18 interesting facts about Costa Rica

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We share the most interesting facts about Costa Rica, which we collected during our visit in this varied travel destination

The tiny Republic of Costa Rica is a central American success story. The democratic, wealthy and stable country is an oasis in the middle of an often turbulent region in the world.

We visited Costa Rica for nine days on our very first National Geographic Expedition. The highlights included climbing the slopes of a foggy volcanic summit, hiking through a fairytale fog forest in Santa Elena, the search for sloth in the Manuel Antonio National Park and the planting of trees at the Montevere Institute.

Our short but fully packed trip revealed a number of interesting facts about Costa Rica, of which we share the best below.

interesting facts about Costa rica

  1. Costa Rica represents about 6 % of global biodiversity, although it only takes up 0.03 % of the planet's land surface. (Source: WWF)

    2. Alt = "Interesting facts about Costa rica biodiversity frog"> Brandon Almosen/Shutterstock A colorful foliage in Costa Rica

    1. The name Costa Rica in Spanish, the only official language Costa Ricas, means "rich coast". (Source: Spanish dict)

    2. Christopher Columbus, who was the first European to visit the area in 1502, gave the country its name. (Source: BBC)

    3. In 2013, scientists estimated that Costa Rica is home to more than 500,000 species. This includes more than 300,000 types of insects, 1,251 butterflies, 8,000 moths, 175 amphibians (85 % frogs), 225 reptiles, 250 mammals and 894 birds. (Source: Costa Rica Star)

      4. alt = "Interesting facts about the Costa-Rica-butterfly"> Atlas & Boots His biodiversity offers countless interesting facts about Costa Rica

      1. Costa Rica has the best balance in respect for freedom of expression in Latin America and takes eighth place in the press freedom index worldwide. (Source: Reporter Without Borders)

      2. Between 1849 and 1859, Costa Rica ran the fight against William Walker, an American imperialist who tried to take control of the region with a mercenary army. (Source: BBC)

      3. Costa Rica has no army since 1948. The constitution has banned a standing military since 1949. Costa Rica is also the seat of the Inter -American Court of Human Rights and the United Nations Peace University. (Source: Telegraph)

      4. Since Costa Rica is on the narrow Central American Land, it is possible to observe the sunrise above the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) and sunset above the Pacific Ocean on the same day. At its closest point, the distance between the Pacific and the Caribbean is only 120 km. (Source: Britannica)

        5. alt = "A map of Costa rica"> Cartarium/Shutterstock You can watch the sunrise above the Atlantic and the sunset above the Pacific

        1. Some of the most interesting facts about Costa Rica arise from his commitment to environmental issues. In 2015, it promised to become the first CO2-neutral nation on earth by 2021 (with a net zero release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere). (Source: New York Times)

        2. Costa Rica currently generates more than 99 % of its electricity exclusively from renewable sources. In 2017, it set the world record for most consecutive days with electricity from renewable energies: 300 in total. (Source: Independent)

        3. Costa Rica was the first tropical country to stop the deforestation and reversed. Over half of its country is now covered by forest, compared to only 26 % in 1983. (Source: World Bank)

        4. There are 14 well -known volcanoes in Costa Rica. Six of them have been active in the past 75 years. (Source: Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program)

          5. alt = “Vulkan Arenal with a small stream of smoke”> Nickolay Stannev/Shutterstock Arenal volcano

          1. over 25 % of the total land area of ​​Costa Ricas are protected by any kind of protection zone, be it national parks, biological reserves, protection zones, forest reserves or game protection areas. (Source: Sinac and Costa Rica National Parks)

          2. in Costa Rica it is common to hear the expression pura vida (pure life). It can mean many things, including hello, goodbye, everything is cool, the same for you, but it never has a negative connotation. (Source: Lonely Planet)

          3. coffee was introduced from Cuba to Costa Rica in 1808 and quickly became his main office. Today Costa Rica is the 15th highest coffee exporter in the world. For a country with only 4.8 million inhabitants, it exports a whopping 89,520 tons per year and consumes 2.76 kg per capita. (Source: BBC and International Coffee Organization)

            4. alt = "close-up of coffee beans"> Atlas & Boots Costa Rica is the 15th highest coffee exporter

              According to Ecuador and Belgium,
            1. Costa Rica is also the third largest banana exporter in the world. (Source: WTEX)

            2. Costa Rica was named the happiest country in the world three times by Happy Planet Index (HPI), an index for human well -being and environmental impact. (Source: Happy Planet Index)

            3. óscar Arias Sánchez, President of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2010, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end the Central American crisis - a number of civil wars and revolutions that broke out in Central American countries in the 1970s and 80s. (Source: the Nobel Prize)

              4. Lonely Planet Costa Rica is a comprehensive travel guide for Costa Rica who covers a number of activities and travel destinations as well as many other interesting facts about Costa Rica.

              main picture: Nicholas Courtney/Shutterstock 
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