***CENTER OF INFORMATIONS ABOUT COSTA RICA***
(COSTA RICA PORTALS)
www.quepolandia.com
www.costaricainfo.com
www.encostarica.net
www.asuaire.com
www.costaricainbound.com
ticos.centralamerica.com
www.ticolombia.com
www.bruncas.com(ang)
www.puntarenas.com
paginacr.com
www.costaricaexpeditons.com
www.desamparados.com
www.demorciadigital.org
www.costarricense.com
costaricaweb.com
PALM IN MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
(683 ha), (1972). The smallest but the most visited national park of Costa Rica. It`s situated on the middle pacific coast and used to be an ancient territory of Quepoa Indians. There is a tombolo, that was formed by two coastal currents that at one time run parallel to the shore and then converged, accumulating deposits of sand that later joined the mainland to Catedral Island.
It`s inhabited by raccons and white-faced monkeys. Typical species of forests balsa, Santa Maria and spiny cedars. The coast is fringed by coconut palms. It consists on four beaches: Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Escondido, Playita. In the last one at a low tide can be seen a stone ancient pens served by Indians for traping the sea turtles). This park includes 12 coastal islands that provide refuge for seabirds and a nesting site for the brown booby (one of them is Isla Mogote where used to lived shamans of Quepoe Indians). Dolphins abound in the surrounding sea and sometimes whales can be seen on their migratory routes.
NATIONAL PARKS
CHURCH IN GRECIA
Gracia. It was founded in 1864 and got the municipal rights in 1903. The main historical building of that is a metalic church of las Mercedes. The individual sectors of that were imported from Europe in 1897. It has two twin spires. Inside a few white sculptures, glassy candelabres, stained-glass windows, white arched wooden ceiling and marble altar are distinguished. In historic time, on that place stood another church, that was destroyed due to the earthquake. According to the inhabitants, the metallic elements of current church, packed in large boxes were sent by mistake to Costa Rica. They say that its primary pdestination point was to be european Greece.The church is fronted by park of Abraham Rodriquez with tall palms and mango trees. In the middle of that there are domed kiosko, fountain and obelisc erected to commemorate the town`s foundation. There is a municipal museum in the House of Culture with over a million species of insects on display. It traces also the development of the area during the last 200 years. In the vicinity coffee, sugar canes and pineapple plantations dominate. (Thanks to the latter ones, Grecia used to be called "the pineapple capital of Costa Rica". Besides Grecia is considered to be the one of the cleanest Latin America towns.
PROVINCE OF ALAJUELA
About me: Girly Myspace Layouts
GENERAL INFORMATIONS:
Climate
Costa Ricais situated in equatorial very humid climatic zone, and in mountains dominates equatorial humid climate. On its territory it posesses at least 12 climatic zones. In 1994 The National Geographic ranked Costa Rica`s Atenas village as the place with the most perfect climate in the world. Thanks to the moderate climatic conditions in the interior of Costa Rica it`s called the "country of the eternal spring". In the years 1982-1983 and 1997-1998 the weather in Costa Rica was influenced by El Nino.
Rains
In Costa Rica it happens that through 15 days in a row, the amount of rainfalls can include 70 % of all rainfalls of year. Atlantic side of the country gets the most rains in term between December and January. The pacific side through five monthes (since December to April) is almost in lack of them. Generally, in rain season the biggest number of rains is recorded in monthes from September to November, and the smallest number is observed in June, July and August. (This term of 90 days is called the "small summer"). Because the tradewinds continuously blow Caribbean storms over the country, it rains almost twice as much on the Atlantic side of these mountains as on the Pacific side.
The avarage year value of rains for the entire country is 2.500 mm. Generally, the biggest amount of rains get terrains situated on altidudes around 1.200 m.a.s.l. The biggest amount of rainfalls (both during days and years) get areas around Orosi Volcano and Tapanti National Park. The biggest number of rainy days in year (315 days) receive valleys of rivers Macho, Grande de Orosi and Pejivalle. The lowlands in Alajuela province close to the Nicaraguan border are said to get the rains 13 monthes per year. The most rainy year in Costa Rica was 1968 (359 days of that was recorded as rainy).
