Geography

Costa Rica is bordered to the north by Nicaragua and to the southeast by Panama. It has both Caribbean and Pacific coasts. A series of volcanic mountain chains runs from the Nicaraguan border to the Panamanian border, splitting the country in two. In the center of these ranges is a high-altitude plain, with coastal lowlands on either side. Over half of the population lives on this plain, utilizing its fertile volcanic soils. The Caribbean Coast is 131 miles long and is characterized by mangroves, swamps and sandy beaches. The Pacific Coast is much more rugged and rocky and, thanks to a number of gulfs and peninsulas, is 630 miles long.