Geography

Costa Rica extends from northwest to southeast. It is bounded by Nicaragua on the north and Panama on the southeast. To the southwest lies the Pacific Ocean and to the northeast is the Caribbean Sea. Costa Rica covers an area of 19,730 square miles (51,100 square kilometers).

Mountain ranges run almost the entire length of Costa Rica. The country's highest point is Chirripó Grande in the south, which rises to 12,533 feet (3,820 meters). The northern ranges are known for their volcanic peaks. These volcanoes pose a serious threat to the densely populated central part of Costa Rica, known as the Meseta Central. Earthquakes are also a danger throughout the country.

Along the Pacific coast, tropical plains are sandwiched between the interior mountains and two peninsulas that jut into the ocean. Along the Caribbean is a narrow, low-lying plain. Both coasts are lined with white sandy beaches.

Costa Rica is a land of many climates. The low-lying coastal plains are hot throughout the year. The Meseta Central has a pleasant climate year-round. Temperatures are generally cool in the high mountain ranges. Rainfall is plentiful, especially on the Caribbean coast.

Plants and animals

Thick evergreen forests cover about one third of the landscape. Numerous evergreen oaks, scrub, and grasses grow on the slopes of the southern mountains. Palm trees are common on the Caribbean coastline, and mangroves grow along the Pacific.

Because of its large tropical areas, Costa Rica has abundant wildlife. Its location between North and South America means that it has animals native to both continents. The South American species include monkeys, anteaters, and sloths. The North American species include deer, wildcats, weasels, otters, coyotes, and foxes. Costa Rica also has a wide variety of tropical birds, insects, and reptiles such as snakes and iguanas.

People and culture

Most of Costa Rica's people are white or mestizo (of mixed descent). The country has more people of Spanish descent than any other Central American nation. Costa Ricans of African ancestry live mostly along the Caribbean coast. They are the descendants of workers brought from the West Indies to build railroads and raise bananas. American Indians make up less than 1 percent of the population.

Costa Ricans place great emphasis on education, and the country has one of the highest literacy rates in the region. Spanish is the official language, and Roman Catholicism is the official religion.

More than half of Costa Ricans live on the Meseta Central. The population is about evenly split between people who live in rural and urban areas. The largest city is the capital, San José. Other major cities include the Caribbean port of Limón, Alajuela, San Isidro de El General, Cartago, and Heredia.

Economy

Although its name means “rich coast,” Costa Rica is not a rich country. But it also is not as poor as many of its neighbors. The country's wealth is distributed more evenly among its people than in other Central American countries.

Agriculture remains a major source of employment and income in Costa Rica. About 20 percent of the people work in farming, and coffee and bananas are the main exports. In the late 20th century, however, industry became increasingly important to the country's economy. The main manufacturing industries include the production of electronic components, food and beverages, petroleum products, clothing, and textiles. Tourism is an important and growing industry.

History

A number of Indian tribes lived in what is now Costa Rica before Europeans arrived. Christopher Columbus became the first European to visit the area in 1502. The Indians brought him a number of items of gold, possibly leading Columbus to name the land Costa Rica (“rich coast”), though there is some disagreement over the origin of the name. The Spanish colonists who followed Columbus found little mineral wealth, however. For this reason the Spanish government did not pay much attention to Costa Rica. The colony remained poor throughout the colonial era.

Costa Rica joined with other parts of Central America in declaring independence from Spain in 1821. At first it became part of the newly formed Mexican Empire, but in 1823 it helped create the United Provinces of Central America. Disappointed with the conflict among the other states of the federation, Costa Rica left the union in 1838. The government encouraged the production of coffee and bananas, which greatly improved the economy.

In 1890 Costa Ricans elected José Joaquín Rodríguez to the presidency. This election is considered the first entirely free and honest election in all of Central America. Costa Rica experienced brief revolutions in 1917 and 1948, but the country generally developed peacefully and with democratic traditions. The army was replaced by a Civil Guard in 1949.

Costa Rica gained international attention in the 1980s and 1990s for its role in settling violent political disputes in neighboring countries. For his efforts, President Oscar Arias Sánchez won the Nobel peace prize in 1987. Population (2001 estimate), 3,936,000.