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COSTA RICA in brief. With an area of 51,100 square kilometers (31, 690 square miles), it borders with Nicaragua on the North, Panama on the southeast, the Pacific Ocean on the west and southwest, and the Atlantic on the East. Costa Rica has population of approx. 4 million people, 1 percent is indigenous population, 3 percent are black, 1 percent is Asian, 1 percent is of other races, and an overwhelming 94 percent of the country is white descent (including Mestizos). Anyone born in the country is affectionately referred to as a Tico. Costa Rica has not had an army since 1948, which accounts in great part for its well-known reputation of peace. Costa Rica’s basically secure income relies mainly on tourism, agriculture (coffee, bananas, etc.) and electronics exports. Costa Rica’s literacy rate is 95.7%. The high level education of the country’s workforce and its peaceful climate, have brought in a lot of foreign investment. Costa Rica’s government is organized as a democratic republic with seven provinces: San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, Guanacaste, Cartago, Limon and Puntarenas. Here you will find beautiful beaches of various colors of sand, both on the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Majestic mountains covered with rainforests or cloud forests are a wonderful place to explore, and study their vast collection of flora and fauna that is incomparable to any in the world. The weather is ideal for outdoor activities both in the dry and rainy seasons. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: ( 10,500 hectares / 25,945.5 acres) Monteverde is a private non-profit reserve administered by the Tropical Science Center. It is called a cloud forest rather than a rainforest because of its altitude: the clouds go through the forest. A cloud forest is a highland forest characterized by nearly 100% humidity throughout the year. One of the most important features of Monteverde Cloud forest is the abundance of wildlife and vegetation. Competition for growing space is so intense that trunks and branches are almost entirely covered with a variety of epiphytes, lichens, liverworts, bryophytes and mosses. In this reserve there are 2,500 species of plants. There are 100 species of mammals, including 5 species of cats, over 400 species of birds. The area is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife refuge in The New World Tropics. The Arenal National Park ( 12,141 hectares / 30,000 acres) The Arenal National Park created in 1991, is located on Costa Rica’s central northern plains. The Arenal Volcano is the only active volcano in Costa Rica. It stands 1,657 meters ( 5,435 feet) high above the eastern shores of Lake Arenal. Its conical shape typical of a strato volcano is made of successive layers of eruptions, rocks, ashes and lava. The most recent eruptive period began with a major explosive eruption in 1968, after 400 years of being dormant. The land-locked national park is also the home of Costa Rica’s largest artificial lake, which lies west of the volcano. The majestic lake Arenal was enlarged to three times its original size to form a 33 square mile basin that feeds the hydroelectric dam, which produces 70% of Costa Rica’s electricity. Under the water of the lake, lies the abandoned town of Arenal. Tenorio National Park ( 12,867 hectare /31,794 acres) The Tenorio National Park created in 1976 is located in the northern pacific region of the country. It covers 31,794 acres. The national park was created to protect the Tenorio Volacno, which stands at 1,916 meters ( 6,322 feet). The volcano is assumed to be dormant, with no eruptions in recent history. The Park is well known for its steep trails. Primary cloud forest and rainforest covers the park, which abounds with flora and fauna species in multiple life zones, innumerable rivers and waterfalls. |
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