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Located in the heart of Central America is the Republic of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is located between Panama and Nicaragua and has a similar colonial history to other countries in Central America.
But, over the past 100 years, it has taken a completely different path. A path to keep the country from most of the problems that plague the rest of the region.
As a result, it is more stable and richer than its neighbors.
There is more information about Costa Rica everywhere every day and more information about Costa Rica being distinguished from the rest of Central America in all other events in Central America.
Before I dig into the history of Costa Rica, I need to cover the geography of the country, as its history and what separates it from the rest of Central America are partly shaped by its geographical location.
Costa Rica borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast, with coastlines in the Pacific Ocean to the west and west. Caribbean Sea To the east sea. Despite its compact size, less than 52,000 square kilometers, it contains a very diverse geographical location formed by volcanic mountain ranges, tropical coastline, dense rainforests and fertile valleys.
It’s better Croatia Slightly greater than Slovakia.
The country’s main geographical feature is the mountains, located in the center of the country, crossing the country from the Panama border, rather than reaching Nicaragua completely.
The range is divided into several smaller ranges, including Cordillera de Guanacaste, Cordillera de Tilarán, Cordillera Central and Cordillera de Talamanca, which are formed by tectonic and volcanic activities.
Between these highlands is the Central Valley, the location of the capital San Jose and the majority of the population. This high plateau provides temperate climate and abundant soil, especially agriculture, especially coffee cultivation.
Ecologically speaking, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiversified places on the planet. Although it accounts for only 0.03% of the Earth’s mass, it accounts for nearly 5% of global biodiversity.
This is due in part to its geographical location as a land bridge between North and South America and the various habitats found within its borders, from cloud forests and mangroves to the dry Savannah and coastal reefs.
The country’s total population exceeds 5 million people, with a population distribution. San Jose is the capital and primate city of the country, but has a population of less than 10% and a population of about 330,000. There are no other cities in the country with a population of more than 100,000.
Limón is the second largest city on the Caribbean side, with a population of only 55,000.
The key point about Costa Rica geography and its impact on the country’s development is that it is very mountainous and most mountains pass through the center of the country.
Prior to European contact, Costa Rica was home to several indigenous groups who laid the cultural foundation for the region. The most important thing is the chorus of the Northwest Mexico And brought advanced agricultural technology, as well as Huetares in the central valley, who became proficient in gold and created famous golden statues, which later attracted the attention of Spain.
These early residents were mature societies, not simple tribes. They developed a complex trade network that stretched from Mexico to South America, created elaborate cemeteries with golden artifacts, and established agricultural systems that held large populations.
The Diquís culture in the south remained in the mysterious realm of stone, which is still confusing today, demonstrating advanced mathematical and engineering knowledge.
When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1502 on his fourth voyage, he named the area “Rich Coast” after observing the gold jewelry worn by the indigenous people. However, the name will be a bit ironic, as Costa Rica will become one of Spain’s poorest colonies.
It is the story of Costa Rica that divides with other Latin American colonies in a crucial way. Unlike Mexico or Peru, Costa Rica lacks a large indigenous population to utilize the labor force, without a huge mineral wealth, such as silver or gold mines, and although many people wear gold and practice advanced gold medals, there is no mineral.
The lack of wealth actually turned into a disguised blessing, which later shaped Costa Rican society.
The Spanish colonial period was characterized by isolation and poverty. A few settlers in Spain had to work on their own land rather than relying on indigenous labor or enslaved people.
This created a society of small farmers rather than large plantation owners, creating a relatively equal model that would influence the development of Costa Rica for centuries.
The Spanish royal family passed Guatemalathis itself is under the Prime Minister of New Spain.
The capital moved several times before settling in Catgo, and the population was still concentrated in the central valley where the climate and soil were most suitable for agriculture. Coffee was launched in the early 1800s and would eventually change the economy.
Costa Rica gained independence from Spain in 1821 as part of the Central American Federation. However, the news of independence did not reach Costa Rica in a month.
The political instability in the region and the civil war within the federal government kept Costa Rica from the Union. In 1823, a civil war broke out between Cartago, who supported the alliance with the Mexican Empire and San José, who supported the republicanism.
San Jose’s victory sets the tone for the country’s ultimate independence from all external authorities. By 1838, they had effectively separated from the Federation, and the State Braulio Carrillo consolidated power and laid the foundation for independent Costa Rica.
The coffee boom that began in the 1830s had a profound impact on Costa Rican society. Coffee cultivation is perfect for the country’s geography and climate, and the demands of the European market have created unprecedented wealth.
