Amtliche Kurzform: Costa Rica
Name in Landessprache:   
Kurzform: Costa Rica  
Vollform: República de Costa Rica
Die Spanier gaben dem Land den Namen, der "reiche Küste" bedeutet. Ihre Hoffnung auf Gold und andere Reichtümer wurde jedoch enttäuscht
Name in Englisch: Costa Rica
Ehemaliger Name: 

Staatsgebiet: Costa Rica grenzt im Norden an Nicaragua und im Süden an Panama. Begrenzt wird Costa Rica im Osten durch die Karibik und im Westen durch den Pazifik.
 

CIA Background-Info Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. In January 2008, Costa Rica assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term.