The lowest rainfalls in Costa Rica are in vicinity of Cartago, mouth of Tempsique River, Palo Verde National Park, the western tip of Santa Elena peninsula nad pacific beach Ocotal. The driest Guanacaste province doesn`t get rains from November to April. Soft, local rains occured also (even in driest days) inside of rain forests. Its because of condensation of water steam on cool leaves.
Typical for rainy season morning rains are called temporales. Torrential rains are called aguaceros. Occuring in March the Papagayo breeze that come from Pacific Ocean to the land and brings the rains called "the rains of coffee plantators". The mid December rains are known as "tears of Mary".
Length of the day
Because of the geographical position, the lenght of the day and night is almost equal. During the day it waves a little (about an hour). The sun rises at 6 a.m. and sets at 6 p.m.
Season of the year
In Costa Rica there are two well defined seasons: dry and rainy. The first lasts from December to April (locally called verano-summer). The second one falls on monthes from May to November (invierno-winter, or the green season). Meteorologists define also so called "small summer", when in July and August rains occure more seldom than the other monthes in the rainy season.
During the dry season, on the hills are recorded only from two to three rainy days per month. During almost whole period the sky is clear and starry. In Guanacaste the dry season lasts usually a little longer. On the atlantic coast it lasts from January to April. A typical rainy-season day is sunny all morning, clouding up around noon, with downpours in the afternoon and evening.
Temperatures
In large extent temperatures in Costa Rica depend on position and altitude above sea level. The hottest monthes in the year are March, April and May. The coldest ones: December, January and February (it`s due cold winters from the north). The avarage temperatures for Meseta central is 22 C. Temperatures of the coasts are as a general 10 C higher than in the centre of country and they oscilate between 28-37 C (but the highest are recorded on Pacific Coast).
The most extreme daily fluctuations occur during dry season, when clear skies at nights allow maximum heat loss through radiation. In the wet season, nights are generally warmer, as the heat built up during the day is trapped by clouds.On the highest peaks and volcanoes temperature may drop down to freezing point. (The lowest ever recorded temperature was -9 C in Chirripo Grande). In Costa Rica history there were recorded even a few examples of freezing to death of travellers during their ways through the peak of Cerro Muerte.
Winds
There is a pasat circulation connected with constant Azore high-pressure area and equatorial low pressure zone. The climate of Costa Rica is formed by masses of warm and moist air brought by eastern trade wind from the Atlantic, and by local temporary winds occuring in pacific side. The moist and warm trade-winds loose their moisture after crossing the Cordilleras barriel and descends for Pacific side as dry winds. Their movement is blocked only by the highest Costa Rica range - Cordillera Talamanca.
Cool polar winds bearing down from northern latitudes lower temperatures during December, January and February. (It`s one of the few places in the world where polar air travels so close to the Equator). On March occurs so called Papagayo breeze. It come from Pacific Ocean to the land and brings the rains called "the rains of coffee plantators".
A vital influence on climate have also tropical tornados. They can occur at any time and 20 % of them come from August to October. The center of low pressure, that has been created due to the tornados on Atlantic side, cause the drawing of winds from pacific side that make even two days-long. Nevertheless on the Atlantic coast hurricanes are not something to be worry about. During the last 100 years, only one hurricane Martha, which rushed ashore on November 21th of 1969 has hit this coast. In 1988 Limon was evacuated because of the precipitation of danger hurricane Juana (but it changed its way).
In July 1996 the Casar hurricane ripped the Pacific southwest causing $100 million in damage. It made floodings and big disasters. The Panamerican Highway was closed for about two monthes.
In November 2001 the hurricane Michelle hit Central America. In Costa Rica 400 people were evacuated after rapidly rising rivers burst their banks and flooded parts of the Pacific coastal region
Who I'd like to meet:
HUMBERTO VARGAS VALERIO
He was born in 1969. When was 7 years old started playing guitar, then continued learning in Music Art Conservatory on University of Costa Rica. In 1989 won the Second Guitar Festival in Costa Rica. in 1996, as a member of Guitar Orchestra of University of Costa Rica participated in recording album "Paisaje Iberoamericano" and went on tournee on USA, Europe and countries of Central America. He recorded two CD albums: "Tonos sepia" (2002) and "Aire" (2005).
