Costa Rica

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Costa Rica
Costa Rica A Vacation Paradise in Central
America
Mt Arenal Volcano is regularly active. This is
one of Costa Ricas intriguing places to visit.
It gives a great light show most nights!

• A Vacation Paradise

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Costa Rica is situated in Central America between
Nicaragua and Panama
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San José, the capital cityMost tourists start
their visit here.
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A Costa Rican ox cart, a symbol of Costa Ricas
agricultural economy.
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Hero Juan Santamaría, the boy hero of Costa Rica
What influence did the hero have on the country?
Juan Santamaría helped to preserve Costa Ricas
independence by playing a key role in the defense
of his country against an attempted invasion by a
outlaw American named William Walker.
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The Virgin Mary of the AngelsA Religious Legend
from Costa Rica
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La Virgen de los AngelesModern images of Mary,
the Virgin of the Angels.
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What cultural value does the folk story
communicate? The folk story communicates the
costa rican peoples deep reverence respect for
the virgen mary and their strong catholic
beliefs.
The modern church Basilica de la Virgen de los
Angeles in Cartago, Costa Rica
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Costa Rican food

• Typical Breakfast gallo pinto, (mixture of
  black beans rice), scrambled or fried eggs,
  cooked plantains (a starchy kind of banana)
  tortillas or toast, fruit juice and coffee.

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Costa Rican food

• Dinner eaten in the afternoon, usually between
  130 and 300 p.m. Like breakfast, the meal
  usually includes gallo pinto, or rice and beans,
  fried plantains. In addition, a chunk of Costa
  Rican cheese, salad, beef, chicken or fish, and
  tortillas are served. Black bean soup served
  with hard boiled egg is another popular dish.
• Snacks include fresh fruits like papaya,
  pineapple, mango, and fresh fruit smoothie
  drinks, called refrescos.
• Desserts include flan, arroz con leche, and a
  cake called tres leches.

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What makes Costa Ricas cuisine unique from the
cuisine of other Spanish-speaking countries?

• Costa Ricas cuisine is unique because it is not
  hot and spicy. Costa Ricans enjoy a salsa
  called Salsa Lizano that tastes more like
  curry than chile peppers. Also the famous
  gallo pinto or rice and black beans mixture is
  unique to Costa Rica. Gallo pinto is eaten daily
  by almost all Costa Ricans.

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Costa Ricas Economy

• How do Costa Rican people make a living?
• The majority of Costa Rican people work in the
  industries listed below (Costa Ricas top 5
  products)
• Agriculture bananas, coffee, beef, dairy
  products
• Timber
• Tourism
• Technology (Big Hewlett-Packard Plant)
• Oxygen (Created by the rain forests)
  Maintainence of the national parks, and forests
  provides many jobs.

Costa Ricas Gross Domestic Product per capita
6,700. By comparison, the GDP of the U.S. is
36,200. GDP of neighbors Nicaragua 2, 700,
Panama 6,000.
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Red-eyed stream frog filmed in Costa Rica for
first time. September 7, 2008
http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7603201.
stm
How does this current event impact the majority
of the people? The natural environment in Costa
Rica is a major tourist attraction, bringing
visitors from around the world. Tourism is a
major industry which supports many Costa Ricans
and government programs. Preserving the
environment, while also accommodating tourists is
a challenge. Some native species have suffered
because human activity has disrupted the natural
environment. This recent discovery and filming
of the tiny, rare, red-eyed stream frog in the
Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest proves that
the environment is still healthy enough to
sustain this fragile frog.
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Costa Ricas Government how does it compare to
the United States?
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Country Comparison
Country Aspects Costa Rica Mexico United States
Health Care Free to all citizens Free to all citizens, but not available in rural areas. Private for rich. Private, public assistance through Medicaid.
Army/Military Service/Community Service No Army Military Optional, Public Service requd of Public Univ. Graduates. Optional, no draft
Population 4 Million 105 Million 300 Million
Education Literacy Free to all, high quality, especially ages 7-13. 95 Literacy. Free to all ages 6-15. Fees are required. 91 literacy. Administered by states. Requd for ages 5-16. 97 literacy.
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How do the places to visit display the unique
treasures that Costa Rica has to offer? Manuel
Antonio National Park displays some of Costa
Ricas unique treasures wildlife and a
beautiful coast line. Look closely and youll
see one of many monkeys that call Costa Rica
home. Visit Manuel Antonio National Park and you
are sure to see many.
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Costa Ricas beautiful beaches are a unique
treasure!There are beaches on the east and west
coasts. These photos are also from Manuel
Antonio National Park.
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Another place in Costa Rica that displays its
unique treasures is the Monteverde Cloud Forest
Biological Reserve. This park is home to a huge
diversity of insects, birds, plants and wildlife
found only in Costa Rica.
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More of Monteverdes treasures toucans, and
suspension bridges through the upper forest
canopy.