|
Empowering Your Vacations & Real Estate Purchases in Costa Rica.
Natural Resources & Their Use |
| Print | |
| Business - Numbers & Statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Area (including
Isla del Coco) |
Square miles | Square kilometers |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 19,730 | 51,100-51,200 |
| Land | 19,560 | 50,660 |
| Comparative | slightly smaller than West Virginia, U.S.A | |
| Boundaries | Miles | Kilometers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Land | 390 | 639 |
| Nicaragua (to the north) | 188.5 | 309 |
| Panama (to the south) | 201.3 | 330 |
| Coastline | 787 | 1,290 |
| Major Geographic Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Isthmus | 121 km. (74 mi.) wide at narrowest point |
| Mountain Ranges | Two traverse the isthmus |
| Meseta Central Plateau (coastal plain) | Enclosed by rugged mountains |
| Protected wildlife areas | 30% of the national territory |
| Biodiversity | Costa Rica has 5% of the world's biodiversity; One of the highest concentrations on the planet |
| Climate | Zones | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical | Torrid, <3000 ft. elevation
Temperate, >3000 ft. & <6000 ft. Cool, > 6000 ft. elevation |
Dry, December to April
Rainy, May to November |
| Centigrade (°C) | Fahrenheit (F)
|
Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 69.8 | Annual average San Jose (capital) |
| 25 to 35 | 77 to 95 | Hot coastal zone |
| 15 to 25 | 59 to 77 | Moderate zone |
| < 15 | < 59 | Higher elevations |
| Annual rainfall | ~77 inches in central plateau |
| Natural Resources | Hydropower Potential |
| Land Use | % |
|---|---|
| Meadows & Pastures | 45.00% |
| Forest & Woodland | 34.00% |
| Other | 8.00% |
| Permanent Crops | 7.00% |
| Arable Land | 6.00% |
| Total | 100.00% |