30 Curiosidades que no Sabías sobre Costa Rica | El país más seguro de Latinoamérica

Summary

Discover 30 fascinating facts about Costa Rica, a country rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage. From the significant archaeological collection at the Central Bank's museums to the unique tropical rainforest on Isla del Coco, Costa Rica offers a diverse range of natural and historical wonders. Learn about its Nobel Peace Prize-winning ex-president, Oscar Arias Sánchez, the impressive stone spheres from a sophisticated pre-Columbian civilization, and its remarkable recovery from deforestation. Costa Rica is also a regional football power, a hub for international institutions, and a leader in renewable energy, with 99% of its energy coming from renewable sources. Known as the 'Switzerland of America,' it boasts a high quality of life and a climate that defines tropical living.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Central Bank museums of Costa Rica house one of the most important archaeological collections in the country, including over 3,500 gold, ceramic, and stone objects.
• 🏝️ Isla del Coco is the only tropical eastern Pacific island with a tropical rainforest and was a refuge for pirates and corsairs who allegedly hid treasures there.
• 🏆 Former President Oscar Arias Sánchez was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his role in peace processes in Central American conflicts during the 1980s.
• 🗿 Costa Rica is home to giant stone spheres, a sophisticated creation of its pre-Columbian civilization, which was the only one to reach the concept of abstraction.
• ⚽️ Costa Rica is a regional football powerhouse, winning the CONCACAF championship eight times and being the most successful Central American team in the competition.
• 🌳 In the 1980s, Costa Rica faced severe deforestation, but due to environmental legislation, it now has 25% of its territory protected and 52% forest cover, the highest in the region.
• 🌎 Costa Rica holds 5% of the world's biodiversity within just 0.3% of the Earth's mass and has banned recreational hunting.
• 💧 99% of Costa Rica's energy comes from renewable sources, with 80% being hydroelectric, highlighting the country's commitment to sustainability.
• 🏫 Costa Rica hosts several international institutions, including the UN University for Peace, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the Central American Monetary Council.
• 🌋 The country has a high concentration of volcanoes, with 112 in total and five of them being active, including the Poás Volcano with one of the world's largest craters.

Q & A

What is one of the most important archaeological collections in Costa Rica?

The museums of the Central Bank of Costa Rica have one of the most important archaeological collections in the country, including over 3,567 gold, ceramic, and lithic objects, as well as a small collection of ethnographic objects that belonged to indigenous groups.

Why is Isla del Coco significant in the Pacific region?

Isla del Coco is the only tropical island in the eastern Pacific that has a tropical rainforest. It served as a refuge for pirates and corsairs for over a century, and according to legends, they hid valuable treasures there.

For what achievement did Oscar Arias Sánchez receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987?

Oscar Arias Sánchez received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his participation in peace processes to resolve armed conflicts in Central America during the 1980s.

What do the Stone Spheres of Costa Rica signify about the pre-Columbian civilization?

The Stone Spheres of Costa Rica, which began to be made around 600 AD, are anomalous creations that denote a sophisticated civilization of the time. They are a testament to the only pre-Columbian civilization that reached the concept of abstraction.

How has Costa Rica's football team performed in regional competitions?

Costa Rica is a regional powerhouse in football, being the most successful Central American team in CONCACAF and the Central American Cup, having won the championship eight times out of thirteen editions.

What significant environmental change has Costa Rica undergone since the 1980s?

In the 1980s, Costa Rica was almost destroyed by deforestation, with only 36% of its territory deforested. However, by 2000, the deforestation rate had increased to 89%. Thanks to environmental legislation, today 25% of the national territory is protected, and 52% has forest cover, making it a leader in protected territory percentage.

What percentage of Costa Rica's biodiversity is unique to the country?

Costa Rica has an extraordinary biodiversity, holding 5% of the world's biodiversity within just 0.3% of the Earth's mass.

How does Costa Rica rank in terms of health among the nations of the world?

Costa Rica is among the 50 healthiest nations on Earth, ranking 33rd out of 163 territories, and is the third healthiest nation in Latin America, only surpassed by Cuba and Chile.

What is the significance of the Poás Volcano in Costa Rica?

The Poás Volcano in the Central Volcanic Mountain Range is one of the most significant because it has one of the largest craters in the world and is one of the five active volcanoes in the country.

What is the origin of the phrase 'Pura Vida' in Costa Rica?

The phrase 'Pura Vida' is a constant expression in Costa Rica, used for greeting, indicating well-being, describing someone's quality, bidding farewell, and even for expressing gratitude. It encapsulates the essence of the country's lifestyle and philosophy.

How does Costa Rica's climate differ from other tropical regions?

Costa Rica has a varied climate with a tropical setting and two well-defined seasons: the dry season, also known as summer, and the rainy season, also known as winter. It does not have spring or autumn seasons.

What was the economic driver of Costa Rica during the 19th and 20th centuries?

Coffee was the main economic driver of Costa Rica during the 19th and most of the 20th century, earning it the nickname 'grano de oro' (grain of gold). Today, Costa Rica continues to compete globally to offer the best gourmet coffee.

What is the origin of the term 'Ticos' used to refer to Costa Ricans?

The term 'Ticos' originated during the National Central American War against the filibusters when it was noticed that Costa Rican soldiers frequently used diminutives and the suffix '-tico', such as 'tico' instead of 'patito'. This usage was simplified and became the colloquial term for Costa Ricans.

Why is Costa Rica known as the 'Switzerland of America'?

Costa Rica is known as the 'Switzerland of America' due to its small size, mountainous terrain, hosting of many institutions, high quality of life, and its politically neutral stance with its neighbors.

What is the significance of Franklin Chang Díaz to Costa Rica and space exploration?

Franklin Chang Díaz is a Costa Rican astronaut and physicist who holds the record for the number of space shuttle flights with NASA, having made seven trips. He is dedicated to research in plasma propulsion, which is crucial for future long-distance space missions, such as reaching Mars. He also founded the Al Dia Rocket Company.

How did Costa Rica celebrate its independence from Spain?

Costa Rica celebrates its independence from Spain on September 15th. The celebration includes a torch relay called the Torch of Liberty, which starts in Guatemala and ends in Costa Rica, involving schools and institutions to commemorate the declaration of independence for Central America.

What are the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Cordillera de Talamanca Reserve, the Amistad National Park, the Guanacaste Conservation Area, and the Pre-Columbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of Diquís.