Editing Geography of Costa Rica

{{Short description|none}}
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{{Country geography
| name = Costa Rica
| map = Costa_Rica_relief_location_map.jpg
| continent = [[Americas]]
| region = [[Central America]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|9|56|N|84|5|W|type:city}}
| area ranking = 126th
| km area = 51,100
| percent land = 99.02
| km coastline = 1,290
| borders = total: {{convert|661|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| highest point = [[Mount Chirripó]] <br> {{convert|3,821|m|feet}}
| lowest point = [[Pacific Ocean]] <br> 0 m
| longest river = [[Térraba River]] (fully inland) <br> {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| largest lake = [[Lake Arenal]] <br> {{convert|85|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| exclusive economic zone = {{convert|574,725|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}

'''[[Costa Rica]]''' is located on the [[Central American Isthmus]], surrounding the point 10° north of the [[equator]] and 84° west of the [[prime meridian]]. It has 212&nbsp;km of [[Caribbean Sea]] coastline and 1,016 on the [[Pacific Ocean|North Pacific Ocean]].

The area is 51,100&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of which 40&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is water. It is slightly smaller than [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].

== Geology ==
{{Main|Geology of Costa Rica}}
Costa Rica is located on the [[Caribbean Plate]]. It borders the [[Cocos Plate]] in the [[Pacific Ocean]] which is being [[Subduction|subducted]] beneath it. This forms the [[List of volcanoes in Costa Rica|volcanoes in Costa Rica]], also known as the [[Central America Volcanic Arc]].<ref name="geology">{{cite web |title=Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica, Volcán Arenal, Map, Eruptions |url=https://geology.com/volcanoes/arenal/ |website=geology.com |access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref>

The Caribbean Plate began its eastward migration during the [[Late Cretaceous]]. During the [[Late Paleocene]], a local sea-level low-stand assisted by the continental uplift of the western margin of South America, resulted in a land bridge over which several groups of mammals apparently took part in an interchange.

Many [[List of earthquakes in Costa Rica|earthquakes in Costa Rica]] have occurred.

==Political and human geography==
{{see also|Costa Rica#Largest cities}}
Costa Rica shares a {{Convert|313|km|abbr=off|adj=on}} border with [[Nicaragua]] to the north, and a 348-km border with [[Panama]] to the south.

Costa Rica claims an [[exclusive economic zone]] of {{convert|574,725|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} with {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|lk=in}} and a [[Territorial waters|territorial sea]] of {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1}}.

Land use: Arable land: 4.8%. Permanent crops: 6.66%. Other: 88.54%.

[[Administrative divisions of Costa Rica]] include 7 [[provinces of Costa Rica|provinces]], 82 [[cantons of Costa Rica|cantons]], and 478 [[List of districts of Costa Rica|districts]]. There are also 24 [[Indigenous territories of Costa Rica|indigenous territories]].

==Physical geography==

=== Islands ===
There are about 79 [[List of islands of Costa Rica|islands of Costa Rica]], the most remote being [[Cocos Island]] and the largest being [[Isla Calero]].

===Mountain ranges===
The nation's coastal plain is separated by the [[Cordillera Central (Costa Rica)|Cordillera Central]] and the [[Cordillera de Talamanca]], which form the spine of the country and separate the Pacific and Caribbean [[drainage divide]]s.

The [[Cordillera de Guanacaste]] is in the north near the border with [[Nicaragua]] and forms part of the [[Continental Divide of the Americas]].

Much of the [[Cordillera de Talamanca]] is included in the [[La Amistad International Park]], which is shared between Costa Rica and Panama. It contains the country's highest peaks: the [[Cerro Chirripó]] and the [[Cerro Kamuk]]. Much of the region is covered by the [[Talamancan montane forests]]. It also includes the [[Cerros de Escazú]] which borders the [[Costa Rican Central Valley]] to the south.

=== Hydrology ===
[[File:Localisation de l'ile de Clipperton.png|right|thumbnail|Extent of Costa Rica's western [[EEZ]] in the Pacific]]
Interrogate land covers 1,031&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

[[List of rivers of Costa Rica|Rivers of Costa Rica]] all drain into the Caribbean or the Pacific.

=== Extreme points ===
Cocos Island is the southwestern extreme of the country. Otherwise to the north it's Peñas Blancas, to the south and east one of manyPanama border, and to the west the Santa Elena Peninsula.

