Costa Rica

1
Costa Rica

• No Artificial Ingredients

Presented by Giselle Sandí July 17th, 2008
2
Some History

• In Pre-Columbian times the Native Americans in
  what is now Costa Rica were part of the
  Intermediate Area, between the Mesoamerican and
  Andean cultural regions.
• In 1502, on his fourth and last voyage to the
  New World, Christopher Columbus made the first
  European landfall in the area. The native peoples
  were conquered by Spain in the 16th century.
  Costa Rica was then the southern-most province in
  the Spanish territory of New Spain.
• In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central
  American provinces that jointly declared their
  independence from Spain (September 15, 1821).

Very small country
3
General Information

• Location Central America, bordering both the
  Caribbean Sea and the
• North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua
  and Panama (10 00 N, 84 00 W)
• Capital San José
• Total area 51,100 sq k or 19,725 sq mi
  (slightly smaller than West Virginia)
• Climate tropical and subtropical dry season
  (December to April)
• rainy season (May to November) cooler in
  highlands
• Terrain coastal plains separated by rugged
  mountains including over 100 volcanic
• cones, of which several are major volcanoes
• International agreements
• - party to Biodiversity, Climate Change,
  Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
  Desertification, Endangered Species,
  Environmental Modification,
• Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
  Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands,
  Whaling
• - signed, but not ratified Marine Life
  Conservation
• Costa Rica protects over 25 of its national
  territory within national parks.
• It also possesses the greatest density of
  species in the world.
• http//www.inbio.ac.cr/es/biod/estrategia/est
  udio.html

4
General Information

• Population 4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)
• Ethnic groups White (including mestizo) 94,
  African American 3, Amerindian 1, Chinese 1,
  other 1
• Most common languages Spanish (official),
  English
• Costa Ricans are known as ticos
• Literacy (definition age 15 and over can read
  and write)
• - total population 96
• - male 95.9
• - female 96.1
• Government composed of
• - Executive branch chief of state (head of
  government), first vice president, and second
  vice president
• - Legislative branch unicameral Legislative
  Assembly (57 seats members are elected by
  direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
• - Judicial branch Supreme Court (22 judges are
  elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative
  Assembly)

5
Map
I was born around here!
Motto Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz (Long
live work and peace)
6
Our Symbols The Flag

• The Fist Lady, Pacifica Fernandez Oreamuno,
  designed the flag of Costa Rica in 1848. It was
  designed after the ideals of the French
  Revolution - freedom, equality, and brotherhood -
  and the colors of the French National Flag.
• Each color represents important aspects of Costa
  Rica
• Blue means the sky, opportunities at reach,
  intellectual thinking, perseverance to accomplish
  a goal, infinite, eternity, and ideals of the
  religious and spiritual desires.
• White means clear thinking, happiness, wisdom,
  power and beauty of the sky, the driving force of
  initiatives to search for new endeavors, and the
  peace of Costa Rica.
• Red means the warmth of Costa Rican people, their
  love to live, their blood shed for freedom, and
  their generous attitude.

7
Our Symbols Coat of Arms

• The two branches of myrtle closing the coat of
  arms represent the peace of Costa Rica.
• The seven stars above the volcanoes represent the
  seven provinces of Costa Rica
• The volcanoes represent the three Costa Rica's
  mountain range systems.
• The two oceans represent the Atlantic and Pacific
  oceans.
• The merchant ships sailing on each ocean
  represent the cultural and commercial exchange
  between Costa Rica and the rest of the world.
• The rising sun represents the prosperity of Costa
  Rica.
• The small circles on both sides of the coat
  represent the coffee beans, "Golden Beans.

8
Diverse Flora and Fauna
9
San José
10
Canoeing in TortugueroNorth Caribbean
11
Poás Volcano The largest active crater in the
world
12
South Pacific Turtles at work
13
Central Pacific Just like Chicago in February
14
Water rafting in the Central Valley Area
15
Corcovado My favorite (but rough) place in the
South Pacific
16
A paradise in the South Caribbean
17
Just as Frank did..here is our National Anthem
English verses by Mary Elizabeth and Diccon
Shaw 1 Noble country, our lives Are revealed
in your flying flag For in peace, white and
pure, we live tranquil Beneath the clear limpid
blue of your sky. 2 And their faces are ruddy
with hard work In the fields beneath the life
giving sun. Though your sons are but farm
workers, their labors eternal Esteem, renown,
and honor have won. 3 Hail, oh land of our
birth! Hail, oh gracious land we love! 4 If an
enemy seeking to slander you or Harms your name,
then we will abandon our farms And arise with
fervor to take up our arms. 5 Oh, sweet
country, our refuge and shelter How fertile
your life giving soil! May your people contended
and peaceful Unmolested continue their hard
work.