| Location: |
Middle 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:
50,660 sq km
water:
440 sq km
note:
includes Isla del Coco
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than West Virginia
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
639 km
border countries:
Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
|
| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 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
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
|
| Natural resources: |
hydropower
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
6%
permanent crops:
5%
permanent pastures:
46%
forests and woodland:
31%
other:
12% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
1,200 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
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| Environment - current issues: |
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; water pollution (rivers); coastal marine pollution; wetlands degradation; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
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