Short facts about the geography of Costa Rica
| Location: |
Middle America, bordering both the
Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and
Panama |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
10 00 N, 84 00
W |
| Map
references: |
Central America and the
Caribbean |
| Area: |
total: 51,100 sq km
land: 50,660 sq km
water: 440
sq km
note: includes Isla del
Coco |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller than West
Virginia |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330
km |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive economic
zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12
NM |
| Climate: |
tropical and subtropical; dry season
(December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in
highlands |
| Terrain: |
coastal plains separated by rugged
mountains |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo
3,810 m |
| Natural
resources: |
hydropower |
| 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: |
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes
along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and
landslides; active volcanoes |
| Environment
- current issues: |
deforestation and land use change,
largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture;
soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); coastal marine pollution; wetlands
degradation; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air
pollution |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed,
but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation | Source: World Factbook |
