GEOGRAPHY

Costa Rica is located on the Central American isthmus, 10° North of the equator and 84° West of the Prime Meridian. It borders the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the Pacific Ocean (to the west), with a total of 1,290 kilometres (800 mi) of coastline, 212 km (132 mi) on the Caribbean coast and 1,016 km (631 mi) on the Pacific.

Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north (309 km or 192 mi of border) and Panama to the south-southeast (639 km or 397 mi of border). In total, Costa Rica comprises 51,100 square kilometres (19,700 sq mi) plus 589 square kilometres (227 sq mi) of territorial waters.

The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó, at 3,819 metres (12,530 ft), and is the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (3,431 m or 11,257 ft). The largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.

Costa Rica also comprises several islands. Cocos Island (24 square kilometres / 9.3 square miles) stands out because of its distance from continental landmass, 300 mi (480 km) from Puntarenas, but Calero Island is the largest island of the country (151.6 square kilometres / 58.5 square miles). Costa Rica protects 23% of its national territory within the Protected Areas system. It also possesses the greatest density of species in the world.

The Caribbean coast

The coast of the Caribbean Sea, of 212 kilometers in length, extends of the northeast to south-east and with her two sections are distinguished: River San Juan Lemon (that go of the limit with Nicaragua to the city of Lemon) and Sixaola Lemon-River (of the city of Lemon to the limit with Panama). The first section is a coastal length that separates the sea of a series of fresh water lagoons which they are fed by multiple rivers. In this zone are the Channels of Tortuguero, a natural system of channels and navigable lagoons of more than 110 kilometers of extension that are the habitat of seven species of turtles. In center of the Eastern coast Lemon is located, one of the main ports of the country. r>, br> In front of this city, cradles of the afro-Caribbean culture, rises the unique small barren island of this coast: Uvita, visited by Cristóbal Columbus in its quarter and last trip the new continent, that assigned the name to him of Cariari. Towards the south-east, in the second section of the coast, an ample beach, interrupted extends by the coralline promontory Cahuita.

The Pacific coast

The Pacific coast, with an extension of more than 1,200 kilometers of coast, presents/displays variety of landscapes, islands, gulfs, ends, mangrove swamps, coves and peninsulas that extend of border to border, from Bay Saline to Burica End and which they originate great amount of ideal wide beaches for the relaxation of the visitor. The main peninsulas that are in the Pacific are Santa Elena, Nicoya and Osa. To the north of the Saline coast they are Bay (where Bat apt for the practice of the diving exists a small called archipelago), the Peninsula Santa Elena and Bay Snake (place where “Gulf of Papagayo” is developed to the tourist project). On the other hand, the Gulf of Nicoya offers great attractive the tourist. In its waters they move ferris “Salinero” and “Tempisque”, that arrive at beaches of the South sector of the Peninsula of Nicoya. In addition, in their waters are small barren islands, bays, ends and islands. Larger and the extension is the islands of Chira and San Lucas. Other islands of great natural beauty are: Deer, Rattan, Horses, Negritos and Cedros. The main port of the Pacific is Port Boiler, near the city of Puntarenas (head of the province of the same name); one has become a modern harbor complex for the dockage of cruises and cargo ships. The Island of the Coco is to 500 km of the coast. She is famous by his legend of hidden treasures, but its main wealth is its flora and marine and terrestrial fauna of great beauty and abundance. Both must be protected and be protected by those who visit the island. Towards the southwest of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is the Gulf of Bear, call also Sweet Gulf. The city of Golfito is located here, that at present stands out like commercial complex. In the southwestern part of the Peninsula of Bear is the Area of Conservation of Bear, that is the zone of greater diversity and wealth in flora and fauna of the country.

Mountainous system

The mountainous chain of Costa Rica forms an independent group of the Central American mountain set. By the existing biodiversity in his forests, it represents an attractive potential for the ecological tourism that looks for the observation of birds in its natural means and the direct bonding with other species, as much of flora as of fauna. The Costa Rican mountainous system is divided in center in two units different, separated of the country by the Central Valley (where the cities of San jOse, Alajuela and Heredia are located) and the Valley of the Guarco, located in the province of Carthage. In this mountainous system different mountain ranges can be identified and a mountain range. The Volcanic Mountain range of Guanacaste where Orosí volcanos stand out, Miravalles, Tenorio, Sandy ground, which offer an impressive spectacle with their nocturnal eruptions, and Corner of the old man, that fumarólica activity presents/displays and in its skirts mud bubbles permanently. In addition, Sandy ground can be arrived at the Lagoon, with a approximate area (“water mirror”) of 85 kilometers square and that represents the ideal place for the practice of aquatic sports like “windsurf', water skiing, race of boats and fishes. The Volcanic Mountain range of Tilarán includes hills of Abangares, Aguacate and Cedral. In the Central Volcanic Mountain range are the volcanos Bridles, Barva and Irazú, which are readily accessible and represent a valuable patrimony, ecological as as much natural. In the Mountain range of Talamanca the Chirripó hill stands out, the highest tip of the country with 3,821 mts that, by its characteristics of topography, ground and climate, presents/displays a vegetation type desert.

Fluvial system

The rivers are of great interest for the tourist, not only by his beauty, but by the options of adventure, it deports and recreation that offers. In the slope of the Caribbean are the Reventazón-Parismina rivers, with an extension of 145 km, and the Pacuare, with 108 km Both have ideal characteristics for the practice of the fishing and to sail by their expresses. In the North flowing are the Colorado rivers, of 96 km in length, and the Sarapiquí, own for strolls and sport activities. In the slope of the Pacific it is located, among others the Tempisque river, throughout 136 km and mainly in their opening, sites adapted for the anidación of great variety of migratory birds are located as as much resident. Without olvidadr the Corobicí river, whose conditions are ideal for the expresses.

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