The lowest point is sea level, and the tallest is [[Colero Chillido]]: at 3810 m which is the biggest.

== Climate ==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_CRI_1991–2020.svg|thumb|300px|Costa Rica map of Köppen climate classification]]The climate is tropical. Hot season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands.

Because Costa Rica is located between 8 and 12 degrees north of the [[Equator]], the climate is [[Tropical climate|tropical]] year round. However, the country has many [[microclimate]]s depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of each particular region.

Costa Rica's seasons are defined by how much rain falls during a particular period. The year can be split into two periods, the dry season known to the residents as summer ({{lang|es|verano}}), and the rainy season, known locally as winter ({{lang|es|invierno}}). The "summer" or dry season goes from December to April, and "winter" or rainy season goes from May to November, which almost coincides with the [[Atlantic hurricane season]], and during this time, it rains constantly in some regions.<ref>{{cite web|language=es-ES|title=viajes a Costa Rica|url=https://archive.org/details/@jose_merchan/|website=archive.org - ES}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

The location receiving the most rain is the Caribbean slopes of the [[Cordillera Central (Costa Rica)|Cordillera Central]] mountains, with an annual rainfall of over {{convert|5000|mm|1|abbr=on}}. Humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side. The mean annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around {{convert|27|°C|0|abbr=on}}, {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}} in the main populated areas of the Cordillera Central, and below {{convert|10|°C|0|abbr=on}} on the summits of the highest mountains.<ref>{{cite web |last=Eggar |first=Marc |title=Climate/Weather |url=http://www.worldheadquarters.com/cr/climate/ |access-date=28 June 2011 |archive-date=23 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623201043/http://www.worldheadquarters.com/cr/climate/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{weather box
| location = Costa Rica
| source = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.costaricaguides.com/Climate.html |title=Costa Rica Weather |website=Costa Rica Guides}}</ref>
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 27
| Feb high C = 27
| Mar high C = 28
| Apr high C = 28
| May high C = 27
| Jun high C = 27
| Jul high C = 27
| Aug high C = 27
| Sep high C = 26
| Oct high C = 26
| Nov high C = 26
| Dec high C = 26
| Jan low C = 17
| Feb low C = 18
| Mar low C = 18
| Apr low C = 18
| May low C = 18
| Jun low C = 18
| Jul low C = 18
| Aug low C = 18
| Sep low C = 17
| Oct low C = 18
| Nov low C = 18
| Dec low C = 18
| Jan precipitation mm = 6.3
| Feb precipitation mm = 10.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 13.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 79.9
| May precipitation mm = 267.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 280.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 181.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 276.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 355.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 330.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 135.5
| Dec precipitation mm = 33.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan percentsun = 40
| Feb percentsun = 37
| Mar percentsun = 39
| Apr percentsun = 33
| May percentsun = 25
| Jun percentsun = 20
| Jul percentsun = 21
| Aug percentsun = 22
| Sep percentsun = 20
| Oct percentsun = 22
| Nov percentsun = 25
| Dec percentsun = 34
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = San José, Costa Rica ([[Juan Santamaría International Airport]])
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan record high C = 31.5
| Feb record high C = 33.3
| Mar record high C = 33.4
| Apr record high C = 34.5
| May record high C = 32.8
| Jun record high C = 32.1
| Jul record high C = 31.7
| Aug record high C = 32.0
| Sep record high C = 32.0
| Oct record high C = 31.4
| Nov record high C = 30.3
| Dec record high C = 31.5
| Jan high C = 28.2
| Feb high C = 29.1
| Mar high C = 29.9
| Apr high C = 30.3
| May high C = 28.8
| Jun high C = 28.2
| Jul high C = 28.2
| Aug high C = 28.3
| Sep high C = 27.8
| Oct high C = 27.1
| Nov high C = 27.2
| Dec high C = 27.9
| year high C = 28.4
| Jan mean C = 22.6
| Feb mean C = 23.0
| Mar mean C = 23.5
| Apr mean C = 23.7
| May mean C = 22.9
| Jun mean C = 22.5
| Jul mean C = 22.6
| Aug mean C = 22.4
| Sep mean C = 22.0
| Oct mean C = 21.8
| Nov mean C = 21.9
| Dec mean C = 22.3
| year mean C = 22.6
| Jan low C = 18.5
| Feb low C = 18.7
| Mar low C = 18.8
| Apr low C = 19.1
| May low C = 19.2
| Jun low C = 19.0
| Jul low C = 19.0
| Aug low C = 18.8
| Sep low C = 18.3
| Oct low C = 18.5
| Nov low C = 18.3
| Dec low C = 18.3
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = 11.7
| Feb record low C = 5
| Mar record low C = 8
| Apr record low C = 14.9
| May record low C = 14.9
| Jun record low C = 15.8
| Jul record low C = 11
| Aug record low C = 16.0
| Sep record low C = 15.8
| Oct record low C = 15.5
| Nov record low C = 9
| Dec record low C = 2
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 6.3
| Feb rain mm = 10.2
| Mar rain mm = 13.8
| Apr rain mm = 79.9
| May rain mm = 267.6
| Jun rain mm = 280.1
| Jul rain mm = 181.5
| Aug rain mm = 276.9
| Sep rain mm = 355.1
| Oct rain mm = 330.6
| Nov rain mm = 135.5
| Dec rain mm = 33.5
