Geography

Costa Rica is located on the Central American isthmus (a narrow strip of land that connects two larger land masses), 10° North of the equator and 84° West of the Prime Meridian. It borders both the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the North Pacific Ocean (to the west), with a total of 1,290 kilometres (802 mi) of coastline (212 km / 132 mi on the Caribbean coast and 1,016 km / 631 mi on the Pacific).

Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north (309 km / 192 mi of border) and Panama to the south-southeast (639 km / 397 mi of border). In total, Costa Rica comprises 51,100 square kilometres (19,730 sq mi) plus 589,000 square kilometres of territorial waters, making it less than a quarter of the size of the UK.

The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó at 3,810 metres (12,500 ft); the fifth highest peak in Central America. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (3,431 m or 11,257 ft). The largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.

Costa Rica also comprises several islands: Cocos Island (24 sq km or 9.25 sq mi) is 500 km (300 mi) from Puntarenas coast. Calero Island is the biggest island of the country (151.6 sq km or 58.5 sq mi).

Physical Geography

The nation's terrain is coastal plain separated by rugged mountains, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca, which form the spine of the country and separate the Pacific and Caribbean watersheds. Costa Rica claims an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles (370 km) and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22 km).

The spine of the country produces many major river systems. Rivers draining into the Caribbean include:

• Rio Pacuare
• Rio Parismina
• Rio Reventazon
• Rio Sixaola

Protected Areas

The country is noted for its national park system, administered by SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion, or 'National System of Conservation Areas'). This agency oversees more than 160 protected areas in Costa Rica, of which 26 are national parks. Together the protected areas comprise over one-quarter of Costa Rican territory.

Facts and Figures

• Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
• Geographic coordinates: 10° 00' N, 84° 00' W
• Area:
  Note: includes Isla del Coco
  • Total: 51,100 sq km
  • Land: 50,660 sq km
  • Water: 440 sq km
• Land Boundaries: total: 639 km
• Border countries:
  • Nicaragua 309 km
  • Panama 330 km
• Coastline: 1,290 km
• Maritime Claims:
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  • Continental shelf: 200 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 including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes.
• Elevation Extremes:
  • Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
  • Highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
• Natural Resources: hydropower
• Land Use:
  • Arable land: 4.4%
  • Permanent crops: 5.87%
  • Other: 89.73%
• Irrigated Land: 1,080 sq km (2003)
• Natural Hazards:
  • Occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast
  • Frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides
  • Active volcanoes
• Environmental Issues:
  • Deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture
  • Soil erosion
  • Coastal marine pollution
  • Fisheries protection
  • Solid waste management
  • Air pollution