Costa Rica Geography

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Costa Rica, despite being small in size, is geographically a land of extreme contrast. Located in the tropics, between 8 and 11 degrees north of the Equator, with a mountain range that is responsible for the constant seismic activity, volcanoes, the distinctive climate zones and the vast biodiversity. Hot jungles, fertile pastures, uplands and cold mountain peaks make Costa Rica a fascinating land of infinite variety.

The country’s area is over 51,100 square kilometers with a maximum longitudeCosta Rica mountains. of 464 km between the borders. Costa Rica is bordered to the North with Nicaragua, Panama to the south, the west by the Pacific Ocean and east with the Caribbean Sea. The country is divided into seven provinces: San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Puntarenas, Guanacaste and Limón, and these into cantons and districts.

Costa Rica is near the Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates, as well as local failures, causing thousands of small tremors every year. The seismic activity has been recorded since 1638, but projections remain unclear.

Mountain ranges that go from the northwest frontier of Nicaragua to the southeast border with Panama splits the country in two. Costa Rica has three main mountain ranges that run the country: the Central Volcanic Cordillera, the Cordillera of Talamanca and Cordillera of Guanacaste. With the exception of Intermontano Central Valley, the rest of the country is occupied by large plains, located to the north, northwest and southwest of the territory. The Guanacaste Cordillera in the north, has the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. Further south in the Cordillera de Tilarán is the most famous active volcano, the Arenal, which continues throwing rocks and lava. These eruptions are a major tourist attraction, as well as the Arenal Lake, the largest lake in Costa Rica.

In the Cordillera Central, is the still active Poas Volcano, which continues emitting sulfurous gases and threatening bubbles. The Irazu meanwhile, the highest volcano in the country with 3,431 m (11,257 ft), had its last eruption in 1963, showering the Central Valley with ashes for two years. Turrialba Volcano, part of the same range, has been dormant since 1866. Dormant volcanoes – Tenorio, Miravalles, Orosi, Santa Maria, Cacho Negro, Platanar and Barva – can awake at any moment and the numbers say that there are about 200 extinct volcanoes on land and at sea.

Geologically oldest, but not volcanic, located southeast of the country is the Cordillera de Talamanca, which is the largest and most robust in the country. Here lies the fifth highest peak in Central America and the highest peak in Costa Rica, the Chirripó with 3,820 m (12,530 feet), experiences sub-zero temperatures and occasional small scale snowfall. To the South of Cartago, the Interamerican Highway begins to climb the Cerro de la Muerte, from about 5.00 to 11,450 feet, where temperatures range between 5°C and 20°C. Justly, in the central area of Los Santos and La Costanera along the south Pacific coast, are the lower areas of the country.

The country has a relatively long coastline in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Most of Punta Uva beach, Puerto Viejo, Limon, Costa Rica.the few islands of Costa Ricans are in the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific Ocean, highlighting among them the Chira Island, which was an ancient indigenous settlement and today has some small villages of farmers and ranchers. The Calero Island which is the largest island of the country with 151.6 km2 (58.5 square miles). As well as the famous Cocos Island with 24 km2 (9.3 square miles), which is also recognized as a National Park, about 500 kilometers from the coast and in the Pacific Ocean, is the farthest possession of the country and currently competes to be one of the wonders of the world, and still at present is a source of legends about invaluable treasures buried there centuries ago by pirates who ravaged the Spanish colonies in America. The temperature ranges between 37°C in coastal areas.

Half the population lives in the fertile Central Valley, known for its abrupt changes in altitude, temperatures and landscapes. It is home to the capital, San Jose, Orosi Valley and major cities like Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and Turrialba. For possessing a fertile field and a volcanic soil, they are the major coffee areas, as well as milk production. Intermontano Central Valley, with an average temperature of 20°C and an average height above sea level of 1000 meters, covers an area of 3250 square kilometers, in which are located the largest cities and most part of the population, which is approximately 4 million.

Multiple changes in altitude and temperature are responsible for the incredible variety of climates that cause the country’s incredible biodiversity. The average temperature in San Jose ranges from 18°C and 27°C throughout the year. Other nearby communities may be five to six degrees warmer or colder. Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula are burning during the day with temperatures between 31°C and 38°C, dropping about 20°C overnight. Ten hours of sunshine during the dry season and six hours in the wet is the norm for this region of the tropical dry forests and plains of grass famous for their cattle.