However, this led to the formation of a coffee oligarch in Costa Rica, a small group of wealthy families that controlled coffee production, processing and export. The basic social transition from the small farmers who previously made up most of the country.
Coffee was exported through the Pacific Puntarenas and eventually through the Atlantic Ocean, which was partly funded by the British capital after the construction of the railway in the 1870s and 1880s. The investment also brings Jamaican workers to the country.
The railway project brought another key element of Costa Rica’s economic development: the introduction of banana cultivation and the arrival of Cooper Keith Jr.
In the early 20th century, social unrest was increasing, and reforms were called for. During the 1910s and 1920s, labor movements emerged, and political tensions intensified between liberal oligarchs and the rise of the middle class.
The 1940s brought about the biggest political crisis in Costa Rica. The controversial election between Otilio Ulate and Rafael Guardia in 1948 led to a brief but significant civil war.
José Figueres Ferrer led the victorious revolutionary force, a conflict that would permanently transform the political landscape of Costa Rica.
The civil war is not just election fraud, but also represents deeper tensions between traditional oligarchs and emerging middle class, conservative and socially democratic society visions, and between different models of economic development.
Figueres and his supporters established what historians call the “Second Republic.”
The new constitution of 1949 included several revolutionary provisions: most importantly, granting women the right to vote, establishing a framework for the expanded welfare state, and perhaps most notably, it abolished the military.
This moment represents the final breakthrough of Costa Rica’s traditional Central American military coup and authoritarian rule. Without an army, you will not have any military coup or military government. It also eliminates the need for violent revolution and concentrates all energy on social change.
From the 1950s, Costa Rica became a stable democracy with regular elections and a peaceful transition to power. Despite other Central American countries suffering coups, dictatorships and civil wars, Costa Rica is a model of democratic governance and human development. Its lack of military power allows it to make substantial investments in education and health care.
The country has also begun to position itself as a leader in the field of environmental protection. In the 1980s and 1990s, Costa Rica developed a national park and groundbreaking ecotourism system, making biodiversity a core part of its identity and economy. Presidents like Rouscar Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for their role in the US-China peace negotiations, helping to increase the country’s international popularity.
Costa Rica delineated needlework during the Cold War, balancing the market economy with social planning, thus eliminating the root causes of many left-wing revolutionary groups in the region.
However, they are not entirely immune to the rest of the world.
The 1980s brought about the worst economic crisis in Costa Rica since the 1930s. Large-scale foreign debt, inflation exceeds 100%, and regional conflicts threaten the country’s stability. The government was forced to accept the IMF’s structural adjustment plan, which marked a shift to neoliberal economic policy.
Costa Rica maintains its democratic institutions and social programs while opening up its economy to the international market. The country spreads from coffee and bananas to manufacturing and tourism.
The Costa Rica travel plan is very successful.
Starting from the 1980s and accelerating in the 1990s, Costa Rica has adopted ecotourism as a national strategy.
The country recognizes its unparalleled biodiversity and has made substantial investments in the conservation of its natural resources. Now more than 25% of Costa Rica’s territory is designated as protected land, including national parks, bioreserves and wildlife refuges.
These areas attract tourists interested in rainforests, cloud forests volcanobeaches, bird watching and sustainable travel experiences.
Unlike neighboring countries such as Nicaragua, Hondurasor El SalvadorCosta Rica is politically stable and free of military conflict, making it a safe and attractive destination for international travelers.
It lacks military and commitment to democracy, helps to build a global image of peace and security, in stark contrast to civil wars, coups and gang violence, which has affected many other Central American countries. That’s why Costa Rica is called Switzerland Central America.
Although countries such as Guatemala and Nicaragua have abundant cultural and ecological resources, their reputation for political instability or crime has hampered the growth of tourism.
I visited Costa Rica in 2013 and spent some time traveling around the country by bus. I visited Lincoln Volcano National Parks and Tapanti National Park are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Traveling around the country is easy and I didn’t even go to any of the coasts, which is where most tourists tend to go.
The roads taken by Costa Rica are good for them. Their per capita GDP is about $14,200, behind Panama.
However, this is more than twice as good as the next Central American country Belizeand nearly seven times that of Nicaragua.
By Western standards, this is not a wealthy country, but it has become a solid middle-class country, especially compared to other countries in the region.
Costa Rica managed to succeed by avoiding the problems that plague its neighbors. This is due to the choice it made in the 20th century, as well as its geographical location and the way the Spanish settled.
This has led to the most politically stable country in Central America.
