Costa Rica is said to be one of the most biodiverse places in the world. This country has many different types of ecosystems, such as coastlines, cloud forests, rainforests and drier grasslands, all of which contribute to its biodiversity. Therefore, there is a strong relationship between the people of Costa Rica and the land.
Costa Rica contains about 5% of the world's biodiversity while only occupying 0.03% of Earth's surface. It has over 500,000 animal species and 12 different ecosystems! From animals to plants, there are many laws in place to make sure the environment is safely protected. For example, Costa Ricans rely on renewable resources rather than nonrenewable ones, such as fossil fuels. This also means that when tourists come here, they need to be mindful of how they are interacting with the environment.
The quality of the water in Costa Rica is kept to a high standard. As a result, in the majority of places in Costa Rica, people are able to drink water straight from the tap without the fear of getting sick. Costa Rica is said to have "microclimates." This is when one place has a completely different climate from another place just 30 minutes away!