The lush rainforests of the Caribbean are the main growing regions of plantain and banana. Rainfall throughout the year to October, traditionally the driest month, produces a higher level of moisture that the Pacific coast, with temperatures averaging 25°C to 27°C.

The Central Pacific distintive for palm oil plantations, and the borders south area with its dense jungles of steam from the coast of the remote Osa Peninsula. The northern area for its diverse topography, resulting in a wide variety of microclimates. The landscape includes the Lake Arenal and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Varablanca, Heredia, Costa RicaMonteverde cloud forest.

The entire geography of the country is crossed by highways and roads linking the ports of Limon and Puntarenas, passing through the capitals of the provinces of Cartago, Alajuela and San José, with a group of roads connecting with Heredia. The air field covers the whole country, through countless airports and airfields. The Inter-American highway, built during World War II in cooperation with the United States, crosses the country from north to south, linking with the rest of the continent.

The hydrological aspect of Costa Rica is extremely important since it determines an important hydroelectric potential, not only by the availability of energy for the needs of the nation but, in fact, Costa Rica is currently exporting energy to other neighboring nations.

Even though Costa Rica has a small territory and few great rivers, such as Reventazon, the Térraba, the Grande de Tárcoles and Tempisque, the topography of the country offers very suitable characteristics for water use.

Costa Rica Weather

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Clima en Costa Rica

Costa Rica weather is tropical with average temperatures of 24°C in the lowest mountainous areas and 16°C in the highest.

Understanding the weather of Costa Rica is important for tourism, which would have to know on which time of year to visit the areas and which are the best according to season, region and altitude. As a tropical country, Costa Rica’s seasons are defined by how much rain falls during a particular period and not to the four seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. The year can be split into two periods, the dry season, known as summer, and the rainy season, known as winter. The “summer” or dry season goes from December to April, and “winter” or rainy season goes from May to November, which almost coincides with the Atlantic hurricane season, and during this time, it rains constantly in some regions. Some areas of the country experiencing a short summer period between July and September, known as “El Veranillo”, which could be translated as “short summer”. All this, of course, is a simplification, because there are considerable differences depending on the position and altitude. For example, in the lowlands of the Caribbean it rains throughout the year, often recording over 5000mm (200in), this pattern is repeated in the South Pacific region. Humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side. The mean annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around 27°C (81°F). The hot, dry lands of the country are in the province of Guanacaste in the northwest, where temperatures often reach 40°C (105°F).

On the other hand, the highest peaks correspond to cold areas, such as Chirripó, which reaches temperatures below 10°C (50°F) and below zero. The Ridges are often covered with clouds, so that tourists who visit the most popular volcanoes, such as Irazu and Poas, should do so, early in the morning before the fog descends. The most pleasant weather to be found in Costa Rica is in the Central Valley, where the average temperature is around 20°C (68°F) throughout the year. The dry season is high season for tourism, for both foreigners and Costa Ricans.

Click here to check the current weather in Costa Rica (Website is in Spanish, it’s from the official Meteorological Center in Costa Rica)
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Asis Project Foundation

Biological reserve, wildlife rescue center, environmental education, volunteer center and Spanish institute.

Asis Project foundation Costa Rica is an organization that runs a wildlife rescue center and has been working on social and ecological projects in rural Costa Rica for the past 12 years.

To support their projects they offer Spanish classes and Volunteer opportunities.

Visit Asis Project foundation and experience the real Costa Rica:

* Working and taking care of wild animals that need your help.
* Learning Spanish through their total immersion programs.
* Participating with a local recycling co-operative.
* Living with a Costa Rican family.

Contact info:

Alvaro del Castillo V.
Tel. ofic. +506 2475-91-21

http://www.institutoasis.com/

Location: Jabillos, Florencia, San Carlos, Alajuela.
GPS Coordinates: 10.37805,-84.543128 (10°22’40.98″N, 84°32’35.26″W)
Postal Code: 21002

Getting there:
We recommend you to take the shortest and most scenic route, passing through the small town of San Ramón de Alajuela, approximately 150 km from the capital, which takes approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours. We recommend driving during the morning or early afternoon, before darkness, as you could run into thick fog in the late afternoon and after sundown, especially during the green season (May-December).

