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The Republic of Costa Rica, located in southern Central America, is bounded on the north by Nicaragua, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, on the south-east by Panama, and on the south-west and west by the Pacific Ocean. Cocos Island, about 480 km to the south-west in the Pacific Ocean, is also part of Costa Rica. The total area is 51 100 km2.
Most of Costa Rica is rugged highlands, about 900 to 1 800 m above sea level. Several mountain ranges extend nearly the entire length of the country. These include the Cordillera de Talamanca, Cordillera Central, and Cordillera de Guanacaste. The highest peaks are Chirripó Grande (3819 m) and the active volcano of Irazú (3432 m). A central plateau, the Meseta Central, is located between the ranges and is the country’s chief agricultural region. Wide lowlands, much of it swampy tropical jungle, extend along the Caribbean coast. The lowlands along the Pacific are narrower and drier.
The principal stream of Costa Rica is the San Juan River, which forms part of the country's boundary with Nicaragua in the north-east.
The climate of Costa Rica ranges from tropical on the coastal plains to temperate and pleasant in the interior highlands. Daytime temperatures in the Meseta Central range from 24 to 27° C the year around, while on the coasts they average about 38° C. A rainy season lasts from April or May to December. Yearly rainfall generally ranges from 1 000 to 3 000 mm, but some areas can receive up to 8 000 mm.
The above information has been obtained from FAOForestry whom we acknowledge with gratitude.
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