DOWN
BRIEF HISTORY OF COSTA RICA Christopher Columbus arrived and settled in Costa Rica in the year 1522. The provincial capital was situated in Cartago, which is at the base of the Irazu Volcano. Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. In 1824 the capital was moved to San José. William Walker, an American Filibuster, began incursions into Central America in 1856. He proclaimed himself president of Nicaragua and re-instated slavery. He attempted to expand to Costa Rica; however, the Commander in Chief of the Army of Costa Rica, President Juan Rafael Mora Porras, defeated the filibusters in Rivas, Nicaragua. Juan Santamaria, a drummer boy, lost his life while torching the filibuster’s stronghold located in Rivas. Today he is remembered as a national hero. Costa Rica is one of the few countries who practice the democratic system without the assistance of a military army. Jose Figueres Ferrer abolished the army in 1949. He became a National hero, when he won the first election under the new constitution in 1953. Twelve presidential elections have been held since then, the last one in 2006. Costa Rica has been called the Switzerland of Central America.
The capital, San José, Alajuela and Heredia lies in the middle of the Meseta Central (Central Valley). Approximately two-thirds of the nation's population lives in this small, fertile valley.
ECONOMIC SYSTEM Although Costa Rica is primarily an agricultural country, today, their current economy is based on tech
ECOSYSTEM The Mangroves The mangroves are a part of our ecosystem. The mangroves exist at the fringe of the mainland, thriving on the blending of the marine salt waters and the fresh water sources of the land. Mangroves are a variety of trees whose roots grow above the ground to provide aeration. The trees provides habitat for several species of marine life that are in development. They also serve as filter for fresh water dumping into the ocean from lakes and river.
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are animals, plants and geological formations. These reefs are mostly seen on the coast where water is clear and healthy. Here you will experience a variety of colorful fish and marine life. Common locations are Manzanillo (Puerto Viejo), Cahuita’s point and other locations in the Pacific.
Rainforest
Costa Rica’s rainforest is lush and green with a variety of plants, fungi and animals. Fern and mosses layered the ground followed by foliage and a variety of shade trees.The full grown trees which can reach the height of 190 feet constitute the last level of the rainforest.
Flora
Fauna
Birds Costa Rica serves as a transition point for a variety of birds that migrate from harsh winters
Volcanoes The country has four separate cordilleras. In the north you have Guanacaste and Tilaran; the Central cordillera and Talamanca in the south. There are several active volcanoes in Costa Rica. Among them are the Arenal, Poas (beautiful La Paz waterfall is located near this volcano), Ricón de la Vieja and Irazú. Costa Rica’s highest point is Mt. Chirripo with an elevation of 3,797 meters. Earth tremors and small quakes shake the country from time to time.
NATIONAL PARKSPuerto Viejo
|
|---|
Area |
51,100 square kilometers |
Population |
Four million |
Language |
Spanish |
Capital |
San José |
Location |
Central America – between Nicaragua and Panamá |
Currency |
Colon (Floats) |
Religion |
Approximately 90% are Roman Catholic |
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Citizens of the U.S., Canada and Panama may enter Costa Rica with a tourist card. Other pieces of identification are passport, driver’s license and birth certificate. Obtain tourist cards from any Costa Rican embassy or consulate in advance of your trip. It is valid for 30 days. No passport or visa is needed. A valid passport is necessary if you want to stay longer in the country. Canadians and Americans are allowed to stay for up to 90 days. Citizens of all other countries require a valid passport to enter Costa Rica. Carry your passport or tourist card with you at all times. If you are stopped by officials, a photocopy with your photo, passport number and entry stamp will usually suffice.
HEALTH ISSUES
Sanitary standards are high in Costa Rica. No vaccinations are required to enter the country. Several private hospitals in San Jose offer emergency medical services to foreigners at reasonable prices. One such hospital is Clínica Bíblica -- Avenida 14, calles central & 1; telephone #223-6422 -- offer these services. It has a 24-hour pharmacy. As a foreigner, you can get medical insurance assistance for emergency medical through Costa Rica's Social Security system, Caja de Seguro Social (the Caja). The coverage can be bought at travel agencies or through tour companies.
The United.States Embassy in Costa Rica is located in Pavas at Boulevard Pavas and Calle 120, San Jose, tel. (506) 519-2000 or (506) 220-3127.
up
nology and eco-tourism and the major source of export income is technology. Many technology companies have established operations in this country, which include Motorola, Intel, Microsoft and others. Local companies also manufacture and export software including computer related products. Tourism is growing rapidly, however, agriculture, which includes coffee and bananas, continues to impact Costa Rica’s export income. The population enjoys a more or less high standard of living. Many own lands.
A large collection of plants and trees blanket the forest. The trees adapt to their living environment according to their species. There is a wide variety of flowers arrayed with vivid colors attracting several species of butterflies.
amphibians possess poison which is translated into a toxin that they secrete from their skin. If they are touched, the toxin can produce skin irritation. Other inhabitants of the forest are reptiles such as crocodiles, turtles, iguanas and snakes, such as the Boa Constrictor.
to the tropics for warmth and food. Birds that can be spotted are the scarlet Macao, parrots, slaty-tailed trogon, humming birds, fly catcher and others. Among the water birds are the willet, the southern lapwing and a variety of other birds.
It was established in 1970. It is home toa diversity of flora and fauna. This region is the wettest area in all of Costa Rica. Its climate is warm and humid blended with cool breezy nights to form the perfect environment. It is home to many species of plants, trees, birds, reptiles such as sea turtles; mammals including jaguars and manatees; amphibians such as poison dart frogs and a number of fresh water fish. This region is important since four types of sea turtles visit the area beaches each year for nesting. The locals offers night tour adventure on the beach in search of nesting turtles. There is a variety of lodging for tourists and the meals are delicious. 