Country Information on Costa Rica

Terrain Several mountain ranges run through the country from north-west to south-east. These include the Cordillera de Talamanca, Cordillera Central, and Cordillera de Guanacaste. The highest peaks are the Chirripó Grande (3,819 m) and the active volcano Irazú (3,432 m). A central plateau, the Meseta Central, is located between the ranges and contains the major part of the population. The coastal plain along the Pacific is more extended and more indented than its Caribbean counterpart. It is broken by a number of gulfs, bays, capes, and peninsulas with rocky and cliffy areas, the chief ones being the landlocked Gulf of Nicoya, the deep, open Gulf of Dulce, and Coronado Bay. However, the coastline in the east is flat, flooded and characterized by coastal inlets forming lagoons. Climate Costa Rica is a tropical country and has only two seasons: the rainy and the dry season. The dry season is generally between late December and April, and the wet season lasts the rest of the year. On the Caribbean coast rain falls throughout the year. Temperatures vary depending on altitude. San José at 1150 m has a climate which the locals refer to as "eternal spring": lowest temperatures average 15°C, highest temperatures average 26°C. The coasts are much hotter, with the Caribbean coast averaging 21°C at night and over 30°C during the day, and the Pacific coast even exceeding these temperatures. Fauna/Flora Costa Rica's primeval forest consists of ebony, balsa, mahogany, and cedar. The country's rain forests are the habitat of countless plants and animals. So far over 1,400 species of trees and more than 1,000 species of orchids have been discovered. The diverse fauna contains numerous insects, among which above all very colourful butterflies are worth mentioning. Furthermore, there are primates, leopards, jaguars, tapirs, and 725 recorded bird species, which include tiny humming birds, toucans, and a small population of quetzals. In order to preserve these unique habitats, the Costa Rican government has turned almost 12% of the country into national parks; further 15% of Costa Rica are reservations for the country's indigenous population. History/Politics In 1502, Christopher Columbus sailed along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and gave the country its present name ("rich coast"). Colonization by the Spanish did not occur until much later, since the hoped-for precious metals were not found. From 1570 on, Costa Rica was part of a colony of the General Captaincy of Guatemala. Costa Rica developed into a purely agrarian region with only little importance for the kingdom. It was only through the cultivation of tobacco and cocoa, which was supported by the Spanish, and through exports of these commodities that a more well-to-do society emerged in Costa Rica. In the early 19th century the Costa Ricans gained some importance in the intellectual and political life of Central America. Spanish rule ended in 1821, and until 1823 the country was a part of Mexico. From 1824 to 1840 Costa Rica belonged to the United Provinces of Central America. After this confederation proved to be a failure in 1838, Costa Rica declared its independence. In 1848, Costa Rica proclaimed the republic. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the country enjoyed a relatively stable political climate. The reformist National Republican Party came to power and its candidates León Cortes Castro and Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia won the presidential elections in 1936 and in 1940. The latter improved the situation of the lower classes through legislation concerning labour and the social sector. The election of opposition candidate Otilio Ulate in 1948 was immediately declared invalid when considered fraudulent by the government. When the PRN tried to remain in power after its election defeat in 1948, civil war erupted and the party was overthrown by a new political power, the National Liberation Party, led by José Figueres Ferrer. The PLN became the country's most powerful party. Ruled by moderate governments, Costa Rica gradually became the most democratic country in Latin America. Figueres was president between 1952 and 1958 and between 1970 and 1974. In 1974 the candidate of the PLN, Daniel Oduber, won the presidential elections. However, quarrels between Oduber and Figueres put a coalition of the opposition into power. In 1982, the PLN came to power again, and Luis Alberto Monge Alvarez was elected president. He was succeeded by Oscar Arias Sánchez (PLN) in 1986, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his attempts to reach a consensus among Latin America's political leaders about a plan for peace and stability in Central America. Rafael A. Calderón junior, son of former president Rafael Calderón, won the 1990 presidential elections as candidate of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC). In 1994 José Maria Figueres Olsen (PLN) was elected president. He is the son of former president José Figueres Ferrer. In 1998, the Social Christian Unity Party's Miguel Angel Rodriguez took office as president of state. Economy Costa Rica's economy basically depends on agriculture and the processing of agricultural commodities, especially coffee and bananas. The gross national product amounts to approx. 7.58 billion US dollars, which means a per-capita income of around 2,300 US dollars. The essential branches of industry are food, and semi-luxury food, drink, and tobacco. There are, e.g., breweries and distilleries. In the early 1990s Costa Rica produced 98% of its electricity through hydroelectric power stations. However, the country can only cover about 30% of its domestic requirements. Culture In Costa Rica there is a strong influence of Spanish culture and traditions. Festivals in honour of patron saints are a colourful part of village and town life. The guitar, accordion, and mandolin have traditionally been the most popular musical instruments, and the music reflects a Spanish heritage. Traces of the Native American culture survive in designs used in jewellery, leather goods, and clothing. The following holidays are held in Costa Rica: New Year's Day; San José's Day (19 March); the memorial day of the battle of Rivas against Walker (11 April), in which the national hero Juan Santamaria lost his life; the Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Easter; Labour Day (1 May); the annexation of Guanacaste by Costa Rica (25 July); Peter and Paul (29 June); the festival of God's Mother (2 August); the Central American Independence Day (15 September); Columbus Day (12 October); the festival of Immaculate Conception (8 December); and Christmas (25 December).