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= = Explored by the Spanish 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. 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. This federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its 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. media type="youtube" key="5mrzovHDu4Q" height="315" width="420"
 * ==History ==
 * == Geography ==

The country is divided by a series of volcanoes and mountains, an extension of the Andes-Sierra Madre chain which runs along the western side of the Americas. Costa Rica has four mountain ranges Guanacaste and Tilaran in the north, Central and Talamanca in the south. Costa Rica is part of the Pacific Rim of Fire and has seven of the isthmus's 42 active volcanoes plus dozens of dormant or extinct cones. The country's highest point is Mt. Chirripo 3,797 meters. The capital, San Jose, and the neighboring major cities of Alajuela and Heredie lies in the middle of the Meseta Central. Almost two-thirds of the nation's population live in this small, fertile valley, with a population of 4,576,562.




 * == ** Government ** ==

The legal system civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court. Democratic republic. Chief of state: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda since 8 May 2010, First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen since 8 May 2010, Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg since 8 May 2010. Won independence from Spain on the 15th of September 1821. The Costa Rica Government is a representative government, modeled as a republic with separation of powers. While the driving elements that created this government were similar to those concerns faced by the framers of the United States constitution, the actual display and spread of power is somewhat different.

The constitution that forms the Costa Rica government is comparatively new, it was ratified in 1949. It guarantees all citizens and foreigners equal representation before the law, guarantees property rights held by individuals, guarantees the right to petition and assembly, and several other modern republican rights. The constitution lacks the Federal versus State dichotomy that the United States constitution has, and it bears some resemblance to a fusion of United States constitutional theory and a Whitehall-style Parliament. Like the US government, it has a clear division of the Executive, Judicial and Legislative functions and branches.



Capital: San Jose Population: 4,579,000(2009 est.  Conventional Name: Republic of Costa Rica   Local Name: Republica de Costa Rica   Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama   Chief of State: President Laura Chinchilla   Head of State: President Laura Chinchilla  Nationality: Costa Rican(s)  Religion: mostly Roman Catholic
 * ==Facts ==