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Costa Rica Google Maps & Wiki

Costa Rica Map

Google Maps, detailed facts of Costa Rica (ISO: CR) and the capital city, San Jose. This page enables you to explore Costa Rica and its land boundaries in total: 661 km. You may also view the border countries of Costa Rica (total: 2, Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km with its area of total: 51,100 sq km; land: 51,060 sq km, water: 40 sq km through detailed Satellite imagery – fast and easy as never before – with Google Maps.

Find comprehensive geographical, economic, environmental, governmental, cultural, scientific, historical, and demographical related information below on the wiki page of Costa Rica.

In case if you are traveling by car, there is also Street View and free Driving Directions by Google at your service.

Your virtual Sightseeing in Costa Rica, Central America and the Caribbean starts here on this map & Wiki page.


Costa Rica Google Maps & Facts

This virtual map shows Costa Rica, located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama, with its cities, towns, highways, main roads, streets, Street Views, and terrain maps regularly updated by Google.





You are viewing Costa Rica and its location (Central America and the Caribbean) at the geographic coordinates of 10 00 N, 84 00 W, inland counties boundaries and international borders.

Hint: Have a look at the Street view in Costa Rica, CR. All you have to do is drag and pull the little yellow man (Pegman) on the Google map above the desired location in Costa Rica. After that, whenever it is available (currently more than 50 countries provided by Google around the world), blue stripes will appear to show the photos and details from Google’s regularly updated database.

The map of Costa Rica, Central America and the Caribbean is free, but for informational use only. No representation or warranty has been made as to any map or its content by Search Driving Directions.com. User assumes all risk of use of this Costa Rica Google map and fast facts/wiki page.

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Geographical facts about Costa Rica including San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica

Name of the country: Costa Rica Capital city: San Jose
Geographical coordinates of Costa Rica: 10 00 N, 84 00 W Geographical coordinates of San Jose: 9 56 N 84 05 W
Location of Costa Rica: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Continent / area: Central America and the Caribbean
The area of Costa Rica: total: 51,100 sq km; land: 51,060 sq km, water: 40 sq km Area comparative of Costa Rica: slightly smaller than West Virginia
The elevation data of Costa Rica: mean elevation: 746 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m The climate of Costa Rica: tropical and subtropical: dry season (December to April): rainy season (May to November): cooler in highlands
Land use of Costa Rica: agricultural land: 37.1%; arable land 4.9%; permanent crops 6.7%; permanent pasture 25.5%; forest: 51.5%; other: 11.4% (2011 estimate) Irrigated land: 1,015 sq km (2012)
Geographical notes of Costa Rica: 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 The terrain of Costa Rica: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes
Land boundaries of Costa Rica: total: 661 km Borders countries of Costa Rica: Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km
Maritime claims of Costa Rica: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles, continental shelf: 200 nautical miles

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Fast Facts about Costa Rica

Are you traveling to Costa Rica? When you are on the way to explore foreign countries in Central America and the Caribbean, it is always good to be aware of the nature of that specific nation and the surroundings, in this case: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.

Did you know that the legal system of Costa Rica is civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court?

When you are traveling around or looking for accommodation in Costa Rica, you would better know that (the lengths of roadways total: 39,018 km, paved: 10,133 km, unpaved: 28,885 km (2010)), and the most crowded areas in this country are: SAN JOSE (capital) 1.17 million (2015). The urbanization rate in this country looks like the following: urban population: 76.8% of the total population (2015).

The total population in Costa Rica: 4,872,543 (July 2016 estimate) with a population growth rate of 1.19% (2016 estimate) and the most widely spoken language(s) are Spanish (official language), English. These days, Costa Rica has to face a net migration rate of 0.8 migrant(s) / 1,000 population (2016 estimate).

You may find the following ethnic groups in Costa Rica nowadays; white or mestizo 83.6%, mulato 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 estimate).

The right to vote in Costa Rica can be exercised by the population from the age of 18 years of age, universal and compulsory and he following ways can earn the citizenship; citizenship by birth: yes. Citizenship by descent: yes. Dual citizenship recognized: yes, residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years.

In case if you plan to visit Costa Rica for shopping, or for business porpuses, it is good to know that the national holiday(s) in Costa Rica are: Independence Day, 15 September (1821).

Whether you are traveling for business or not, never forget that sometimes there are several risks/hazards on your way; In the case of Costa Rica, these are the most likely dangers you might face: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoesvolcanism: Arenal (elev. 1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (elev. 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. What do you think? Are you prepared enough to visit San Jose and/or Costa Rica?

Living with the given conditions, affected by all the civilization and natural harms in Costa Rica, the population has to face a death rate of 4.6 deaths / 1,000 population (2016 estimate).

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Travel references about Costa Rica

To make your travel experience better, you may do it better to understand at least one of the most widely spoken languages in Costa Rica. Here they are: Spanish (official language), English.

For your local internet searches, use the following TLD: .cr

Do not be surprised, when visiting this country, its climate typically is like this; tropical and subtropical: dry season (December to April): rainy season (May to November): cooler in highlands.

Its capital city is San Jose, where the local time zone is UTC-6, which is 1 hour behind Washington DC during Standard Time. Note to the timezone in San Jose: N/A.

For nature lovers, we do note the following elevation data regarding Costa Rica; mean elevation: 746 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m. The length of its total coastline are: 1,290 km and the length of the land boundaries is total: 661 km.

Current environmental issues in Costa Rica; deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution.

And again – in case if you missed it-, those natural hazards, that are threatening your journey: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoesvolcanism: Arenal (elev. 1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (elev. 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.

For your traveling options, there are 161 (2013) airports and N/A heliports in Costa Rica all together with 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2011) waterways, and roadways in total: total: 39,018 km, paved: 10,133 km, unpaved: 28,885 km (2010).

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Background of Costa Rica

Like every nation, Costa Rica also has its historical background, and it has shaped its social, cultural, political and geographical characteristics; Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country’s democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. Source: CIA, The World Factbook.

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