countries

Background:

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Location:	Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates:	10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references:	Central America and the Caribbean
Area:	total: 51,100 sq km land: 50,660 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco
Area - comparative:	slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:	total: 639 km border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline:	1,290 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:	tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain:	coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources:	hydropower
Land use:	arable land: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:	1,080 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:	occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes
Environment - current issues:	deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution
Environment - international agreements:	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:	four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65

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Koléa tourisme

Background:

Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.

Location:	Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:	18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references:	Oceania
Area:	total: less than 3 sq km land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative:	NA
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	3,095 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:	tropical
Terrain:	sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources:	NEGL
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km
Natural hazards:	occasional tropical cyclones
Environment - current issues:	no permanent fresh water resources
Geography - note:	important nesting area for birds and turtles

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Koléa tourisme

Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

Location:	Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:	21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:	Oceania
Area:	total: 236.7 sq km land: 236.7 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:	1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	120 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:	tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Terrain:	low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:	NEGL
Land use:	arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 8.33% other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:	NA
Natural hazards:	typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues:	NA
Environment - international agreements:	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:	the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km

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Koléa tourisme