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The Republic of Costa Rica (Spanish: República de Costa Rica) is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south-southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army.

Culture

The locals refer to themselves as tico, maje or mae (sort of "man", actually maje means "dumb") idiom in a very popular and "only with close friends" way, or tica (female). "Tico" comes from the locally popular usage of "tico" diminutive suffixes (eg. 'momentico' instead of 'momentito'). The tico ideal is that of a very friendly, helpful, laid back, unhurried, educated and environmentally aware people, with little worry for deadlines or the "normal" stresses of United States life. Visitors from the United States are often referred to as gringos, which is virtually always congenial in nature. The phrase "Pura Vida" (literally pure life) is a motto ubiquitous in Costa Rica. It encapsulates the pervading ideology of living in peace in a calm, unflustered manner, appreciating a life surrounded by nature and family and friends.

Costa Rican traditions and culture tend to retain a strong degree of Spanish influence. Their spoken accent is rather closer to certain areas of Colombia than its Central American counterparts. Costa Rica boasts a varied history. Costa Rica was the point where the Mesoamerican and South American native cultures met. The northwest of the country, Nicoya, was the southernmost point of Nahuatl cultural influence when the Spanish conquerors (conquistadores) came in the 16th century. The center and southern portions of the country had Chibcha influences. However, the indigenous people have influenced modern Costa Rican culture to a relatively small degree, as most of the Indians died from disease and mistreatment by the Spaniards. The Atlantic coast, meanwhile, was populated with African slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries, although most Caribbean Costa Ricans of African ascent descend from Jamaican workers brought in during the 19th century to work in the construction of railways connecting the urban populations of the Central Plateau to the port of Limon on the Caribbean coast. During the 19th century Chinese and Italian immigrants came to the country to work on the construction of the railroad system as well

Music

Most music and the most representative folklore comes from the north of the country (the part that once had heavy Mayan influence), including the Nicoya Peninsula, and the Atlantic coast (Afro-Caribbean culture). Costa Rican music includes a rhythm known as tambito as well a distinctive musical genre known as punto. Two examples are the punto guanacasteco, which hails from Guanacaste Province, and the punto sancarleño, from San Carlos in Alajuela Province.

Nowadays, rock music is very popular. The Costa Rican rock movement started around the 70's - 80's and bands enjoys today some popularity, specially among young people. Bands such as Gandhi (who defines their music as 'eclectic rock in Spanish') and Evolucion (among others) are quite popular. This movement started in the early 80's with the pioneer work of the band Café con Leche and José Capmany.

Cuisine

Costa Rican cooking does not have a distinct or particular style or many dishes to call its own.

The closest thing to a national dish is "arroz con pollo" ("rice with chicken"), diced chicken in rice with garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and cilantro.

"Olla de Carne" is a soup with many different vegetables and meats.

"Gallo Pinto" ("spotted rooster"), a combination of black beans, white rice (both usually from a meal the day before), cilantro, onions, garlic, salt and a special sauce, it is typically eaten with eggs, meat, and/or natilla, the Costa Rican version of sour cream, as well as very ripe fried plantains and either corn tortillas or french bread, is often eaten for breakfast.

Lunch is considered the main meal of the day. It frequently consists of a plate lunch called a "casado," so named because its main components, black beans and rice, sit side-by-side as if married. The main dishes served with a casado vary, from chicken or beef in sauce, to potato patties, to fish.

Fruit drinks are common ("refrescos," "frescos," "naturales," or "batidos") with meals. Made with either water or milk, they come in an endless variety: canteloupe, strawberry, tamarind, mango, papaya, lime, blackberry, guanabana, fruit punch, horchata, cas.

Costa Rica has a strong influence of the Caribbean. Dishes such as "Pati" and "Rondon" have become part of the culture.

"Pura Vida"

The phrase that embodies the Tico lifestyle is Pura Vida, literally translated as Pure Life, meaning roughly "This is living!" or "Cool!" Friends often greet or salute each other with Pura vida mae (or Pure life, dude, which could be rendered as "This is living, dude!") Another translation might be something like "distilled life!" suggesting "I am experiencing the best in life"; and since life is about friendship, relaxation, flirting, happiness and good fun, this means you are having a wonderful time. This all-encompassing statement is used by many Costa Ricans (and expatriates) to refer to the free spirit and love for life of this tropical country. Also refers to the state of something going really well or being very positive.

