Costa Rica literally means, “rich coast,” the description used by Christopher Columbus when he sailed to the country’s eastern shore in 1502, his last voyage. He called it this because of the vast amount of gold he observed being worn by its populace.
28% of Costa Rica has been set aside as protected areas, including 26 safeguarded forests, 20 national parks, 9 forest reserves, 8 wildlife refuges and 7 wildlife sanctuaries.
The climate in Costa Rica is hot all year round in the plains and along the coasts, while the climate is milder in the higher elevations, sometimes called the tierras templadas (temperate lands), a common reference throughout tropical Latin America.
Temperature variations are low because the country is located near the Equator, so the main difference between the seasons is found in the rains. Much of the country is so rainy that it is covered with rainforests.
Roughly, 98% of the country’s electricity has come from renewable sources since 2014, essentially providing its total population with electric power.
Despite the nearly 100% renewable electricity production, around 70% of the country’s overall energy still comes from oil and gas, which is widely used for transport, industry, and other human activities like cooking.
In most of Costa Rica, the tap water is potable, something that sets it apart from the rest of Latin America.
In 2013, Costa Rica was recognized for the disarmament of its army which enabled greater investment in environment, education and health services. This led to “one of the highest standards of living in the region and the happiest people!” — (FuturePolicy.org)
Costa Rica has become a world leader in reaching carbon neutrality. Since 2014, Costa Rica has produced 98% of its electricity from renewable sources, including water, wind, geothermal, biomass and solar.
Costa Rica leads the world in biodiversity per square kilometer/mile per scientists’ estimates; over 18% of Costa Rica’s otal estiamted speacies are unclassfied.
