- 1. Where is Costa Rica?
- 2. How Big is Costa Rica?
- 3. What is the Landscape of Costa Rica like?
- 4. What is the Weather like in Costa Rica?
- 5. Is it Easy to get a Sunburn in Costa Rica?
- 6. What time is it in Costa Rica?
1. Where is Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is located in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. The Pacific coast is on the west side of the country and the Caribbean coast is on the eastern side. Costa Rica is located at 10 degrees north of the equator.
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2. How Big is Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is relatively small - 19,700 square miles (51,100 sq. km), ranking it 129th in worldwide landmass. Costa Rica's size is commonly compared to the state of West Virgina (24,231 sq. mi., 62,758 sq. km) and the European state of Denmark (16,629 sq. mi., 43,069 sq. km).
Don't let Costa Rica's small size fool you; it is a vast country of rolling mountains, open plains and lush river valleys. These natural features prevent the construction of super highways that would, in theory, connect relatively close locations. Most destinations are separated by only 50-100 miles but can often take two to four hours to drive between due to poor, windy roads. The Pacific coast alone is 801 mi (1,290 km) of curvy inlets and bays, some of which are not navigable by car. The Caribbean coast is significantly smaller than the Pacific, stretching a mere 132 mi (212 km). However, only about half of the coastline is navigableby car, as the northern Caribbean is made up of a series of rivers, estuaries and mangrove forests that - aside from being protected - consists of terrain that is not easily built into roads.
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3. What is the Landscape of Costa Rica like?
Costa Rica's terrain shifts between hills, valleys, forests, mountains, volcanoes, wetlands and plains. Land near the coastline is of lower elevation, and aside from a number of elevated but flat valleys in the interior of the country, the majority of inland areas consist of rugged mountains, many of which are actually dormant volcanic peaks. The highest point in Costa Rica is Cerro Chiripo, peaking at 3,819 meters (12,530 ft) above sea level. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazu Volcano (11,257 ft, 3,431 m). This volcano, set within Costa Rica's Central Highlands, features a hollow crater filled with sulfuric water rather than a characteristically conical peak. Lake Arenal is Costa Rica's largest lake. It is a man-made lake that is responsible for generating about 7% (157 Mega Watts) of the country's electricity.
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4. What is the Weather like in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica's weather varies from place to place, from micro-climates to macro-climates, and from the rainy season to the dry season. Essentially, weather in Costa Rica is dependent on where you are and what time of the year it is. But still, Costa Rican weather can offer unexpected surprises. The temperature in Costa Rica is closely related to the elevation. The low lying Pacific coast is generally very hot and dry; however, during the rainy season, it is common to have rain in the afternoon and occasionally a cloudy, humid day. In contrast, the Caribbean climate zone, which includes Tortuguero, Arenal, Puerto Viejo and Sarapiqui, is warm and humid nearly year-round and has less rigid rainy and dry seasons. The Central Highland area, which borders Costa Rica's Central Valley, is characterized by cooler temperatures and a variety of elevations (from about 3,000-5,000 ft above sea level). For more information about regional weather in Costa Rica, visit http://www.anywherecostarica.com/articles/costa-rica-weather.
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5. Is it Easy to get a Sunburn in Costa Rica?
As you approach the equator, the strength of the sun increases. Costa Rica lies between 8° and 11° north of the equator; in comparison, "always sunny" southern California is 32° north of the equator. People that arrive from northern latitudes should realize that unprotected exposure to direct sunlight - even for as little as 20 minutes - can cause a painful sunburn. If you are at the beach, plan on applying 30 SPF sunscreen every hour. Even if it's cloudy it's still possible to get burned, so please, apply sunscreen to the exposed portions of your body regularly. It's also very important to stay hydrated while in Costa Rica, and when possible, to stake out a shady area on the beach - this will allow you to enjoy longer periods of time while enjoying the country's gorgeous coastline.
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6. What time is it in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica does not practice Daylight Savings Time (DST). From November to mid-March Costa Rica is on Central Standard Time (CST), the same as well-known US cities like Austin, TX, St. Louis, MO, and Chicago, Il. Between the months of April and October Costa Rica is on Mountain Standard Time (MST), the same as Salt Lake City, UT, Phoenix, AZ, and Denver, CO. Based on Greenwich Mean Time, Costa Rica is GMT-6.
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