Costa Rica explained to kids

Costa Rica is a small country in Central America. It is bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. Costa Rica is about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. Costa Rica is home to some of the world's most amazing animals and plants. More than 25% of the country is protected for wildlife. There are more than 500 types of animals and over 9,000 species of plants. The country has two coastlines - the Pacific and the Caribbean. There are also mountains and volcanoes. The highest mountain is Cerro Chirripo and the tallest volcano is Arenal. The climate in Costa Rica can be tropical or temperate, depending on the elevation. Costa Rica is a democracy and the government is made up of a president and two vice presidents. The president is elected for a four-year term. The currency in Costa Rica is the colon. The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish, but English is also spoken.