Costa Rica is a small Central American country with a diverse geography, including rainforests, volcanoes, stunning beaches, and mountains. As an illustration, the Irazu Volcano is a significant landmark in Costa Rica’s landscape, with its slopes experiencing high rainfall and contributing to landslides (Pérez-Umaña et al., 2020). The country has a tropical climate due to its location between 8 and 12 degrees North of the Equator (Costa Rica Map, 2023), bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Caribbean Sea to the East (Marquez, 2023). Its geographic coordinates are approximate: latitude 9.7489 degrees North and longitude 83.7534 degrees West, meaning it has a consistent wet and dry season temperature. However, it experiences diverse microclimates due to elevation, precipitation, and topography variations in each region. Costa Rica benefits from being near the Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and plays an essential role in the economies of the countries in Central America (SICA, 2023). Moreover, the country engages with its neighboring countries through SICA, the Central American Integration System.
Costa Rica’s rivers and basins are essential in shaping the country’s environment and way of life. For example, the Grande de Tarcoles River basin, covering 4.2% of the country, is critical for freshwater supply, crop irrigation, and hydroelectricity generation (Schroter, et al., 2023). The country has a network of rivers and basins critical for water supply, agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, and biodiversity. Costa Rica’s relationship with its neighboring countries is strong (Orozco & Padilla Perez, 2023), and it is actively engaged with them through the Central American Integration System (SICA). This agreement builds relationships through trade, investments, and regional economic integration (Calvo-Drago, 2020). The country’s strong economy, stable political environment, and natural beauty make it a significant tourist destination.
Figure 1.
Map of Costa Rica.
