Costa Rican Central Valley
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The Costa Rican Central Valley (Valle Central or Meseta Central), is the central urban region of Costa Rica. It consists of parts of the provinces of San José, Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago, including their capital cities, and is home to over half of the population of the country.
Despite its small size, mountain ranges line the length of Costa Rica. The Central Valley is nestled between two of these, the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Talamanca, in a high plateau, roughly 4100 feet (1250 meters) above sea level. The altitude gives the region temperate climates of roughly 72° F (22 C) despite its being just 10 degrees north of the equator. It also creates a climate optimal for growing coffee.
It is also the center of nearly all commercial and cultural activity, Puerto Limon being a notable exception.
Principal Cities
- San Josè, national capital and provincial capital of San José, population 1.2 million
- Alajuela, provincial capital of Alajuela, population 600,000
- Cartago, provincial capital of Cartago, population 379,000
- Heredia, provincial capital of Heredia, population 75,000
External Links [Central Valley - Costa Rica]
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