Costa Rica Habitat: An Insight

Costa Rica shares international borders with two other Central American countries, Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the east. The country has two long coastlines; one washed by the Caribbean Sea and the other faces the Pacific Ocean. Craggy mountains run across in the interiors from the northwest to the southeast. The ranges gain height as one moves to the south east and the Mount Chirripo (12,533 ft) is located in this area.

An expanse of high altitude flat land, Valle Central, characterises the central portion enriched with fertile soil. The area supports over half the population if the country. This central area slopes in the east and west to form a narrow coastal plain. The western coast is 1016 km long with numerous gulfs, bays and peninsulas. The Caribbean coast in the east is shorter with mangrove swamps, dense jungles and numerous beaches.

One of the first countries to wake up to the disasters of deforestation, Costa Rica has preserved much of its natural vegetation. The initial damage of massive deforestation has been countered by a decade of protection. The northern highlands are covered with deciduous forests while evergreen forests thrive in the southern highlands. Lower altitudes are characterised by rainforests that transform into cloud forests as you ascend.

As in plant life, Costa Rica offers a variety of wildlife. Monkeys, jaguars, armadillos, tapirs inhabit the forests of Costs Rica. Bird life includes 850 species of birds.