| unit rain days = 0.1 mm
| Jan rain days = 3
| Feb rain days = 3
| Mar rain days = 5
| Apr rain days = 10
| May rain days = 23
| Jun rain days = 22
| Jul rain days = 20
| Aug rain days = 22
| Sep rain days = 26
| Oct rain days = 25
| Nov rain days = 17
| Dec rain days = 8
| Jan humidity = 68
| Feb humidity = 68
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 77
| Jun humidity = 83
| Jul humidity = 80
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 85
| Oct humidity = 87
| Nov humidity = 79
| Dec humidity = 74
| Jan sun = 285.2
| Feb sun = 266.0
| Mar sun = 282.1
| Apr sun = 240.0
| May sun = 182.9
| Jun sun = 144.0
| Jul sun = 151.9
| Aug sun = 158.1
| Sep sun = 147.0
| Oct sun = 161.2
| Nov sun = 177.0
| Dec sun = 244.9
| year sun = 2440.3
| source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787620_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von San José (Int. Flugh.) / Costa Rica |publisher=Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure |access-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331021113/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_787620_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| source 2 = NOAA (sun 1961–1990)<ref name = SanJoséNOAA>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/CS/78762.TXT |title=Juan Santamaria Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031204957/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/CS/78762.TXT |archive-date=2020-10-31 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 26, 2017 }}</ref>
| source = 
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = [[Limón International Airport]], Costa Rica
| single line = yes
| metric first = yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan record high C = 32.9
| Feb record high C = 33.4
| Mar record high C = 33.9
| Apr record high C = 34.5
| May record high C = 35.0
| Jun record high C = 35.0
| Jul record high C = 33.7
| Aug record high C = 34.3
| Sep record high C = 33.8
| Oct record high C = 34.5
| Nov record high C = 34.5
| Dec record high C = 33.0
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 28.8
| Feb high C = 29.1
| Mar high C = 29.7
| Apr high C = 30.1
| May high C = 30.4
| Jun high C = 30.3
| Jul high C = 29.6
| Aug high C = 30.1
| Sep high C = 30.6
| Oct high C = 30.4
| Nov high C = 29.4
| Dec high C = 28.9
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 24.8
| Feb mean C = 24.9
| Mar mean C = 25.5
| Apr mean C = 26.1
| May mean C = 26.6
| Jun mean C = 26.6
| Jul mean C = 26.1
| Aug mean C = 26.3
| Sep mean C = 26.6
| Oct mean C = 26.4
| Nov mean C = 25.7
| Dec mean C = 25.1
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 20.7
| Feb low C = 20.7
| Mar low C = 21.2
| Apr low C = 22.0
| May low C = 22.8
| Jun low C = 22.9
| Jul low C = 22.6
| Aug low C = 22.5
| Sep low C = 22.5
| Oct low C = 22.3
| Nov low C = 21.9
| Dec low C = 21.2
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = 12.9
| Feb record low C = 16.4
| Mar record low C = 15.2
| Apr record low C = 17.4
| May record low C = 17.8
| Jun record low C = 20.0
| Jul record low C = 16.6
| Aug record low C = 19.0
| Sep record low C = 18.9
| Oct record low C = 19.2
| Nov record low C = 15.8
| Dec record low C = 13.2
| year record low C = 
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 319.7
| Feb rain mm = 237.3
| Mar rain mm = 208.5
| Apr rain mm = 263.0
| May rain mm = 333.5
| Jun rain mm = 289.0
| Jul rain mm = 426.3
| Aug rain mm = 303.2
| Sep rain mm = 142.1
| Oct rain mm = 207.1
| Nov rain mm = 400.6
| Dec rain mm = 445.0
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan rain days = 17
| Feb rain days = 14
| Mar rain days = 14
| Apr rain days = 14
| May rain days = 16
| Jun rain days = 16
| Jul rain days = 20
| Aug rain days = 16
| Sep rain days = 11
| Oct rain days = 13
| Nov rain days = 17
| Dec rain days = 18
| Jan humidity = 87
| Feb humidity = 86
| Mar humidity = 85
| Apr humidity = 85
| May humidity = 87
| Jun humidity = 87
| Jul humidity = 89
| Aug humidity = 87
| Sep humidity = 86
| Oct humidity = 87
| Nov humidity = 88
| Dec humidity = 88
| year humidity = 87
| Jan sun = 310.0/2
| Feb sun = 152.6
| Mar sun = 179.8
| Apr sun = 342.0/2
| May sun = 164.3
| Jun sun = 270.0/2
| Jul sun = 117.8
| Aug sun = 145.7
| Sep sun = 318.0/2
| Oct sun = 164.3
| Nov sun = 270.0/2
| Dec sun = 142.6
| year sun = 
| Jand sun = 5.0
| Febd sun = 5.4
| Mard sun = 5.8
| Aprd sun = 5.7
| Mayd sun = 5.3
| Jund sun = 4.5
| Juld sun = 3.8
| Augd sun = 4.7
| Sepd sun = 5.3
| Octd sun = 5.3
| Novd sun = 4.5
| Decd sun = 4.6
| yeard sun = 5.0
| source 1 = [[Instituto Meteorologico Nacional]] (precipitation 1941–2012, temperatures 1970–2012, sun 1969–2012, humidity 1970–2012)<ref name=PuertoLimonIMN>{{cite web
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031021622/https://www.imn.ac.cr/documents/10179/20909/Descripci%C3%B3n%2Bdel%2Bclima%2Bdel%2BCant%C3%B3n%2Bde%2BLim%C3%B3n 
 |archive-date=31 October 2016 
 |url=https://www.imn.ac.cr/documents/10179/20909/Descripci%C3%B3n+del+clima+del+Cant%C3%B3n+de+Lim%C3%B3n 
 |language=es 
 |title=Descripción del clima: Cantón de Limón 
 |publisher=Instituto Meteorologico Nacional 
 |access-date=30 October 2016 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref>
| source 2 = Meteo Climat (extremes, 1941–present)<ref name = puertolimonmeteoclimat>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=956
| title = Station Puerto Limon
| publisher = Meteo Climat 
| language = fr 
| access-date = 6 November 2016}}</ref>
| date = August 2010
}}