History

In Pre-Columbian times the Indigenous people in what is now know as Costa Rica were part of the Intermediate Area located between the Mesoamerican and Andean cultural regions. This has recently been updated to include the influence of the Isthmo-Colombian area in the south-Atlantic region of the country, defined by the presence of groups that spoke Chibchan languages. It is still unknow if any of this groups created the famous Stone spheres of Costa Rica, between 200 BC and AD 1600.

Conquest and Colonization

The country was visited by Cristopher Columbus on 1502, during his last expedition. He arrive to Cariay, in front of the Quiribrí island, actual Isla Uvita. The conquest was not easy but it doesn´t have the magnitud of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

During the 16th century the quickly diminishing of the workforce, the indigenous population, due to illness bringed by the colonists, slavery or war; and lack mineral resources plus the mountainous terrain of the most riched soils in the Central Valley, severely slowed down the colonization effort. Making Costa Rica the southernmost and poorest province in the Spanish territory of New Spain within the Capitancy General of Guatemala. The provincial capital was Cartago.

A lot of costarican historians as Carlos Gagini and Roberto Brenes Mesén, states that the national idiosyncrasy born during the colonial years. When colonists, the indigenous and even the provincial governor should work the land to obtain the sustance for their families. (Even today a president could walk by the streets as a normal citizen, some even without any security)

Independence

During September 15, 1821 the Capitancy General of Guatemala declare their indepence from the Spanish Empire. Costa Rica, along with the other provinces of the Capitancy briefly join the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide.

Costa Rica became a federal state of the United Provinces of Central America (see: History of Central America) from 1823 to 1839. In 1824, the capital moved to San José.

In 1838 Costa Rica proclaim itself a sovereign and independent nation, under the rule of Braulio Carrillo.

During 1856 Costa Rica, commanded by Juan Rafael Mora Porras expelled a filibusters invasion, commanded by William Walker, in the battles of Santa Rosa, Rivas and the San Juan campaign. Later it leads the Central America army that detroyed Walker plans to add Central America as a colony to the United States. The national hero Juan Santamaría fought in the battle of Rivas where he set on fire the "Mesón" where the invaders refuge.

20th Century

Costa Rica has avoided the violence that has plagued Central America; it is seen as an example of political stability in the region, and is referred to as the "Switzerland of the Americas". Since the late 19th century only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development.

In 1949, José Figueres Ferrer abolished the army; making Costa Rica the first country ever to operate within the democratic system without the assistance of a military. An example that has been followed later by other nations as Panama

Costa Rica (Spanish for "Rich Coast"), was a largely agricultural country, however during the last decades has achieved a relatively high standard of living. Electronics is a rapidly expanding industry along with Tourism are the major industries of the country thanks to its social stability and rich natural environment.

Politics

Executive responsibilities are vested in a president, who is the country's center of power. There also are two vice presidents and a 15-member cabinet that includes one of the vice presidents. The president and 57 Legislative Assembly deputies are elected for 4-year terms. A constitutional amendment approved in 1969 limited presidents and deputies to one term, although a deputy may run again for an Assembly seat after sitting out a term. An amendment to the constitution to allow second presidential terms was proposed and also the constitutionality of the prohibition against a second presidential term has been challenged in the courts. In April 2003 the prohibition was officially recognized, in a highly polemic resolution, as anti-constitutional allowing Óscar Arias (Nobel Peace Prize, 1987) to run for President a second time in the 2006 elections and winning them. Arias is a promoter of free trade and supports the free trade agreement with the United States which is the source of a great controversy that might develop in protests around the country in the upcoming months. Costa Rica uses a form of proportional representation to elect its national legislative body.

Governors appointed by the president head the country's seven provinces, but they exercise little power. There are no provincial legislatures. Autonomous state agencies enjoy considerable operational independence; they include the telecommunications and electrical power monopoly, the nationalized commercial banks, the state insurance monopoly, and the social security agency. Costa Rica has no military by constitution but maintains domestic Police and armed National Guard forces for internal security.

Geography

Costa Rica is located on the Central American isthmus, 10° North of the equator and 84° West of the Prime Meridian. It borders both the Caribbean Sea (to the east) and the North Pacific Ocean (to the west), with a total of 1,290 kilometres (802 mi) of coastline (212 km / 132 mi on the Caribbean coast and 1,016 km / 631 mi on the Pacific).

