3% speaks Portuguese or German as a second language.[128]. The mean annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around 27C (81F), 20C (68F) in the main populated areas of the Cordillera Central, and below 10C (50F) on the summits of the highest mountains. Extending from northwest to southeast, Costa Rica is bounded by Nicaragua to the north, by the Caribbean Sea along the 185-mile (300-km) northeastern coastline, by Panama to the southeast, and by the Pacific Ocean along the 630-mile (1,015-km) southwestern coastline. Many of the worlds tropical biologists have carried out studies at the various research stations of the Organization for Tropical Studies, which has its headquarters in San Pedro, a suburb of San Jos, as well as at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (Centro Agronmico Tropical de Investigacin y Enseanza; CATIE) in Turrialba. [132], Costa Rica rates 12th on the 2017 Happy Planet Index in the World Happiness Report by the UN[136] but the country is said to be the happiest in Latin America. Several renowned universities and an active network of bookstores and publishing houses tend to make San Jos the nucleus of intellectual life in Central America. Costa Rica has been cited as Central America's great health success story. Costa Rica Nicaragua How COVID-19 Reignited 150 Years of Border Disputes Between Nicaragua and Costa Rica May 26, 2020 Zenia Grzebin On May 18, 2020, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega closed the country's Northern border and blamed the decision on the neighboring nation of Costa Rica. Population: 4,987,142 (2018) Official Language: Spanish Currency: Costa Rican coln (CRC) Form of Government: Presidential republic Climate: Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands Total Area: 19,730 square miles (51,100 square kilometers) [22] The Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad is allowed to collect royalties on any biological discoveries of medical importance. ". [13], The central location provides access to American markets and direct ocean access to Europe and Asia. Costa Rica (officially, the Republic of Costa Rica) is divided into 7 administrative provinces (provincias, singular - provincia). Costa Rica Republic of Costa Rica Travel Advisory October 4, 2022 Costa Rica - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution C Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime. Coffee was first planted in Costa Rica in 1808,[36] and by the 1820s, it surpassed tobacco, sugar, and cacao as a primary export. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, the Cordillera de Talamanca is a massive granite batholith, quite different geologically from the volcanically active northern ranges. [119] This survey indicated a decline in the share of Catholics and rise in the share of Protestants and irreligious. It remained a peripheral colony of the empire until independence as part of the First Mexican Empire, followed by membership in the Federal Republic of Central America, from which it formally declared independence in 1847. Together protected areas comprise over one-fourth of Costa Rican territory. . Starting on July 30, 2007, all travelers coming from the following countries must possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate before entry into Costa Rica will be allowed: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Col. In alphabetical order, the provinces are: Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, and San Jose. [133] The expression is used in various contexts in conversation. To the west, it meets the Pacific Ocean, and to the east lies the Caribbean Sea. [120] Most Buddhists are members of the Han Chinese community of about 40,000 with some new local converts. Mayors are chosen democratically every four years by each canton. The country's highest point, Mount Chirrip, lies in the Cordillera de Talamanca and reaches a staggering height of 12,536 feet (3,821 meters). Costa Rica (officially, the Republic of Costa Rica) is divided into 7 administrative provinces (provincias, singular - provincia). It reflects the inhabitant's philosophy of life,[132] denoting a simple life, free of stress, a positive, relaxed feeling. Aside from the Caribbean Coast, the Coco River makes up a section of the eastern border. [96] In 2010, there was also a dispute around Isla Calero, and the impact of Nicaraguan dredging of the river in that area. The Battle of Ochomogo took place on the Hill of Ochomogo, located in the Central Valley in 1823. While the country has only about 0.03% of the world's landmass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity. [2] Native and European mixed-blood populations are far less than in other Latin American countries. Neighboring countries include Austria, France, Holy See, San Marino, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The lowest point is sea level, and the highest is Cerro Chirripo: at 3810 m. The climate is tropical and subtropical. Before you book, be sure to double check your country's official . Central America - Wikipedia Several homes in the neighborhood east of the park display the Star of David and other Jewish symbols. ", "Solo 1 de cada 10 adultos habla un segundo idioma", "Costa Rica is one of the world's happiest countries. These provinces are divided into 82 cantons, which are further subdivided into 473 districts. [15][16][17], The country has consistently performed favorably in the Human Development Index (HDI), placing 58th in the world as of 2022[update], and fifth in Latin America. [124] However, they represent less than 1% of the population.[125][126]. [45] With more than 2,000 dead, the resulting 44-day Costa Rican Civil War was the bloodiest event in Costa Rica during the 20th century. Costa Rica became a "rural democracy" with no oppressed mestizo or indigenous class. Costa Rica experiences a tropical climate year-round. The conflict was won by the Republicans and, as a consequence, the city of Cartago lost its status as the capital, which moved to San Jos.[32][33][34]. According to the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 209 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants are endangered. [1] By 2016, the UN estimation for the population was around 5.2 million.[10][11]. Many countries are reopening their borders for international travel. The higher mountain ranges have warm temperate climates, and the Pacific slopes have alternating wet and dry seasons. Like the rest of Central America, Costa Rica never fought for independence from Spain. The country with coasts on the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east borders Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the southeast. Photo, Reuters. Dense broad-leaved evergreen forest, which includes mahogany and tropical cedar trees, covers about one-third of Costa Ricas landscape. Costa Rica International Travel Information Costa Rica borders the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. As is the case in much of Central America, the avian species in Costa Rica are a mix of North and South American species. The South American species include monkeys, anteaters, and sloths, and the North American species include deer, wildcats, weasels, otters, coyotes, and foxes. That date is still celebrated as Independence Day in Costa Rica[31] even though, technically, under the Spanish Constitution of 1812 that had been readopted in 1820, Nicaragua and Costa Rica had become an autonomous province with its capital in Len.