{{weather box
| width = auto
| location = Liberia, Costa Rica
| metric first = yes
| single line = Yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan high C = 33.4
| Feb high C = 34.4
| Mar high C = 35.4
| Apr high C = 35.9
| May high C = 33.9
| Jun high C = 32.0
| Jul high C = 32.1
| Aug high C = 32.1
| Sep high C = 31.3
| Oct high C = 30.9
| Nov high C = 31.6
| Dec high C = 32.5
| year high C = 33.0
| Jan mean C = 25.8
| Feb mean C = 26.7
| Mar mean C = 27.3
| Apr mean C = 28.5
| May mean C = 28.7
| Jun mean C = 28.0
| Jul mean C = 27.6
| Aug mean C = 27.0
| Sep mean C = 27.2
| Oct mean C = 27.0
| Nov mean C = 26.2
| Dec mean C = 25.7
| year mean C = 27.1
| Jan low C = 20.7
| Feb low C = 21.1
| Mar low C = 21.6
| Apr low C = 22.7
| May low C = 23.4
| Jun low C = 23.2
| Jul low C = 22.8
| Aug low C = 22.6
| Sep low C = 22.4
| Oct low C = 22.3
| Nov low C = 21.5
| Dec low C = 21.0
| year low C = 22.1
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 1.3
| Feb rain mm = 1.6
| Mar rain mm = 4.1
| Apr rain mm = 23.9
| May rain mm = 194.1
| Jun rain mm = 245.6
| Jul rain mm = 153.3
| Aug rain mm = 209.4
| Sep rain mm = 346.3
| Oct rain mm = 310.0
| Nov rain mm = 98.2
| Dec rain mm = 12.3
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan rain days = 0
| Feb rain days = 0
| Mar rain days = 0
| Apr rain days = 1
| May rain days = 9
| Jun rain days = 14
| Jul rain days = 10
| Aug rain days = 12
| Sep rain days = 17
| Oct rain days = 16
| Nov rain days = 6
| Dec rain days = 2
| Jan humidity = 65.3
| Feb humidity = 62.2
| Mar humidity = 60.5
| Apr humidity = 62.0
| May humidity = 73.2
| Jun humidity = 81.9
| Jul humidity = 78.4
| Aug humidity = 80.9
| Sep humidity = 85.4
| Oct humidity = 86.1
| Nov humidity = 80.4
| Dec humidity = 72.1
| year humidity = 74.0
| Jan sun = 297.6
| Feb sun = 276.9
| Mar sun = 303.8
| Apr sun = 267.0
| May sun = 204.6
| Jun sun = 168.0
| Jul sun = 186.0
| Aug sun = 182.9
| Sep sun = 159.0
| Oct sun = 170.5
| Nov sun = 204.0
| Dec sun = 260.4
| year sun = 2680.7
| Jand sun = 9.6
| Febd sun = 9.8
| Mard sun = 9.8
| Aprd sun = 8.9
| Mayd sun = 6.6
| Jund sun = 5.6
| Juld sun = 6.0
| Augd sun = 5.9
| Sepd sun = 5.3
| Octd sun = 5.5
| Novd sun = 6.8
| Decd sun = 8.4
| yeard sun = 7.4
| source 1 = Instituto Meteorologico Nacional (precipitation 1957–2012, temperatures 1977–2013, sun 1976–2012, humidity 1976–2013)<ref name=IMNliberia>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.imn.ac.cr/IMN/MainAdmin.aspx?__EVENTTARGET=ClimaCiudad&CIUDAD=4 
 |language=es 
 |title=Datos Climaticos – Liberia 
 |publisher=Instituto Meteorologico Nacional 
 |access-date=4 December 2012 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208044153/http://www.imn.ac.cr/IMN/MainAdmin.aspx?__EVENTTARGET=ClimaCiudad&CIUDAD=4 
 |archive-date= 8 February 2013 
}}</ref><ref name=IMN2liberia>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.imn.ac.cr/publicaciones/ClimaLib2014.pdf 
 |language=es 
 |title=Descripción del clima: Cantón de Liberia 
 |publisher=Instituto Meteorologico Nacional 
 |access-date=13 April 2015 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709050412/http://www.imn.ac.cr/publicaciones/ClimaLib2014.pdf 
 |archive-date= 9 July 2015 
}}</ref>
| date = January 2012
}}

