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Costa Rica

This state, the capital of which is San Jose (population 26,000), has an area of 22,000 sq. m., and a population of 213,758, one-half of whom are whites. The form of government is similar to that of the other states, and the Roman Catholic religion is the faith of nearly all the inhabitants. The main range of the Andes, entering Costa Rica from the S. traverses the entire territory, widening toward the N.-W., and forming a tableland on which are the principal towns. On this plateau are many volcanic peaks, among them Chiriqui (11,265 ft.), Turrialba (12,500 ft.), and Los Vostos (9840 ft.) In the N.-E. and S. are dense tropical forests, and along the Atlantic the land is low and swampy. Much of the country is still unexplored. The distance from ocean to ocean varies form 100 to 65 m. The rainy season sets in in April and lasts until November. The soil it rich, and bears abundantly the various products which are grown in the neighboring states. The staple is coffee, the cultivation of which was introduced in 1829. The exports consist, in addition to this article, of hides, india-rubber, cabinet timber, dyewoods, valuable gums, cacao, sugar, etc. The first railway in the state runs from Port Limon on the Caribbean Sea to Punta Arenas on the Pacific-the best harbor which Costa Rica has on that coast. CUBA.