Costa Rica, Country in Central America
Costa Rica is a Central American country between the Pacific and Caribbean, covering 51,100 square kilometers of rainforest, volcanoes, and terrain from sea level to over 3,800 meters elevation. The territory runs northwest to southeast, bordering Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south.
After independence from Spain in 1821, the territory first developed as part of the Central American Confederation before becoming fully autonomous in 1838. The 1949 constitution solidified democratic tradition and abolished the military.
The Spanish name means "rich coast" and was given by early explorers who saw gold ornaments worn by indigenous people along the shore. Today the territory takes pride in having no standing army since 1948, a decision reflected in public monuments and school curricula throughout the region.
Juan Santamaría International Airport sits about 20 kilometers northwest of San José and serves as the main entry point. Buses and shuttles connect the entire territory, with the dry season from December through April considered the most favorable travel period.
More than one quarter of the entire national territory is protected through national parks, reserves, and conservation zones, among the highest percentages worldwide. The country generates over 99 percent of its electricity from renewable sources including hydropower and geothermal energy.
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