Country Details
Costa Rica
Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
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Geography
Detailed information and insights
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
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
Total
51,100 sq km
Land
51,060 sq km
Water
40 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries
Total
661 km
Border countries
Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 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 active volcanoes
Elevation
Highest point
Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m
Lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation
746 m
Natural resources
hydropower
Land use
Agricultural land
33.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Forest
58.4% (2023 est.)
Other
8.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
1,015 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one fifth of the population
Natural hazards
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m) is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city, as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba
volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m) is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city, as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba
Geography - note
four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65