Geography
Costa Rica, republic in southern Central America, bounded on the
north by Nicaragua, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast
by Panama, and on the southwest and west by the Pacific Ocean. The
uninhabited and densely wooded tropical Cocos Island, about 480
km (about 300 mi) to the southwest in the Pacific Ocean, is under
Costa Rican sovereignty. The total area of Costa Rica is 51,060
sq km (19,714 sq mi). The country's capital is San José.
Climate
The climate of Costa Rica ranges from tropical on the coastal plains
to temperate in the interior highlands. Average annual temperatures
range from 31.7° C (89° F) on the coast to 16.7° C (62° F) inland.
A rainy season lasts from April or May to December. Annual precipitation
in the country averages about 3,000 to 3,500 millimeters (from 120
to 140 inches).
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