officially Republic of Costa Rica
Country, Central America.
Area: 19,730 sq mi (51,100 sq km). Population (2002 est.): 3,960,000. Capital: San José . Most of the people are of Spanish ancestry, with Indian and black admixtures. Language: Spanish (official). Religion: Roman Catholicism (official). Currency: colón. Costa Rica's narrow Pacific coast rises abruptly into central highlands and a volcanic mountain chain that forms the backbone of the country and descends gradually to the Caribbean coastal plain. The climate ranges from temperate to tropical, and the wide variety of plants and animals include species found in both North America and South America. The developing market economy is largely based on coffee and banana exports. Other cash crops include sugar and cocoa, and beef is also important. Costa Rica is a multiparty republic with one legislative house; the head of state and government is the president. Christopher Columbus landed in what is now Costa Rica in 1502, in an area inhabited by a number of small, independent Indian tribes. These peoples were not easily dominated by European adventurers who followed, and it took almost 60 years for the Spaniards to establish a permanent settlement there. Ignored by the Spanish crown because of its lack of mineral wealth, the colony grew slowly. Coffee exports and the construction of a rail line improved its economy in the 19th century. It joined the short-lived Mexican Empire in 1821, was a member of the United Provinces of Central America (1823–38), and adopted a constitution in 1871. In 1890 Costa Ricans held what is considered to be the first free and honest election in Central America, beginning a tradition of democracy for which Costa Rica is renowned. In 1987 then-president Oscar Arias Sánchez was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for his Central American peace plan. During the 1990s Costa Rica struggled with its economic policies. It suffered severe damage from a hurricane in 1996.