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Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
People have been living in Costa Rica for over 10,000 years. Forests
covered 90% of the land. The people
burned space to plant corn, fruit trees and
root plants.
Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
The native people traded cotton, shells, dyes, artwork, and colorful bird feathers with
Mexicans for gold.
Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
In 1502, Christopher Columbus came to Costa Rica. He saw the natives wearing golden jewelry and
thought he had found gold, but there was none in Costa Rica.
Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
In the 1522, the Spaniard Gil
González Dávila named this land
Costa Rica, which means “rich coast.”
Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
Spanish settlers became farmers growing wheat, bananas, and
tobacco.
Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
In 1821, Spain granted
independence to all of the Central
American colonies,
including Costa Rica.
Bienvenidos a Costa Rica
HistoryMany dictators
ruled Costa Rica, until in 1889 it
finally became a democratic
country.
Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
In the 1800s, Costa Rica began growing
coffee beans. Because of this new industry
Costa Rica’s economy boomed and became
a more populace country.
Bienvenidos a Costa RicaHistory
In 1940 Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia
became president. He improved the
conditions for workers. He established a minimum wage, unemployment
benefits, and paid vacations.
Bienvenidos a Costa Rica
History Laura Chinchilla
was elected president in 2010.
She is the first female to become president in Costa
Rica.
Regions
•80 million years ago a series of volcanic islands created Costa Rica.
•Over 800 miles of coastline are in Costa Rica.•There are also rugged mountain ranges, which include over 100 volcanoes.
•There are two seasons in Costa Rica: rainy and dry.•Average temperatures are between 71°F and 81°F.
Regions•Two mountain ranges cover Coast Rica: the Cordillera Volcánica and the Cordillera de Talamanca.
•Many volcanos are part of these mountain ranges.
•Arenal, the most active volcano, has erupted almost every day since 1968.
•Earthquakes are also common place.
Resources•On the Pacific coast side fishing is an important industry. Tuna and shrimp are the most valuable.
•The coastal plains are hot and swampy and heavily forested. Here bananas, sugar cane tropical fruits, cacao and pineapples grow well.
•Cattle ranching is also a big industry. The province of Guanacaste is called Costa Rica’s “Wild West.” Rodeos are also popular there.
AnimalsCosta Rica is among the top 20 most bio-diverse nations in the world:
20 percent of the world’s butterflies876 species of birds34,00 species of insects205 species of mammals220 species of reptiles160 species of amphibians9,000 species of plants
Education•Costa Rica has the highest literacy rate in all of Central America.
•School is required from kindergarten to ninth grade.•Only 65 percent of students finish high school.•All students must learn English and take computer classes.•There are 39 universities and it only costs $200 a semester to attend.
Visit Costa Roca
Tourism•Over half of the population works in the field of tourism.•Tourist can hike in the mountains, swim on the coasts, go snorkeling, ride horses on the ranches, explore new and old cities, walk along bridges high above the tree tops of the rain/cloud forests, raft down rivers, and observe plants and animals in nature.