Geography of Costa Rica

Mountains and high central plains are the key features of the Costa Rican landscape. La Meseta Central is a high plateau (three to five thousand feet) running down the middle of the country. Surrounding La Meseta Central are three other mountain ranges, as high as any in Central America, extending from border to border along the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts. Most of Costa Rica's major cities are built on La Meseta Central, including the capital, San Jose, home to nearly 400,000 people.

Because Costa Rica is so mountainous, dramatic differences in rainfall and temperatures can be observed within small geographical areas. One of the wettest areas in Costa Rica, Braulio Carrillo National Park is separated from one of the driest areas, the city of Cartago, by a mere thirty miles.  As a general rule, temperature drops 6°C for every 1000 meters of elevation gained.