Getting to Know Costa Getting to Know Costa RicaRica

“Facts on Central America’s Jewel”

Location

• 10 00 N, 84 00 W • Central America, bordering both

the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

• Total area: 51,100 sq km

• coastal plains separated by rugged mountains, over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

• TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL, WET AND DRY SEASONS

GovernmentGovernment•President: Óscar Arias Sánchez

(Nobel Peace Prize 1987)•Type of Gov: Democratic

Republic•115 years of democracy•2 Vice Presidents and a Cabinet

designated by the President

• Christopher Columbus visited it on his fourth expedition in 1502

• Fierce indigenous resistance• Most of population fell ill due to diseases brought by

colonists• On September 15, 1821 they declared their

independence from the Spanish Empire

Flora and Fauna

1250 species of butterflies

8000 species of moths

Army ants Hercules beetle

Red Eyed Tree frog

Poison Dart frogs

Giant Toad Anhinga

Tamandua anteater

500+ tree species

Spider monkey

White-throated Capuchin monkey

Demographics

• In 2005, Costa Rica had an estimated population of 4,016,173 persons

• Descended from Spanish settlers and Amerindian peoples

• Many are from Italian, Polish, German, Jewish descent

• 92% are Christian• 3 in 4 are Roman

Catholics

Great Hotels A list of several good hotels, their address,

and the exchange rate Martino Resort and Spa Marriott Costa Rica

Best Western Irazu

Gran Hotel

Hampton Inn

Grano de Oro Hotel

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