The 2004 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      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) (2001)

      Irrigated land:

       0 sq km (1998 est.)

      Natural hazards:

       occasional tropical cyclones

      Environment - current issues:

       no permanent fresh water resources

      Geography - note:

       important nesting area for birds and turtles

      People Coral Sea Islands

      Population:

       no indigenous inhabitants

       note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological

       station (2004 est.)

      Government Coral Sea Islands

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory

       conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

      Dependency status:

       territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the

       Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories

      Legal system:

       the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

      Executive branch:

       administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment,

       Sport, and Territories

      Diplomatic representation in the US:

       none (territory of Australia)

      Diplomatic representation from the US:

       none (territory of Australia)

      Flag description:

       the flag of Australia is used

      Economy Coral Sea Islands

      Economy - overview: no economic activity

      Communications Coral Sea Islands

      Communications - note:

       there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs

       relaying data to the mainland

      Transportation Coral Sea Islands

      Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

      Military Coral Sea Islands

      Military - note:

       defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by

       the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities

       of visitors

      Transnational Issues Coral Sea Islands

      Disputes - international: none

      This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

      ======================================================================

      @Costa Rica

      Introduction Costa Rica

      Background:

       Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th

       century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its

       democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural

       country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology

       and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land

       ownership is widespread.

      Geography Costa Rica

      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

       water: 440 sq km

       note: includes Isla del Coco

       land: 50,660 sq km

      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: 4.41% permanent crops: 5.88% other: 89.71% (2001)

      Irrigated land:

       1,260 sq km (1998 est.)

      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,