Costa Rica:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Costa Rica:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition 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.

Location	Definition Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates	Definition 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references	Definition Central America and the Caribbean
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries	Definition total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline	Definition 1,290 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate	Definition tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain	Definition coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources	Definition hydropower
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 1,080 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 112.4 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 2.68 cu km/yr (29%/17%/53%) per capita: 619 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Environment - current issues	Definition 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	Definition 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	Definition 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

Costa Rica: Geography

Costa Rica:
Geography