Costa Rica also borders Nicaragua to the north (309 km / 192 mi of border) and Panama to the south-southeast (639 km / 397 mi of border). In total, Costa Rica comprises 51,100 square kilometers (19,730 sq. mi) plus 589.000 square kilometers of territorial waters.

The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripo, with 3,810 metres (12,500 ft), the second highest peak in Central America, after Volcan Tajumulco in Guatemala. The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (3,431 m or 11,257 ft). The largest lake in Costa Rica is Lake Arenal.

Costa Rica also comprises several islands. Cocos Island stands out because of its distance from continental landmass (24 km² or 9.25 sq mi, 500 km or 310 mi from Puntarenas coast), but Calero Island is the biggest island of the country (151.6 km² or 58.5 sq mi).

The country is highly recognized for its commitment with enviroment protection. Costa Rica protects over 25% of its national territory within national parks. It also possess the greatest density of species on the world.

Economy

Historically, Costa Rica's economy has been based on agriculture, including the production of coffee, bananas, pineapples, and ornamentals, but in recent times ecotourism, electronics, pharmaceutics, financial outsourcing and software develoment have become the prime industries. Costa Rica's location in the Central American isthmus provides easy access to American markets as it has the same time zone as the central part of the United States and direct ocean access to Europe and Asia.

The economy has been expanding for Costa Rica in part because the Government had implemented a seven year plan of expansion in the high tech industry. The central government offers tax exemptions for those who are willing to invest in the country. High levels of education among its residents make the country an attractive investing location. Several global high tech corporations have already started developing in the area exporting goods including chip manufacturer Intel and pharmaceutical companies such as Procter & Gamble and Glaxo Smith Kline. Trade with South East Asia and Russia has boomed during 2004 and 2005, and the country is expected to obtain full Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) membership by 2007 (the country became an observer in 2004).

For the fiscal year 2005 the country showed a government deficit of 2.1%, internal revenue increased an 18%, exports increased a 12.8% and the number of visiting tourists increased a 19%, reaching 1.5 million people. Economic growth stood at 4.2%, nevertheless the country faced high inflation (14%) and a trade deficit of 5.2%.

The unit of currency is the colón (CRC), which trades around 500 to the U.S. dollar; currently about 600 to the euro.

Flora and Fauna

Costa Rica is home to a rich variety of plants and animals. While the country has only about 0.1% of the world's land mass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity. As Costa Rica has no military or navy, but an abundance of wildlife, it has been said that the soldiers are the leaf cutter ants, the pilots are the macaws and the navy ships are the whales. Over 25% of Costa Rica is composed of protected forests and reserves.

One national park that is internationally renowned among ecologists for its biodiversity (including big cats and tapirs) and where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife is the Corcovado National Park.

Tortuguero National Park (the name tortuguero can be translated as turtle catcher or turtle hunter, it is also understood as full of turtles) is home to spider, howler and white-throated Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, 320 species of birds (including eight species of parrots), a variety of reptiles, but is mostly recognized for the annual nesting of the endangered green turtle and is considered the most important nesting site for this species. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest here.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve hosts 2,000 plant species including numerous orchids. Over 400 types of birds can be found here, as well as over 100 species of mammals. Costa Rica as a whole has about 600 species of birds. The entity entrusted to do genetic and biochemical prospection on Costa Rica's biological wealth is the INBIO (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad), and it is allowed to collect royalties on any biological discoveries of medical importance.

Demographics

In 2005, Costa Rica had an estimated population of 4,016,173 persons. The majority of people in Costa Rica are descended from Spanish settlers. In contrast to its neighboring populations, little mixing of the Spanish settlers and the indigenous populations occurred. Therefore, a vast majority of Costa Ricans are either of Spanish or to a lesser extent of mixed meztizo heritage. In addition, there are significant numbers of Costa Ricans of Italian, German, Jewish, and Polish descent. Together, European and meztizos descendants make up a full 94% of the population. 3% of the population is of black African descent, and are mostly English-speaking descendants of 19th-century black Jamaican immigrant workers. Another 1% is composed of ethnic Chinese.

The indigenous population today numbers less than 1%, or around 29,000 individuals. In Guanacaste Province, a significant portion of the population descends from a mix of local Amerindians, Africans and Spaniards. There is also a small expat community of American and Canadian retirees.

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