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Geographically,
Costa Rica is an extremely varied country despite its tiny size, which at
51,000 km2 is about the size of West Virginia in the USA.
(click
map to see larger image)
Costa Rica's
neighbor to the north is Nicaragua and in the south-east is Panama, and is
bordered to the west and south west by Pacific Ocean, and to the
north-east by the Caribbean Sea. It lies totally within the tropics
between latitudes 11°
13’
N and 8° N, and longitudes 82° 33' W and 85° 58' W. additionally Costa
Rica Claims the Isla del Coco (25 sq Km) at about 5° 30' N and 87° 05'
W.
A
series of volcanic mountain chains runs from Nicaragua border in the
north-west ton Panamanian border in the south-east, thus splitting the
country in two. The most north-westerly range is the Cordillera de
Guanacaste, consisting of a spectacular chain of volcanoes which can be
appreciated by the traveler heading south from the Nicaraguan border along
the Carretera Interamericana (Interamerican High Way). These include Volcán
Orosí (1487 meters) in the National Park Guanacaste, Volcán Ricón
de la Vieja (1895 meters) and Volcán Santa María (1916 meters),
both in the Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja as well as Volcán
Miravalles (2026 meters) and Volcán Tenorio (1916 meters).
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Further to the
south-east is the Cordillera de Tilarán which includes the renowned cloud
forest preserve at Monteverde and, just north main massif, the continually
exploding Volcán Arenal (1633 meters), the most active volcano in Costa
Rica.
The Cordillera de
Tilarán runs into the Cordillera Central, which includes the famous
Volcán Poás (2704 meters) and Volcán Irazú (3432 meters) both of which
are active volcanoes lying at the center of the national parks named after
them, and Volcán Barva (2906 meters) which is in Parque National Braulio
Carrillo.
The most
south-easterly mountains are associated with the Cordillera de Talamanca
which is higher, geologically older and more remote and more rugged than
the other ranges. About 16 separate peaks reach in excess of 3000 meters ,
the highest being Cerro Chirripó (3820 meters). Changing altitudes play
an important part in determining geographical, climatic and ecological
variation. Many different ecological habitats are found, corresponding
with altitudinal changes up the mountains.
In the center of
the highlands lies the meseta central, which is surrounded by mountains
(the Cordillera Central to the north and east, the Cordillera the
Talamanca to the south). It is this central plain, between about 1000 and
1500 meters above sea level, which contains four of Costa Rica's
five larges cities, including San José, the capital .Over half of the
population lives on this plain, which contains fertile volcanic soils.
On either side of
the volcanic central highlands lie coastal lowlands which differ greatly
in character.
The smooth
Caribbean coastline is 212 km long and is characterized by year-round
rain, mangroves, swamps, an intercostal waterway, sandy beaches and small
tides.
The Pacific coast
is much more rugged and rocky. The tortuous coastline is 1016 km long with
various gulfs and peninsulas. It is bordered by tropical dry forests,
which receive almost no rain for several months each year, as well
as by mangroves, swamps and beaches. Tidal variation is quite large and
there are many offshore islands.
The two most
important peninsulas are the Nicoya, separated from the mainland by a gulf
of the same name, and the Osa separated the from the mainland by Golfo
Dulce. The Peninsula de Nicoya is hilly, dry and dusty. It is know for its
cattle farming and also its beach resorts. The peninsula de Osa contains
the Parque Nacional Corcovado which is one of Costa Rica's protected
rainforest.
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LAND
FRONTIERS
|
Frontiers
|
Length
Km.
|
|
Nicaraguense
|
300 Km.
|
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Panameña
|
363 Km.
|
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Total
|
663
Km.
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PRINCIPAL
ISLANDS
|
Name
|
Area
in Km²
|
|
Isla
Brava
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44.4
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Isla
Calero
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151.6
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Isla de
Chira
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43.0
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Isla del
Coco
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24.0
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Isla
Machuca
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11.0
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Isla
Portillos
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16.8
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HYDROLOGY
& OROGRAPHY
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NAME
OF RIVER
|
Length
en Km.
|
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Coto
Colorado
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60
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Estrella
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60
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Frío
(drainage for lake Nicaragua)
|
111
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Matina (Chirripó
Atlántico & Matina)
|
109
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Pacuare
|
129
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Parismina
(Orosí, Reventazón, Parismina)
|
162
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Pirrís (Tarrazú,
Candelaria & Pirrís)
|
92
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San
Carlos ( feeding the San Juan river)
|
148
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Sapoá
(drainage for lake Nicaragua)
|
56
|
|
Sarapiquí
(Sucio & Sarapiquí) feeds the San Juan river
|
125
|
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Sixaola (Telire
& Sixaola)
|
160
|
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Tárcoles
(Tiribí, Virilla & Tárcoles)
|
118
|
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Tempisque
(Tempisquito & Tempisque)
|
159
|
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Térraba
(Chirripó Pacífico, General & Térraba)
|
196
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Tortuguero
(Toro Amarillo & Tortuguero)
|
111
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OROGRAPHIC
AREAS
|
Mountain
Range
|
Length
in Km.
|
|
Talamanca
|
320
|
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Volcánica
Central
|
76
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Volcánica
de Guanacaste
|
112
|
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Total
|
508
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Top of page
PRINCIPAL
MOUNTAIN PEAKS
|
MOUNTAIN
PEAKS
|
Elevation
Above Sea Level
|
|
Cerro Amo
|
3460
|
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Cerro
Buenavista
|
3491
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Cerro
Chirripó
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3819
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Cerro
Cuericí
|
3345
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Cerro Dúrika
|
3280
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Cerro
Kamuk
|
3554
|
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Cerro Sákira
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3417
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Cerro Urán
|
3333
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Cerro
Vueltas
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3156
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|
|
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Principal
Volcano's
|
Elevation
Above Sea Level
|
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Arenal
|
1630
|
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Barva
|
2906
|
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Irazú
|
3432
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Miravalles
|
2028
|
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Orosi
|
1440
|
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Platanar
|
2183
|
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Poás
|
2708
|
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Rincón
de la Vieja
|
1700
|
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Tenorio
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1916
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Turrialba
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3330
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(Text and pictures on
this page were taken from a public domain source and modified by Michael
Dodson and Denny Genovese) |
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GEOGRAPHY of PURISCAL
Puriscal is located between two mountain ranges...the Turrubares range, fondly
referred to here as the Potenciana mountains, and the Candelaria mountains of Acosta. A mountainous area running west from the capital to the Pacific coast along the great Central Valley. and south along the Candelaria valley.
With elevations in the north averaging 3200-3700ft. ( the best climate in the world..."perpetual spring") to approx. 1000ft. in the southwest area near Parrita, where it's much more tropical.
Along the north ridge running east to west, you will pass the historic communities of Barbacoas, Piedades, Grifo Alto & Poro. Along the road heading from Santiago south towards Quepos, one passes the farming communities of La Legua, Santa Marta, Jilgeral, La Palma, Salitrales, San Ramon, Santa Rosa, Guarumal, La Gloria etc. The journey will bring you from 3600ft. to just under 600ft. and an important climatic change as well.
Being a mountainous area...Puriscal ( and Turrubares ) have areas where steep hillsides shoot from the valley floor to the clouds, as well as gentle meadows areas. Hydrology is strong, with springs and streams for both pure water and irrigation. Some of the major rivers in the Pacific area are born in the water shed areas of the Potenciana mountains. |
