Costa Rica
By: Meaghan Landry and Haley Wynn
About Costa Rica
o
Costa Rica is known as the "Land of Peace"
o
Over 100 years of political stability
o
o
Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica
in 1502.
The national dish of Costa Rica is "Gallo
Pinto"-pre cooked rice and beans fried
together with onions and peppers.
Costa Rican Government
Government Type:Democratic Republic
•regular and fair elections
•Every 4 years is a new president
Current Leader: Laura Chinchilla Miranda
Costa Rica is the oldest democracy
in Latin America.
Economy
USA
•
•
•
The United states is Costa Rica's most
important trading partner
America accounts for almost half of
Costa Rica's imports, exports and
tourism
The U.S. also accounts for more than
two thirds of Costa Rica's foreign
investment
Climate
•
Average annual rainfall-100 inches
•
Tropical country
•
Average temperature 72: degrees
fahrenheit
•
Dry Season: December-April
•
Wet Season: May-November
General Geography (GG)
• Located in: Central America
• Long./Lat.: 10 degrees N 84 degrees West
• Terrain: Rugged Forest between Mountains
and Ocean Coastlines
PICTURES ON NEXT SLIDE
General
Geography
pictures
pictures
pictures
Political Map
of Costa Rica
Physical Map of Costa Rica
Costa Rica compared
to world
Country Flag
• The
Costa Rican flag contains of three
colors: Red(hardiness,bravery),
white(peace, honesty), and blue(truth
and loyalty).
• Coat
of arms of Costa Rica stays on the
double width red stripe. Blue, and
White Ribbon
• Blue
Ribbon says the words American
Central
The U.S. and Costa Rica's Relationship
• The
United states is Costa Rica's most
important trading partner
• America
accounts for almost half of Costa
Rica's imports, exports and tourism
• The
U.S. also accounts for more than two
thirds of Costa Rica's foreign investment
Currency
The official currency in Costa Rica is
the Costa Rican Colon (CRC).
Facts about the CRC:
•5000 colons transfer to $10 and 10000
colons transfer to $20
•$1 is 505 colons
•To transfer dollars to colones multiply
by 505
Represents Catholics praying
CULTURES
• The
majority of Costa Rica's
inhabitants are of Spanish descendants
• In
the lowlands, there are mestizos- a
mixture of European and Indigenous
blood
• 70-90% of Costa
• There is only a
diversity
Costa Rican Lowlands
Rica is Catholic
little amount of racial
Clothing
T
Traditional Clothing
Girls Traditional
Clothing consists of
long (occasionally
ruffled) white blouses
and long colorful
skirts.
Some More Interesting
Facts...
•
•
•
•
•
•
It is popular that mothers feed babies coffee in
their bottles
Costa Ricans call speed bumps son muertos meaning
"dead persons" in Spanish
It is considered disrespectful to wear shorts to the
immigration office
Many fast food restaurants do home deliveries
Costa Rica declared independence from Spain on
September 15, 1821. Spain did not recognize their
independence until May 10, 1850.
The Quetzal is Costa Rica's National bird
Sources
www.flags-flag-flag.org.uk
www.secretaryclinton.files.wordpress.com
http://www.pcc.edu/about/international/studyabroad/alajuela/documents/CostaRicaFunFacts.pdf
Cultures of the World: Costa Rica (book)
http://www.naturevacations.com/assets/uploads/eco-tours-things-to-do-costarica.jpg
http://costaricavacations.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/CostaRicaBeaches.jpg
http://www.intercarto.com/EN/produits_image/image_1465_BDM_Costa-Rica_GB.gif
http://www.birdquest-tours.com/tour_images/68092509.jpg
http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/images/stories/5colonboth.png
Sources II
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blccostarica.htm
http://belamifilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/usa-flag-map.png
http://www.world-challengeexpeditions.com/images_website/destination/costa%20rica/costa-rica-climatechart.gif
https://docs.google.com/a/students.natickps.org/presentation/d/1Wk3NuuExouS
itk6MIgZ_9qi88G6c0QWNoOaou5zaefk/edit?pli=1#slide=id.gc892fed_0_62
http://beachcomberpete.com/costa_rica/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/NorthernLowlands-Costa-Rica.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdtUybPxhcI&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_
mode=1&safe=active