Costa Rica

a republic of Central America; bounded on the N. by Nicaragua; EB. by the Caribbean Sea; S. by Colombia; W. by the Pacific Ocean; area, 18,400 square miles; pop. (official estimate, 1903 316,700; capital, San_José. The interior of the country is very mountainous, the ranges reaching an altitude of 11,000 feet, and having many volcanoes. ‘The highest point is Pico Blanco, 11,800 feet. The coast is very irregular, being indented by many large pie and bays, of which the Gulfs of Nicoya and Dulce are the most important. The climate in the interior is temperate, and that on the coasts averages about 80° up to an altitude of 3,000 feet. The soil is exceedingly fertile, and the forests are extensive, yielding mahogany, cedar, rosewood, lignum-vitee, granadilla, ebony, Brazilwood, and caoutchouc.