World  > Central America  > Costa Rica
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General Information Area: 51,060 sq km (19,730 sq miles). Population: 3,651,803 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 71.5 per sq km. Capital: San José. Population: 345,599 (2000). 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 and rises as it enters northern Costa Rica, eventually forming the high, rugged, mountains of volcanic origin in the centre and south. The highest peak is Chirripó Grande which reaches 3820m (12,530ft). More than half the population live on the Meseta Central, a plateau with an equitable climate. It is rimmed to the southwest by the Cordillera range, and provides the setting for the country’s capital, San José. There are lowlands on both coastlines, mainly swampy on the Caribbean coast, with grassland savannah on the Pacific side merging into mangrove towards the south. 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 and Government: President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella since 2002. Language: Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken. Some French, German and Italian are also spoken. Religion: Roman Catholic. Time: GMT - 6. Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 506. Outgoing international code: 00. Telephone booths are available all over the country. Mobile telephone AMPS network is operated by Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). A GSM 1900/3G network was planned for November 2002. Handsets can be hired, although this can be difficult and time-consuming. Fax Facilities are available in San José at the Radiografica Costarricense SA (opening hours: 0700-2200). Internet There are Internet cafes and some hotels also provide facilities. Telegram Since the abolition of the inland telegram service in the UK, the Costa Rican Government Telegram Company will not accept telegrams destined for the UK. Post Airmail letters to Western Europe usually take between six and ten days. Press Daily newspapers printed in Spanish include La Nación, La República, La Prensa Libre, El Heraldo and Diario Extra. Three weekly papers are printed in English – The Tico Times, Costa Rica Today and Central America Weekly. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.