Cerro Chirripo makes up the highest point in Costa Rica.
It means “Land of Eternal Waters”, a name given by the local Native Americans for the many lakes and streams around the mountain. Cerro Chirripo stands an estimated 3.82 km tall, enough for people on its peak to see the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The mountain’s height also gives it an average temperature of 11 degrees Celsius during the day, with temperatures dropping below freezing at night. That said, weather records show that no snow has fallen on Cerro Chirripo in the past 100 years.
Cerro Chirripo forms part of the Chirripo National Park and La Amistad International Park, preserving its natural Talamancan montane forest environment. This requires tourists to first get a permit from park officials before visiting the mountain.
Irazu Volcano similarly makes up its tallest volcano.
The origin of its name remains unclear today, with some sources claiming it refers to a Native American village that once stood on the mountain, Iztaru. Other sources, though, claim the volcano’s name comes from the local words “ara” and “tzu”, meaning “point” and “thunder”, respectively. Irazu Volcano also has the nickname of El Coloso, meaning “The Colossus” from the catastrophes that result from its eruptions.
Its last eruption took place on December 8, 1994, and thankfully lasted only one day. That said, even that small eruption triggered volcanic mudflows that devastated the lowlands below. The volcano stands an estimated 3.43 km tall, enough for people to see both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from its peak. It’s also made the volcano’s peak suitable for several radio antennas servicing various radio and TV stations in San Jose.
Lake Arenal makes up the country’s biggest lake.
It takes its name from the town of Arenal, which once stood on the lake’s former northern shore. The lake grew in size following the construction of the Arenal Dam in 1979, forcing the relocation of the town’s people.
The government subsidized the relocation, even building a new town for them further north, named Nuevo Arenal. Much like its predecessor, Nuevo Arenal stands on the lake’s new northern shore.
Today, Lake Arenal covers an area of 85 km², with an average depth of 45 meters. Arenal Dam itself stands on the lake’s eastern shore, and currently provides an estimated 17% of Costa Rica’s electrical needs.
Costa Rica has a rich biodiversity.
In fact, Costa Rica became the first tropical country in 2020 to not only halt deforestation within its borders but to completely reverse it and restore its natural forest cover. And while poaching and hunting remain issues in the country, the Costa Rican government has successfully launched measures to preserve its natural animal life. These primarily revolve around the establishment of national parks where wild animals can live protected but free.
Corcovado National Park, in particular, has won international fame as the home of all four Costa Rican monkey species. These include the Central American squirrel monkey, Geoffrey’s spider monkey, the mantled howler, and the white-headed capuchin. The Central American squirrel monkey particularly serves as an example of the success of Costa Rica’s conservation efforts. Once an endangered species, its protection in Corcovado allowed the species’ population to rebound, and while still a vulnerable species, the Central American squirrel monkey faces a reduced threat to its future today.
Pre-Columbian Costa Rica had a complex society of its own.
The Native Americans first began farming in Costa Rica around 2000 B.C., which served as the trigger for the development of village societies. At first, religious figures like shamans or even witch-doctors dominated these societies, alongside tribal and clan leaders. Over time, however, separate authority figures emerged, such as village chiefs and elders. This resulted from the practical needs of supervising such issues as farming, land ownership, trade, and even war.
Trade became especially important from 500 B.C. onward, with various towns growing large from trade with other cultures. These included the Olmecs and later on the Mayans, both of which had a high demand for Costa Rican jade. In fact, from 900 A.D. onward, Costa Rica had developed hierarchical societies of its own, divided between priests, nobles, warriors, and commoners, which endured until the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century.
The Costa Ricans at the time carved stone spheres for mysterious reasons.
Archaeologists specifically attribute them to the Diquis Culture, which flourished between 700 A.D. and 1530 A.D. The spheres can measure up to 2 meters in diameter, with a weight of up to 15 tons. The Diquis made most of them from a volcanic rock called gabbro, with a few spheres made from either limestone or sandstone.