Location Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Geographic coordinates 10 00 N, 84 00 W

Map references Central America and the Caribbean

Area
total: 51,100 sq km
land: 50,660 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco

Area - comparative slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Coastline 1,290 km

Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November)

Terrain coastal plains separated by rugged mountains

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Natural resources hydropower potential

Land use
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 12% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes

Environment - current issues deforestation, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

NOTE: The information regarding Costa Rica on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Costa Rica Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Costa Rica Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.