FEBRUARY, 2006: Costa Rican singer, guitarrist and songwriter Humberto Vargas Valerio has won the 47th International Song Festival in Vina del Mar
in Chile for his song "Dilo de una vez". Vargas has got a prize of 30.000 $ and a statuette of silver gull. The festival was attanded by 15.000 viewers who flocked in open-air amphitheater. He was welcomed by crowd of Ticos in Costa Rican Juan Santamaria International Airport on his arrival on March 2nd.
After the Civil War of 1948, the 1950's and 1960's were characterized by a sound political strategy by the Costa Rican citizens. The voters alternated electing candidates of the PLN or of the Social Christian parties, which were the two main groups that had been born from the Civil War. During these years, the welfare system and the public school institutions expanded greatly. By 1978, Costa Rica boasted impressive social .. life expectancy had reached 70 years, infant mortality was 20/1000, the literacy rate was 90%, the welfare system covered three quarters of salaried workers and unemployment was at a low 5%. This economic and social stability caused a demographic increase between 1953 and 1973.
Another factor that contributed to this economic growth, was the considerable profit made from the export of coffee. Coffee production had increased because of the use of pesticides and the price of the crop had risen tremendously in the international market. Between 1950 and 1970, the production of coffee tripled.
Other goods that favored from an increase of production and of market prices were: sugar, bananas and meat. The governmental and private infrastructure also grew due to the amount of personnel and infrastructure that could handle the international trade of these products. By 1970, 51,000 people worked in bureaucratic positions and they made up 10% of the total labor force of the country
The period between 1950 and the late 1970's was a "golden era" characterized by impressive economic, social and demographic growth. This utopian period, however, couldn't last forever. In 1980, utopia gave way to crisis. The inflation, the "colon" (national currency) devaluation, the welfare system expenses and the decrease in prices of exports, destroyed the once grand economy of Costa Rica. The country found itself bound by a huge per-capita debt.
By the mid 1980's, the situation had improved somewhat. In 1986, President Oscar Arias Sanchez, concentrated on resolving belicose problems in the region. He formulated a peace plan that was signed by five Central American presidents in 1987, and which won him the Nobel Peace Prize. Another important happening during this decade, was the beginning of a serious tourist industry in the country. The 1990's have witnessed its growth and specialization through improvements made in the national parks and in the hotel infrastructure. In the present time, the two large tendencies in tourism are the arrival of large international hotel chains and the concentration on ecotourism.
After President Arias, three other presidents have been elected. An interesting fact about the elections that followed that of Arias, is that two of the candidates were sons of the main rivals during the Civil War of 1948. Calderon's son was president from 1990-1994, while Figueres' son ruled the country from 1994-1998. This illustrates the flexibility of the Costa Rican democracy, which allows the election of candidates that represent generations of rivalry, one after the other. The current president is Miguel Angel Rodriguez, who belongs to the Social Christian party, which has its origins with Calderon's followers, after the 1948 Civil War.
The decade of the 90's has witnessed a new tendency which threatens to dismantle the moderate socialism that has characterized most governments since the 1948 war: neo-liberalism. This philosophy insists in the privatization of state-run institutions, such as the ICE (national electricity company), the INS (national insurance institute) and RECOPE (oil and gasoline institute). These monstrous monopolies would definitely benefit from the efficiency and professionalism of private enterprises; however, the neo-liberal outlook sacrifices social welfare in favor of ideals such as efficiency and profit.
It's difficult to predict what all of the consequences of the neo-liberal approach will be, since it's just beginning to be felt in all aspects of Costa Rican life. However, it's obvious that the era of bureaucratic institutions and of social welfare programs, is reaching its end. As with any major change, a group of people will suffer, while another will benefit from it. Costa Rica's economic and political stability point to the fact that the majority and not the minority, will benefit from these changes.
