... About Costa Rica

Geographical Location
Costa Rica has a special location in the map, since it is in the middle of the Central American isthmus. It limits to the East and Northeast with the Caribbean sea; to the West and South with the Pacific Ocean; to the Southeast with Panama, and to the North with Nicaragua.

History of Costa Rica
Human settlements in Cost aRica go back to at least the year 5000 a.c.. but in comparison with the large pre-Hispanic civilizations of the American continent, Native Americans in Costa Rica were not numerous, nor did they have a great development.
The constitution in force, of November 7, 1949, defines Cost aRica as a Democratic rEpublic. With the abolition of the army in 1948, Costa Rica consolidates its vocation of peace and democracy, which Costa Ricans have always had. The only security forces are the Police Force and the Rural Police Force. Instead of spending on soldiers and weapons, Cost aRica has invested these resources in health and education. This decision has turned this country into a peaceful and pacifist one.

Climate

Costa Rica is a tropical country located between two ocoeans and with a complex geography, which originates different climatic conditions and elads to life zones that vary from a dry tropical forest to moors. Generally, temperatures vary between 14 and 22 degrees Celsius. Event though the country does not have defined seasons and the weather in each region is relatively stable during the entire year there are slight changes when it is "summer" time (dry season) or "winter" (rainy season). The "summer" season normally oges from December through April and "winter" goes from May to November.

Official Language
Spanish, even though a high percentage speaks English.

Political System

Costa Rica is a democratic republic with a presidential regimen and a cosntitution characterized by a system of weights and counter weights. The country's President is the head of the executive power and therefore consittutes the center of political power. There are two Vice-Presidents and a 15- member Cabinet.
The President, as well as the 57 members of the Legislative Assembly, is elected for a 4-year period. Through a reform int he year 1969, members of the Parliament may be reelected for several non-consecutive legislative periods. The same was decided for the President inthe year 2003. The Judicial Power is in charge fo supervising compliance with the Cosntitution and moderating conflicts between the powers. Costa Rica has a political-administrative division of 81 cantons that have their Local Goverments, within which the maximum authority is the mayor, who is elected for a 4-year period, through the years ahas offered basic services to society.
Some of these institutions are the Cost aRican Insittute of Electricity, The National Insurance Institute, The Costa Rican Social Security Bureau.
Costa Rica does not have an armed force and internal security is guaranteed by the Police Force.

The country assisted in the development of democratic structures and the respect or human rights. In Latin America, Costa Rica stands out because it has rights and guarantees that offer Costa Ricans high Indexes of Human Development.

Health and Education

According to the WHO, Costa Rica has one of the best health systems the world. Infant mortaly has decreased while life expectancy has increased. The Costa Rican Social Security Bureau is the entity in charge of operating the different hospitals, besides being responsible for the services of incapacities, old age, and maternity. Regarding education, the country currently has one of the highest literacy rates of the continent, close to 94% of the population.

Electricity
110 volts

Provinces
Costa Rica's territorial division includes seven provinces subdived into 81 cantons and these at the same time in 463 districts. They are Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas and San José.