REPUBLIC OF, the most southern, and one of the smallest, of the five states of Central America, lies chiefly between Lat. 8. and 11. N., and Long. 82. and 86. W.; and is bounded on the north by Nicaragua, south by New Granada, east by the Caribbean Sea, and west by the Pacific Ocean. It has an estimated area of 16,300 square miles, and a population of 215,000, of whom about 25,000 are Indians. The surface of the country is much diversified, but is chiefly occupied with mountains, some of which are volcanoes. Among these may be mentioned Irazu or Carthage, Turrialba, Chirripo, Barba, Votos, Erharda, and Miravalles. It contains two principal forests: that of Aguacate is remarkable for its rich gold mines, which were begun to be worked about 1821, and have been the means of attracting many colonists to settle there; and that of Dota which is of great extent, and through which passes the road from San José to the towns of Terrava and Borruca, leading thence into the republic of New Granada. At a point called Alto-de-Ochomogo, near Carthage, the streams which run through the principal part of the state diverge and discharge themselves respectively into the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; so that Costa Rica may be considered as divided into two parts, a north-eastern and a south-western. This division is farther borne out by the different characters of the two parts. The south-western slope is easily accessible, and its climate, throughout nearly its whole extent, varies from insupportable heat and aridity to a mild and genial temperature. On the north-eastern side the aspect is more rugged,—the number, complication, and height of the mountains, and the impetuous currents of the rivers, both large and small, attract the attention of the traveller. Among the rivers of Costa Rica are the Tempisque and Grande, falling into the bay of Nicoya; the Ucurs or Macho, which afterwards takes the name of Reventasón, and falls into the Caribbean Sea; the Matina, formed by the rivers Chirripo and Barbilla; the Escudo de Veraguas, dividing Central from South America; the Banana, Tíribee and Culabra, all falling into the Caribbean Sea; the Chrico Mola or Chiricaca Aula, falling into the bay of Cheriqui; the Costa Rica or San Carlos, and the Sarapiqui, into the San Juan. The Baya is a canal, believed by some to be natural, and by others to have been cut by the aborigines, commencing at the port of Moin or Salt Creek, and running parallel to the coast as far as Pearl Kay Lagoon, a distance of 180 miles, being, however, stopped up in a few places. It is crossed by the river Matina and several others. Boats and canoes can come up from the port of Moin to the Matina, and up that river to the Chirripo and Barbilla, which are also navigable; so that the valuable wood on the banks of these rivers can be sent to Moin on rafts. The chief lakes are Locorna, at the head of the brook; Reventado, which supplies the city of Carthage with water; the twin lakes at Laguna, on the road from San José to the Matina; Ermosa, near the road from Barba to the Sarapiqui; and Surtidor, at the source of the latter river.

Agricultural and pastoral pursuits constitute the principal occupation of the inhabitants. Some parts of the state afford excellent pasturage, and great numbers of cattle, hogs, goats, and sheep are reared. In the forests are the tapir, mountain cow, wild goat, wild striped boar, zahino, &c. Among its vegetable productions are coffee, sugar, maize, tobacco, cocoa, indigo, peas, beans, &c. It is also rich in various kinds of timber, as mahogany, beech, cedar, oak, chestnut, and dyewoods. The climate varies much in the different parts. In the principal inhabited places it is said to be remarkably mild and salubrious, and to have no extreme either of heat or cold, the thermometer varying between 50° and 76°; but including all places cultivated or in pasture it ranges through every degree, from the freezing point to 100°, according to the elevation of the land. Costa Rica is divided into six departments, San José, Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela, Guanacaste, and Punta de Arenas. Its principal towns are San José the capital, and Cartago or Carthage the former capital. The government is vested in a president and vice-president, elected for 6 years, and a legislative chamber composed of 12 deputies elected for 3 years. The chief court of justice is the tribunal of San José, which is presided over by 7 judges. The state has no debt; and the revenue, derived from duties on tobacco and spirits amounts to about 120,000 dollars. The militia consists of 3000 men, of whom 200 are called upon periodically for active duty. The Roman Catholic is the established religion, but complete toleration is established by law. After the declaration of independence by the Spanish American colonies in 1821, Costa Rica formed for a short time a province of Mexico. In 1823 it became one of the states of the Central American Confederacy, but on the dissolution of that short-lived union it became an independent republic. It has, unlike the other states, been in the enjoyment of internal and external peace for several years; and the efforts of its government have been exclusively directed to the development of its internal resources.