CALL: +506 487 4044 / 879 2088 / 897 1592

COSTA RICA REAL ESTATE

By Ann Antkiw (EXPLORING COSTA RICA 2006 - THE TICO TIMES)

COSTA RICA, though diminutive in size, is geographically a land of extreme contrasts. Straddling a rugged mountain chain, its topography is responsible for constant seismic activity, spewing volcanoes, distinctive climatic zones and immense biodiversity. Lying within the tropics (between 8 and 11 degrees north of the equator) the country has two distinctive seasons, 'dry' and 'rainy'.

However, elevation and temperatures temper this stereotypical tropical climate and climatic conditions vary considerably. Hot steamy jungles, fertile pasturelands, chilly highlands and mountain peaks make Costa Rica a land of spellbinding and infinite variety.

Shifting Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates, plus local faults cause thousands of tremors yearly, some short and jarring, others longer and rolling. Geologists claim this frequency relieves pressure and keeps at bay a "really big one." On November 20, 2004, a prolonged 6.2 Richter seal earthquake in the Central Pacific zone shook the country. Areas near the epicenter suffered serious structural damage and six deaths, five from heart failure, were partially blamed on the quake.

A devastating earthquake in 1991 measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck the Caribbean coastal regions, causing extensive damage to the port city of Limon, afl' exposing coral reefs when the coastline rose by more than a meter. San Jose has suffered several damaging quakes since 1910, when most of the colonial capital of Cartago was leveled. Other quakes measuring 4.9 to 6.5 near the capital city of Alajuela, the Caribbean slope town of Turrialba, in the Los Santos area, plus the Central Pacific community of Quepos resulted in varying degrees of damage. Seismic activity has been recorded since 1638, but predictions are still am­biguous.

After the catastrophic earthquake in the Indian Ocean and the subsequent Tsunami, Costa Rica is paying more atten­tion to the possibility of its happening here. Together with Central American sci­entists, they are working to initiate a regional warning system on both coasts.

Mountain chains from the northwestern Nicaraguan border to the southeastern Panamanian border split the country in two. The Cordillera de Guanacaste, the northern-most range, boasts the steaming volcano on de la Vieja. Further south in the Cordillera de Tilaran the most active and volcano, Arenal, continually spews forth rocks and lava. These eruptions are a major tourist attraction. In the Cordillera Central, active Volcano Poas belches sulphurous gases, while Irazu last erupted in 1963, showering San Jose with ash. Both are visible from the city, but Turrialba, part of the same range, has been dormant since 1866. Sleeping volcanoes - Tenorio, Miravalles, Orosi, Santa Maria, Cacho Negro, Platanar, and Barva could grumble to life anytime. Extinct volcanoes number 200 on land and at sea.

Geologically older but non-volcanic, the southeastern Cordillera de Talamanca is the largest, most rugged, remote massif in the country. The highest peak Mt. Chirripo 3,819 m. (12,529 feet), experiences temper­atures below freezing and occasional light snowfalls. South of Cartago, the Inter-American Highway starts to climb the Cerro de la Muerte rising from some 5,000 feet to 11,500 feet, where temperatures range from 5-20° C (41-68° F). The Bustamente in the central Los Santos area, and the Costanera running along the southern Pacific coast are lower-altitude undulating regions.

Over half the country's population live in the fertile Central Valley known for its abrupt changes in altitude, temperature and landscape. It's home to the capital San Jose (1,160 m.), plus major cities - Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Turrialba and the Orosi Valley. Rolling countryside and fertile volcanic soil make the upper elevations a prime coffee-growing area, plus dairy farming and market gardening also flourish.

 Like to know more about the many micro-climates, rainforests of the Caribbean, Lake Arenal area and the dry and wet seasons?
Please click on 'EXPLORING COSTA RICA 2006' to order your copy.