Take the Pan-American Highway North until you reach San Ramón (approximately 56 km from the Airport). The entrance is on the right-hand side of the highway and you will see a road sign for Arenal Volcano. Continue straight on the main San Ramon. Turn left and continue two blocks to the San Ramón Hospital. There you will see another Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna signs. You will pass through a number of small towns, such as Los Angeles, Balsa and then Bajo de Los Rodríguez. Turn following the town of Jabillos, and continue for approximately 20 km until you reach Asis Project Foundation, which is on the left.

You can also take the Pan-American Highway North until you reach Naranjo (approximately 46 km from the Airport). The entrance is on the right-hand side of the highway and you will see a road sign for Arenal Volcano. You will pass through a number of small towns, such as Zarcero, Ciudad Quesada Florencia and Santa Clara. When you get to the town of Jabillos, turn to the left and continue for approximately 100m until you reach Asis Project Foundation, which is on the right.

By bus:
Yo can take a bus from San Jose to La Fortuna (Auto Transportes San José-San Carlos, +506 2256-8914), or (Transportes Upala, +506 2221-3318).

You can also take a bus from San Jose to Ciudad Quesada (Auto Transportes San José-San Carlos, +506 2256-8914) and then take a bus from Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna (Transpisa). From here you can rent a car and drive to Asis Project Foundation.

By plane:
You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the San Carlos Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Aerobell every day. From here you can rent a car and drive to Asis Project Foundation.

Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Asis Project Foundation in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Map from Google Maps

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Asis Proyect Foundation Map

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Map data LeadDog Consulting, Europa Technologies – Terms of Use

Costa Rica History

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The Americans, comprising two enormous continental land masses linked by a narrow isthmus, were the cradle of various pre-Colombian cultures, some of them surprisingly well-advanced for their time. Most advanced of all were the Toltec and Aztec cultures in the central Mexican region and the Maya culture, which took in the whole of the northern part of Central American isthmus and the south of Mexico.

In the South American region the Inca and Chibcha cultures burgeoned. The former covered modern Peru and Bolivia and the latter, somewhat farther north, coincided with present-day Colombia and it was precisely this Central American bridge which allowed an exchange of elements between these great cultures. Costa Rica, together with Panama, is situated at the southern end of this continental bridge and thus in its remote past derived great benefit from this exchange. Although evidence has not been found to testify to the existence in Costa Rica of culture as highly developed as the ones already mentioned, certain common features, particularly in the Costa Rica pre-Colombian pottery work, have indeed been discovered.

The native population of the Costa Rica of today seems not to have been very numerous, if compared with that of neighboring countries. The main tribes making up that population are as follows – the Huetar or Güetar who lived in the Inter-mountain Central Valley with names of Eastern Güetars and Western Güetars; the Brunka or Bruncas, Cotos and Viceitans in the south-west of the country; the Bri-Bri in Talamanca Cordillera and the Caribbean coast in the south; the Chorotegas in the north and western parts of the country (particularly in the present province of Guanacaste) and the Guatusos in the north plains. There is no evidence that these were warrior tribes and it is likely that they devoted themselves to fishing and hunting and in certain cases to the limited growing of certain vegetables and grains, such as maize (Indian corn), yams and yucca. They wove vegetables fibers which they dyed with equally vegetable dyes, as well as the mucilage of certain species of sea-snail. They used the fruit of the cocoa as currency, even through most of their trading activity was done by barter. Skill in art work (especially true of the Chorotegas) is shown in the fine coloured pottery and stone work, which, on the ceremonial altars, denotes refined art and exquisite execution.

