Costa Rica
* San Jose
San Jose Is Costa Rica
San Jose San José, and the nation's largest city. Located in the cental valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this central America nation. The population of San Jose Canton is 288,054, though the metropolitan area stretches beyond the canton limits and comprises a third of the country's population.
Culturally, the city can be considered almost entirely European influenced, in part because of Spanish immigration soon after Costa Rica's discovery by Christopher Columbus, and the privileged classes which generally studied in Europe during the nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
Quick Facts
Costa Rica is a rich coast
One of Costa Ricas many water falls
The Ring-tailed coatis
The American Tree Frog
How Costa Rica was found
Found:First European explorer to encounter Costa Rica was the Great Navigator himself, Christopher Columbus. The day was September 18, 1502, and Columbus was making his fourth and final voyage to the New World. As he was setting anchor off shore, a crowd of local Carib Indians paddled out in canoes and greeted his crew warmly. Later, the golden bands that the region's inhabitants wore in their noses and ears would inspire the Spaniard Gil Gonzalez Davila to name the countryCosta Rica, or Rich Coast.