Geography of Costa Rica - Physical Geography

Physical Geography

The nation's terrain is coastal plain separated by rugged mountains, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca, which form the spine of the country and separate the Pacific and Caribbean watersheds. Costa Rica claims an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi).

The spine of the country produces many major river systems. Rivers draining into the Caribbean include:

• Colorado River (Rio Colorado)
• Pacuare River (Rio Pacuare)
• Reventazón River (Rio Parismina)
• Reventazón River (Rio Reventazon)
• Sixaola River (Rio Sixaola)

Rivers draining into the Lake Nicaragua or the San Juan River (Rio San Juan), whose waters eventually drains into the Caribbean, include:

• Sapoá River (Rio Sapoá)
• Frío River (Rio Frío)
• San Carlos River (Rio San Carlos)
• Sarapiquí River (Rio Sarapiquí)

Rivers draining into the Pacific Ocean include:

• Abangares River (Rio Abangares)
• Guacimal River (Rio Guacimal)
• Sierpe River (Rio Sierpe)
• Tempisque River (Rio Tempisque)
• Térraba River (Rio Terraba)

In the eastern half of the country, the San Juan River forms the northern border with Nicaragua.