Although Costa Rica does not have any important mineral wealth, the original inhabitants have left behind them elegant artistic pieces in gold and jade, which today can be seen in the country’s museums. In 1502, Christopher Columbus went on his fourth and last voyage to the American continent in search of a route towards the East Indies, towards Cipango and Cathay. Sailing off the coast  of what is today Honduras, his fleet was caught in the midst of a terrible storm and he was forced to sail southwards in search of shelter between the coast and the small island. At that point on the coast he found a native village called Cariari and here, on the 18th of September 1502, he disembarked. The lushness of the country and the hospitality of the natives  made Christopher Columbus, that great Admiral of the Oceanic Sea, baptize it Costa Rica (Rich Coast), a name which the country has preserved ever since that day. When Central America was conquered by Spain the Captaincy General (province) of Guatemala was created and the latest in the line of conquests, Costa Rica, was incorporated into it. It is perhaps this factor that explains why the conquest of the country was generally peaceful. But even so the leaders Garabito and Coyoche put up such a heroic struggle against the Conquistadores, led by Juan de Cavallón, Juan Vásquez de Coronado and Perafán de Ribera, that latter needed twelve years in order to completely subjugate the country, and it was here where the most arduous and far-reaching conquest began: the conquest of nationhood and a rightful place among the peoples of the world and the concord of nations. The 17th and 18th centuries were witnesses to silent but unflagging struggle for integration into a society with its own identity, a mixture of Indian and Spanish blood, both red and both burning.  Together they formed the root and trunk of the free-standing Costa Rican tree which now spreads its branches over all the ethnic communities and cultures of the earth. Since then the democratic character of Costa Rica has gradually taken shape: the poverty of the country, the need to survive and forge ahead in the midst of a situation whose only wealth was that which could be derived from the farming of the land. The difficult beginnings in a region with unconquered and exuberant virgin mountains, because of the enormous difficulties in getting flexible and proper logistic support, whether from other conquered parts or from Spain itself, the settlers of Costa Rica, from the very outset, saw themselves as being destined to forge a single team, where social organization would be subjected to work shared, to the struggle shoulder to shoulder, to equal shares for all. A place where respect was born by means of meritorious acts carried out in full view of all, in communities so small that they were almost family circles. Anyone who was fortunate enough to have access to cultural advances was bound to share them in these small circles where everyone was all ears. Political concern must have been born in the heat of this daily isolation of the new colony, and gradually took shape in the need for a government of its own, partly due to the distance from the administration center which governed them and partly to the lack of adequate means of communication. Thus it was that the coming of emancipation three hundred years after Columbus’ arrival in Costa Rica found a society which was mature for the responsibility of its coming of age as an independent, responsible and sovereign nation. Already the strong democratic root was unmovable anchored in nationhood. These two phenomena had certainly been born and had grown into a single social force, a force which spread as the years went by, and even more strongly during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century when both took their nourishment from progress in the social and political ideas which have fashioned the world of today.

Apart from its brief integration into the Federal Republic of Central America (a passing moment of history rather than a historic event) the country has always marched forward with its own independence. The only time that Costa Rica actually took part in an international war was between 1856 and 1858, on the occasion of the invasion and occupation of Nicaragua by mercenary troops led by William Walker and supported by North America slave states. On this unique occasion, the Costa Rican army, comprising badly armed farmers, struggled against and conquered the invader in a series of glorious battles which ended in the unconditional surrender of those who had tried to subjugate a brother country. This Central American brotherhood has also continued during times of peace and an example of it can be found in the setting up of the Central American Common Market. It should also be mentioned that Costa Rica collaborated in the creation of the Republic of Panama, a country with which it has always been united by strong links of friendship and exemplary cooperation.

The economy and educational system of Costa Rica had it foundations solidly built during the 19th century. The sustained progress provided by the coffee trade gave rise to an oligarchy concerned with culture which in turn gave its support to educational improvements and also firmly supported national values.

The Political Constitution or Great Charter of 1844 had provided a proper framework for the development of the country but concern for social improvement and economic development required a different state of things. And so it was that in 1949 after a very short civil war brought about by ignorance of an election result considered as being extremely important, the nation took advantage of the situation and provided itself with a new constitution, which amongst other things abolished the army as a permanent institution. This great historic event together with abolition of the death penalty a hundred years before by General Tomás Guardia and, lately, the creation of the University of Costa Rica and a tribute to universal peace and brotherhood.

Article source:
Taken from the book: Todo Costa Rica. Author: Ricardo Vílchez N.
www.ricardovilchez.com