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.