Global - Technology - Review

Costa Rica or ‘rich coast’ is one of the wealthiest and most stable of Central American countries. With a successful economy based until recently on the export of coffee and bananas, it is said to be the world’s greenest country, and the government hopes that by the third decade of the century, Costa Rica will be the first carbon neutral nation. Tarrazu, the finest Arabica coffee beans, are grown at high altitude, and these are used in gourmet espresso coffee. Today’s economic growth area is tourism. One of the greatest attractions is the National Parks, covering nearly a quarter of the territory. There is an amazingly diverse range of monkeys, sloths, turtles, birds and reptiles. There are a number of acive volcanoes in the mountains. Like many countries in the region, the culture, cuisine and music and dance traditions are a fusion of the Native American and Spanish. The national instrument is the marimba, while the national dish is Gallo Pinto, fried rice with black beans. The capital is San Jose. Costa Rica is one of the very few countries that does not employ a permanent standing army.