Glencoe World Geography

Chapter 8: The Physical Geography of Latin America

"Costa Rica"


Introduction
In this chapter you have explored the various landforms and climates of Latin America. One way to more closely examine a country's physical geography is to visit as an ecotourist. An ecotourist visits a place to observe and study the natural phenomena of a particular area, and also to enjoy the surroundings. In this activity you will visit the Central American country of Costa Rica as a virtual ecotourist. Though the country may be small in size compared to other Latin American countries, it has a great variety of beautiful natural resources.

Destination Title: Costa Rica

Directions
Start at the Costa Rica Tourist Board Web site.
  • Scroll over the tab "General Info" at the top of the screen. Click on About Costa Rica in the drop-down menu that appears.
  • In the "Main Subjects" box, click on the topics History and Government. Read these pages.
  • Scroll over the tab "What to do" and click on Ecotourism in the drop-down menu.
  • Click on and explore the Rivers and Lakes and Forests links.

Using the information you gathered exploring the above links, answer the following questions.

1
How is Costa Rica's political history different from that of most other countries in Latin America?
2
List 3 similarities and 3 differences between the governments of the United States and Costa Rica.
3
Describe the wildlife a visitor might encounter on a tour of Costa Rica's waterways.
4
How does a cloud forest differ from a rain forest?
5
Design and create a colorful multipage travel guide for visitors to Costa Rica. Highlight some of the most interesting things to do and see, especially geographical attractions. Remember to provide information that a traveler would need to know, including transportation, health risks and precautions, some accommodations options, climate, and maps. Illustrate your guide with photos or sketch appropriate pictures to exhibit the attractions you selected.
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