=== Climate change ===
Costa Rica is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which can be exacerbated by [[climate change]]. The majority of Costa Rica's population (78%) and economic activity (80% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]) are concentrated in regions highly vulnerable to various natural hazards, such as floods, landslides, cyclones, storm surges, and rising sea levels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Bank |title=Costa Rica |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/costa-rica/vulnerability |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |language=en}}</ref> Sea levels are rising along both of Costa Rica's coasts, increasing the vulnerability of low-lying areas to storm surges and erosion with consequences for fisheries, port infrastructure and tourism.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=World Bank Group |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/country-profiles/15989-WB_Costa%20Rica%20Country%20Profile-WEB.pdf |title=Climate Risk Profile: Costa Rica |publisher=World Bank Group |year=2021 |location=Washington}}</ref>

The country is facing increasing temperatures (especially at higher elevations), and changing rainfall patterns resulting in increased risk of drought along the Pacific slope and flooding in all regions of the country.<ref name=":2" /> Increasing temperatures and extreme heat will have major consequences for human health, agriculture (particularly coffee and banana cultivation), water security, tourism, and the country's distinctive biodiversity and ecosystems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stan |first=Kayla |last2=Sanchez-Azofeifa |first2=Arturo |last3=Calvo-Rodriguez |first3=Sofia |last4=Castro-Magnani |first4=Marissa |last5=Chen |first5=Jing |last6=Ludwig |first6=Ralf |last7=Zou |first7=Lidong |date=7 February 2020 |title=Climate change scenarios and projected impacts for forest productivity in Guanacaste Province (Costa Rica): lessons for tropical forest regions |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10113-020-01602-z |journal=Regional Environmental Change |language=en |volume=20 |issue=1 |doi=10.1007/s10113-020-01602-z |issn=1436-3798|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Costa Rica has committed to reducing its [[greenhouse gas]] emissions by 9.11 MtCO2e by 2030 and [[Net-zero emissions|net zero]] by 2050, announced in its National Decarbonisation Plan (NDP).<ref name="Costa Rica">{{Cite web |title=Costa Rica |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/costa-rica/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=climateactiontracker.org |language=en}}</ref> According to Climate Action Tracker, Costa Rica has made good progress toward its climate goals.<ref name="Costa Rica"/>

