Costa Rica Facts and Information

Planning to travel to Costa Rica for a vacation and seeking some Costa Rica facts and figures? Here is a list of interesting facts on Costa Rica along with useful travel information. Read these quick facts and information on Costa Rica to make your tour interesting.

Costa Rica, or the Republic of Costa Rica, as it is officially named, is a country in Central America. It is bordered by Panama to the south-southeast, the Nicaragua to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east. Here are some interesting facts about Costa Rica.

The total land area of Costa Rica is nineteen thousand five hundred and sixty square miles (19,560 sq mi). The total area of Costa Rica is nineteen thousand, seven hundred and thirty square miles (19,730 sq mi).

The first inhabitants of Costa Rica were around four hundred thousand (400,000) Indians. Christopher Columbus explored Costa Rica in 1502. Costa Rica then saw the Spanish conquest in 1524 and slowly came under the Spanish administration, becoming a Spanish province. Though Costa Rica achieved its freedom from the Spanish in 1821, it was conquered by the Mexican Empire in 1823. Christianity is the major religion in Costa Rica, with some ninety two percent (92%) of all Costa Ricans being Christians.

Costa Rica's terrain is a coastal plain, separated by mountains. The two mountains, Cordillera de Talamanca and Cordillera Central form the spine of the country. There are various rivers in the country. Costa Rica has a exclusive economic zone of around two hundred nautical miles and also a territorial sea of about twelve nautical miles. The rivers of Costa Rica are:

• Rio Reventazon
• Rio Pacuare
• Rio Parismina
• RIo Sixaola
• and Rio Colorado

Costa Rica has subtropical as well as tropical climates. The dry season of Costa Rica extends from December to April, while the rainy season is from May to November. December is the wettest month on the Caribbean coast. The areas on the highlands are cooler than the others. The highest elevation point in Costa Rica is Cerro Chirripo, a volcanic mountain with a total elevation of three thousand eight hundred and ten meters (3810 m). The lowest elevation level is at the Pacific Ocean at sea level.

Costa Rica is a democratic republic. It is one of the first countries to have abolished its armies. The country has had almost fifty nine years of uninterrupted democracy, the longest time in all of Latin America. The President has the executive responsibilities of the country.

The president is supported by the two vice presidents and a cabinet of ministers. The economy of Costa Rica depends mainly on pharmaceuticals, electronics and software development. Eco tourism is the most important of the industries in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has also concentrated on hi-tech growth. It has put into place the seven year expansion plan in the high tech industry. Tax exemptions are offered to companies and individuals who wish to invest in the country, already a financially sound decision due to the increasing levels of education in the native population. The unit of currency in Costa Rica is the colon (CRC).

Costa Rica has a rich flora and fauna. It is home to a variety of animals and plants. Almost twenty five percent of Costa Rica consists of reserves and protected forests. The Corcovado National Park is one such park in Costa Rica that is internationally known for its biodiversity.

The National Park is known for its abundance of wild life, with tapirs and big cats amongst some of the species residing in the Park. Another park of ecological interest is the Tortuguero National Park, which is home to the howler, spider, white-throated Capuchin monkeys and the three toed sloth. The parks have around three hundred and twenty species of birds. The Tortuego is also home to many turtles, with the Giant leatherback, the loggerhead turtle and the hawksbill residing at the park.