Fast Facts
Official Language: Spanish
Capital: San José
Currency: Costa Rican colón. See current conversion rate.
Population: 4.7 million
Land Area: 51,060 sq km
Area Comparative: Slighlty-smaller than West Virginia
Protected land: 27%
Border Countries: Panama, Nicaragua
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
Adult Literacy: 94.9%
Biodiversity
Although it occupies less than 0.03% of the planet’s landmass, Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s species and is considered to be one of the top 20 most biodiverse countries in the world. Why is Costa Rica such a hotspot for biodiversity? It’s unique geography is a major contributor.
1. Land Bridge: Costa Rica is considered to be a land bridge between North and South America. Species from both continents are present in Costa Rica.
2. Two Coasts: Costa Rica is bordered both by the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean.
3. Mountain Ranges: The Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca separate the Caribbean and Pacific watersheds, forming many microclimates.
Field Study Locations
Field Study locations are pinned to the map above.
The University of Georgia Costa Rica campus is located on the spine of Costa Rica’s continental divide, near the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The high altitude of this area causes moisture to condense into clouds and fog as it catches the branches of trees, creating the unique cloud forest ecosystem. This area supports over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, tens of thousands of insect species, and over 2,500 varieties of plants, 420 of which are orchids alone.
La Selva Biological Station is situated at the confluence of two major rivers in the Caribbean lowlands of northern Costa Rica and is comprised of 3,900 acres of tropical wet forests and disturbed lands. It averages over 13 feet of rainfall that is spread rather evenly throughout the year. The Station is bordered on the south by Braulio Carrillo National Park, the core conservation unit of the 91,000-hectare Cordillera Volcánica Central Biosphere Reserve. Thousands of arthropod species are being currently recorded at La Selva, and more than 400 species of resident and migratory birds have been sighted in the reserve, representing almost half of Costa Rica’s bird species.
Further Reading
Costa Rica Tourism Board: This is the official website of the Costa Rica Tourism Board. It serves as a great introduction to the country.
Tico Times: The online edition of Costa Rica’s English-language weekly newspaper.
CIA Factbook: This site provides an overview of Costa Rica’s political, economic, and environmental standing.
U.S. Department of State: This site, operated by the bureau of consular affiars, is updated daily with country specific information.