== Flora and fauna ==
[[Image:Rainforest at Puentes Colgantes.jpg|right|thumb|[[Rainforest]] in Costa Rica]]
Costa Rica is a [[biodiversity hotspot]]. While the country has only about 0.03% of the world's landmass, it contains 5% of the world's [[biodiversity]].<ref name="Guardian07">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/may/26/saturday.costarica|title=Shades of green|author=Leo Hickman|date=26 May 2007|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=8 June 2008|location=London}}</ref><ref name="Honey99">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ecotourismsustai00hone/page/128|title=Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise?|last=Honey|first=Martha|publisher=Island Press; 1 edition, Washington, D.C.|year=1999|isbn=978-1-55963-582-0|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ecotourismsustai00hone/page/128 128–181]}} Chapter 5. Costa Rica: On the Beaten Path</ref> It is home to about 12,119 species of [[plant]]s, of which 950 are [[endemism|endemic]].<ref name="rainforests.mongabay.com">{{cite web |url=http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Costa_Rica.htm |title=Costa Rica Forest Information and Data |website= rainforests.mongabay.com}}</ref> There are 117 native trees and more than 1,400 types of [[orchid]]s; a third of them can be found in the [[Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve]]. Almost a half of the country's land is covered by forests, though only 3.5% is covered by primary forests.<ref name="rainforests.mongabay.com" /> [[Deforestation in Costa Rica]] has been reduced from some of the worst rates in the world from 1973 to 1989, to almost zero by 2005.<ref name="ODI12">{{cite web |first1=Jessica |last1=Brown |first2=Neil |last2=Bird |year=2010 |url=http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5049&title=costa-rica-sustainable-resource-management-successfully-tackling-tropical-deforestation |title=Costa Rica sustainable resource management: Successfully tackling tropical deforestation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514083601/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=5049&title=costa-rica-sustainable-resource-management-successfully-tackling-tropical-deforestation|archive-date=14 May 2011 |website=[[Overseas Development Institute]]}}</ref>

The diversity of [[Wildlife of Costa Rica|wildlife in Costa Rica]] is very high; there are 441 species of [[amphibian]]s and [[reptile]]s, 838 species of [[bird]]s, 232 species of [[mammal]]s and 181 species of fresh water fish. Costa Rica has high levels of [[endemism]]; 81 species of amphibians and reptiles, 17 species of birds and 7 species of mammals are endemic to the country. However, many species are [[endangered]]. According to the [[World Conservation Monitoring Centre]], 209 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants are endangered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ |title=World Conservation Monitoring Centre Home |accessdate=2012-01-28}}</ref> Some of the country's most endangered species are the [[harpy eagle]], the [[giant anteater]], the [[golden toad]] and the [[jaguar]]. The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] (IUCN) reports the golden toad as extinct.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. |year=2020 |title=''Incilius periglenes'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T3172A54357699 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T3172A54357699.en |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

