| Geography and Climate |
Costa Rica is located in Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama. Area comparatively slightly smaller than West Virginia. Total land boundary is 639 km, border countries are Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km.
Costa Rica has a tropical climate; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November). Terrain consists of coastal plains separated by rugged mountains. Elevation extreme has the lowest point in Pacific Ocean 0 m and highest point in Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m.
Major natural resource is hydropower potential. Land use: arable land: 6%, permanent crops: 5%, permanent pastures: 46%, forests and woodland: 31%, other: 12% (1993 est.). Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.). Natural hazards are occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes.
Environment—current issues: deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |
