costa rica
a place in time
information about costa rica
- 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. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. 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
- climate
tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
- geography 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
- population 4,695,942 (July 2013 est.)
- capital San Jose
- government type:democratic republic
- gdp. per capita
- $12,800 (2012 est.)
- country comparison to the world: 102
- $12,300 (2011 est.)
- $12,000 (2010 est.)
- note: data are in 2012 US dollars
- gdp 45.13 billion
- language: spanish language
- top 3 tourist attractions: #1 manuel antonio #2 tamarino #3 jaco
- 3 top intrest spot intrest arenal volcano and la fortuna, monte verde manuel antonio
- this is the costa rican flag
this is costa rica's traditional clothing
this is one of the main tourist attractions