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Costa Rica is located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean, and
the Caribbean Sea. Costa Rica is renowned for its rich variety of plants and animals. While
the country has only about 0.1% of the world's land mass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity.
Over 25% of Costa Rica is composed of protected forests and reserves. Corcovado National Park
is internationally recognized among ecologists for its biodiversity (including big cats and
tapirs) and where visitors can expect to see an abundance of wildlife. Tortuguero National
Park is home to spider, howler and white-throated Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, 320
species of birds, a variety of reptiles, but is mostly recognized for the annual nesting
of the endangered green turtle. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve hosts 2,000 plant species
including numerous orchid as well as many birds and species of mammals. Costa Rica as a whole
has about 600 species of birds. |
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Costa Rican traditions and culture tend to retain a strong degree of Spanish influence
and the country boasts a varied history. Costa Rica was the point where the Mesoamerican and
South American native cultures met. The center and southern portions of the country had Chibcha
influences. However, the indigenous people have influenced modern Costa Rican culture to a relatively
small degree, as most of the Indians died from disease and mistreatment by the Spaniards. The
Atlantic coast, meanwhile, was populated with African slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries. |
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The phrase "Pura Vida" (literally pure life) is a motto ubiquitous in Costa Rica.
It encapsulates the pervading ideology of living in peace in a calm, unflustered manner, appreciating
a life surrounded by beautiful nature and family and friends.
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