| Official Name: |
Republic of Costa Rica |
| Capital: |
San José |
| Area: |
50,660 sq. Km. of land and 440 sq. Km of sea including the Coco Island. (19,652 sq. Miles in total), slightly smaller than West Virginia |
| Location: |
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama |
| Administrative Divisions: |
7 provinces (Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José) |
| Population: |
4,337,360 (August 2005) Density: 83,14 inhabitants per sq. Km
(203.5 per sq. mile) |
| Official Language: |
Spanish (official), English |
| Local Currency: |
Colón (named after Christopher Columbus) |
| Ethnic groups : |
94% white(including mestizo), 3% black, 1% Amerindian, 1% Chinese, 1% others. |
| Religions: |
85% Roman Catholic, approx. 14% Evangelical Protestant, 1% others. |
| Official Religion: |
Roman Catholic, but there is freedom of expression of other beliefs |
| System of Government: |
Democratic Republic |
| President: |
For the first time in the history of our country a former president has been re-elected for the second time. Oscar Arias Sanchez, winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace in1987 will be our new President for the next 4 years.The cabinet is selected by the President. The President and Vice Presidents are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; last election was held on February 6, 2006 |
| Army: |
Abolished in 1949 |
| Independence: |
15 September 1821 (from Spain) |
| Constitution: |
7 November 1949 |
| Geography: |
Rugged highlands are found throughout most of the country, ranging from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,000 to 6,000 feet) above sea level). The Talamanca Mountain Range, Central Mountain Range and Guanacaste Mountain Range are the main mountain ranges extending through the entire length of the country. The country’s highest mountain is the Chirripo Hill with a height of 3,819 m/12,530 ft.
There are over 100 vulcanic cones, the main active volcanoes are: Irazu, Rincon de la Vieja, Turrialba, Poas and Arenal. The country has a relatively long coastline on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. |
| Climate: |
Tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands |
| Literacy rate: |
96% |
| Main Exports: |
Electronic components, textiles, bananas, coffee, medical devices, pineapples, foliage and ornamentals, fish and seafood, processed foods. |
| Main Industries: |
Microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products and tourism. |
Electrical Power
|
: 120 Volts 60 hertz |
National Symbols |
Flag:
|
The present flag was constituted in September 1848 when Costa Rica achieved the status of Republic. The flag is formed by five horizontal stripes: the first and the fifth are blue, the second and the fourth are white, and in the middle a red stripe double the width of each of the other four stripes. |
Emblem:
|
It was constituted in 1848. It depicts 3 volcanoes and a vast valley stretching between two oceans with 2 merchant ship. In the horizon, there is a rising sun between the blue sky and the blue ocean. Two wreaths of myrtle leaves joined by a ribbon bearing the inscription "República de Costa Rica" enclose the national seal. Seven stars forming an arch represent the seven provinces of the republic. The crown is formed by a blue ribbon with the inscription "América Central". |
| National Anthem: |
Was composed in 1852 by Don Manuel María Gutiérrez (1829-1887), director of the Marching Band. |
| National Flower: |
Guaria Morada (Cattleya skinneri) an endemic species in the American continent. |
| National Tree: |
Guanacaste Tree (Enterolobium ciclocarpum). |
| National animal: |
White tailed deer (odocoileus virginiano) |
| National Bird: |
Yiguirro (Turdus grayi). |
| National symbol of work: |
Drawn by a team of oxen, the ox-cart ("la carreta costarricense") was used during the colonial period mainly for the transportation of sugar cane, tobacco, and coffee.
It became such an important factor in the development of agricultural activity of Costa Rica that in 1988 the ox cart was established as the National Symbol of work. |
