Costa Rica

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Cost Rica Costa Rica lies in the tropics and originated as a land of peaceful people and lush ecosystems. The Costa Rica of today is much different than a simple ideal tourist location. It is a country that ranks among the world’s highest in biodiversity. In addition, there is no separation between church and state. It is a country with a woman president and no army. The economy of Costa Rica is challenged on a daily basis and the education of its residents is recognizable. The purpose of this paper is to introduce readers to the many unique facets of the small Spanish speaking country of Costa Rica. My intent is to present information about the country’s geographical facts, biodiversity and ecotourism, religion, education, government and economical status. Costa Rica has mountains, green tropical forests and fertile soil. “Its name, meaning rich coast in Spanish, came from explorers who heard tales of precious metals in the region. However, the land had little mineral wealth.” (The World Book encyclopedia of people and places 306) Costa Rica is located in Central America on the continent of North America. It is bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has elevations that exceed 12,500 feet and displays 12 different climatic zones. The country has a variety of natural hazards including occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along the Atlantic coast and frequent flooding of lowlands at the beginning of the rainy season. Costa Rica has mountain ranges that stretch the length of the entire country. Many of the mountains have thick vegetation and when the air moves over the mountains it cools and creates rain and keeps the lush forests wet and green. In addition, many sections of the country lie... ... middle of paper ... ...rican countries have forests that supply a variety of lumber, Costa Rica is known for its concern and protection efforts to preserve its forests. Despite the abundance of farming in Costa Rica, “Tourism earns more foreign exchange than bananas and coffee combined.” (Neal 554) In summary, the small country of Costa Rica has always been a highly sought after vacation spot. However, the influx of drugs and the deforestation have caused tourists, including myself, to question the desirability. Nonetheless, according to Forbes, Costa Rica is “The Happiest Place on Earth. Its national conservation policies, small ecological footprint, high quality of life and life expectancy rate are all exceedingly above par.”(Greenstein) I feel that Costa Rica would be an intriguing place to visit because of its vibrant landscapes and the abundance of incredible Catholic Churches.

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