Over 25% of Costa Rica's national territory is protected by the [[National System of Conservation Areas]] (SINAC), which oversees all of [[List of Conservation Areas of Costa Rica|the country's protected areas]]. There 29 [[List of national parks of Costa Rica|national parks of Costa Rica]] many conservation areas of Costa Rica. Together protected areas comprise over one-fourth of Costa Rican territory. 9.3% of the country is protected under IUCN categories I-V. Around 25% of the country's land area is in protected national parks and protected areas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2006/sbsta/eng/misc05.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2006/sbsta/eng/misc05.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. "Issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries and recommendations on any further process"|access-date=26 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_188.pdf|title=Biodiversity and Protected Areas – Costa Rica|author=Earth Trends|year=2003|publisher=World Resources Institute|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927060236/http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/bio_cou_188.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2011|access-date=8 June 2008}}</ref> the largest percentage of protected areas in the world (developing world average 13%, developed world average 8%).<ref name="ODI12" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldheadquarters.com/cr/protected_areas/|title=Costa Rica National Parks and Reserves|year=2007|publisher=World Headquarters|access-date=8 June 2008|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107034053/http://en.worldheadquarters.com/travel/costarica/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://planetasustentavel.abril.com.br/noticia/desenvolvimento/conteudo_280147.shtml?func=2|title=O desafio da economia verde|author1=Leonardo Coutinho|author2=Otávio Cabral|date=21 May 2008|publisher=Revista Veja|language=pt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223215610/http://planetasustentavel.abril.com.br/noticia/desenvolvimento/conteudo_280147.shtml?func=2|archive-date=23 February 2009|access-date=8 June 2008}} Published on website "Planeta Sustentável"</ref>

[[Tortuguero National Park]] is home to monkeys, sloths, birds, and a variety of reptiles.

The [[Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve]] is home to about 2,000 plant species,<ref name="karttv">{{cite web|url=http://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=402|title=Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve|publisher=Govisitcostarica.com|access-date=26 June 2010}}</ref> including numerous orchids. Over 400 types of birds and more than 100 species of mammals can be found there.<ref name="karttv" />

Over 840 species of birds have been identified in Costa Rica. As is the case in much of Central America, the avian species in Costa Rica are a mix of North and South American species. The country's abundant fruit trees, many of which bear fruit year round, are hugely important to the birds, some of whom survive on diets that consist only of one or two types of fruit. Some of the country's most notable avian species include the [[resplendent quetzal]], [[scarlet macaw]], [[three-wattled bellbird]], [[bare-necked umbrellabird]], and the [[keel-billed toucan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anywherecostarica.com/flora-fauna/bird|title=Birds of Costa Rica|last=Stater|first=Adam}}</ref> The [[Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad]] is allowed to collect royalties on any biological discoveries of medical importance. Costa Rica is a center of biological diversity for reptiles and [[amphibians]], including the world's fastest running lizard, the spiny-tailed iguana (''[[Ctenosaura similis]]'').<ref name="Garland1984">{{cite journal|last=Garland|first=T. Jr. |year=1984|title=Physiological correlates of locomotory performance in a lizard: an allometric approach|url=http://www.biology.ucr.edu/people/faculty/Garland/Garl1984.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.biology.ucr.edu/people/faculty/Garland/Garl1984.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|journal=American Journal of Physiology|volume=247|issue=5 Pt 2|pages=R806–R815|doi=10.1152/ajpregu.1984.247.5.R806|pmid=6238543}}</ref>

==Natural resources==

[[Hydropower]] is produced from [[Lake Arenal]], the largest lake in Costa Rica. Total renewable water resources is 112.4&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>.

Freshwater withdrawal is 5.77&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>/year (15%/9%/77%), or per capita: 1,582 m<sup>3</sup>/year. Agriculture is the largest water user demanding around 53% of total supplies while the sector contributes 6.5% to the Costa Rica GDP. Both total and per capita water usage is very high in comparison to other Central American countries but when measured against available freshwater sources, Costa Rica uses only 5% of its available supply.

Increasing urbanization will put pressure on [[water resources management in Costa Rica]].

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Costa Rica map shaded relief.png|Shaded relief map of Costa Rica
File:Costa Rica map detail.PNG|Map of Costa Rica
File:Costa Rica Topography.png|Topography of Costa Rica
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of earthquakes in Costa Rica]]
*[[List of Faults in Costa Rica]]
*Costa Rica is party to the following treaties: [[Convention on Biological Diversity]], [[Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques|Convention on Environmental Modification]], [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]], the [[Montreal Protocol]], [[Ramsar Convention]], [[International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling]], [[United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification|Desertification Convention]], [[Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna|Endangered Species Convention]], [[Basel Convention]], [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|Convention on the Law of the Sea]], [[Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter|Convention on Marine Dumping]], and the [[Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty]]. It has signed but not ratified the [[Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas|Convention on Marine Life Conservation]] and the [[Kyoto Protocol]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Geography of Costa Rica}}
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11319/ Map of the Republic of Costa Rica] from 1891
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11321/ Costa Rica] - another historic map

{{Costa Rica topics}}
{{Geography of North America}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Costa Rica}}
[[Category:Geography of Costa Rica| ]]