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Location
Central America.
Time
GMT - 6.
Area
51,100 sq km (19,730 sq miles).
Population
4.1 million (CIA estimate 2004).
Population Density
80.8 per sq km.
Capital
San José. Population: 346,799 (official estimate 2006) (Province of San José: 1.4 million).
Geography
Costa Rica, lying between Nicaragua and Panama, is a complete coast-to-coast segment of the Central American isthmus. Its width ranges from 119km to 282km (74 to 176 miles). A low thin line of hills that rises between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua broadens as it enters northern Costa Rica, eventually forming the high, rugged, mountains of volcanic origin in the Pacific Northwest and the centre of Costa Rica. The southern half of the country is dominated by mountains of tectonic origin; the highest peak is Chirripó Grande, which reaches 3,820m (12,530ft). More than half the population live on the Meseta Central, a plateau with an equitable climate. It is the setting for the country's capital, San José. There are lowlands on both coastlines, mainly swampy on the Caribbean coast, with savannah and dry forest on the Pacific Northwest merging into mangrove and rainforest southward. Rivers cut through the mountains, flowing down to both the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Government
Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.
Head of State
President Oscar Arias Sanchez since 2006.
Recent History
Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias Sanchez won the presidential elections held in February 2006 after campaigning to overturn a ban on individuals serving two presidential terms. The election on 5 February became Costa Rica's hardest-fought vote in the last four decades. Mr Arias is committed to taking Costa Rica into a controversial free trade pact with the United States but has maintained the nation's traditional pacifist stance as an outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, while also committing more government funds to education.
Language
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian is also spoken.
Religion
Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority.
Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard.
Social Conventions
Handshaking is common although is typically limp, and formal titular address is important. Christian names are preceded by Señor for a man and Señora for a woman, but Don is used to address a highly respected man and Doña for a female equivalent. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone's home and gifts are appreciated as a token of thanks, especially if invited for a meal. For most occasions casual wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach.