1. Costa Rica By: Meaghan Landry and Haley Wynn

2. o Costa Rica is known as the "Land of Peace" o Over 100 years of political stability o Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica in 1502. o The national dish of Costa Rica is "Gallo Pinto"-pre cooked rice and beans fried together with onions and peppers. About Costa Rica

3. Government Type:Democratic Republic regular and fair elections Every 4 years is a new president Current Leader: Laura Chinchilla Miranda Costa Rica is the oldest democracy in Latin America. Costa Rican Government

4. The United states is Costa Rica's most important trading partner America accounts for almost half of Costa Rica's imports, exports and tourism The U.S. also accounts for more than two thirds of Costa Rica's foreign investment Economy USA

5. Average annual rainfall-100 inches Tropical country Average temperature 72: degrees fahrenheit Dry Season: December-April Wet Season: May-November Climate

6. Located in: Central America Long./Lat.: 10 degrees N 84 degrees West Terrain: Rugged Forest between Mountains and Ocean Coastlines General Geography (GG) PICTURES ON NEXT SLIDE

7. Physical Map of Costa Rica Political Map of Costa Rica General Geography pictures pictures pictures Costa Rica compared to world

8. The Costa Rican flag contains of three colors: Red(hardiness,bravery), white(peace, honesty), and blue(truth and loyalty). Coat of arms of Costa Rica stays on the double width red stripe. Blue, and White Ribbon Blue Ribbon says the words American Central White Ribbon says the words Republica Costa Rica Country Flag

9. The United states is Costa Rica's most important trading partner America accounts for almost half of Costa Rica's imports, exports and tourism The U.S. also accounts for more than two thirds of Costa Rica's foreign investment The U.S. and Costa Rica's Relationship

10. The official currency in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican Colon (CRC). Facts about the CRC: 5000 colons transfer to $10 and 10000 colons transfer to $20 $1 is 505 colons To transfer dollars to colones multiply by 505 Currency

11. The majority of Costa Rica's inhabitants are of Spanish descendants In the lowlands, there are mestizos- a mixture of European and Indigenous blood 70-90% of Costa Rica is Catholic There is only a little amount of racial diversity Costa Rican Lowlands Represents Catholics praying CULTURES

12. T Traditional Clothing Clothing Girls Traditional Clothing consists of long (occasionally ruffled) white blouses and long colorful skirts.

13. It is popular that mothers feed babies coffee in their bottles Costa Ricans call speed bumps son muertos meaning "dead persons" in Spanish It is considered disrespectful to wear shorts to the immigration office Many fast food restaurants do home deliveries Costa Rica declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Spain did not recognize their independence until May 10, 1850. The Quetzal is Costa Rica's National bird Some More Interesting Facts...

14. www.flags-flag-flag.org.uk www.secretaryclinton.files.wordpress.com http://www.pcc.edu/about/international/study- abroad/alajuela/documents/CostaRicaFunFacts.pdf Cultures of the World: Costa Rica (book) http://www.naturevacations.com/assets/uploads/eco-tours-things-to-do-costa- rica.jpg http://costaricavacations.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/CostaRicaBeaches.jpg http://www.intercarto.com/EN/produits_image/image_1465_BDM_Costa-Rica_GB.gif http://www.birdquest-tours.com/tour_images/68092509.jpg http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/images/stories/5colonboth.png http://www.anywherecostarica.com/img/maps/costa-rica-map.jpg http://i.infopls.com/images/states_imgmap.gif http://www.typographydeconstructed.com/wp- content/uploads/2010/12/ampersand.gif Sources

15. http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blccostarica.htm http://belamifilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/usa-flag-map.png http://www.world-challenge- expeditions.com/images_website/destination/costa%20rica/costa-rica-climate- chart.gif https://docs.google.com/a/students.natickps.org/presentation/d/1Wk3NuuExouS itk6MIgZ_9qi88G6c0QWNoOaou5zaefk/edit?pli=1#slide=id.gc892fed_0_62 http://beachcomberpete.com/costa_rica/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Northern- Lowlands-Costa-Rica.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdtUybPxhcI&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_ mode=1&safe=active Sources II