Valleys of Costa Rica

GENERAL INFORMATIONS: Valleys

Valleys

The widest valleys are placed in South-West part of Costa Rica (on Pacific coast). There are valleys of: Diquis, El General, Coto Colorado and Coto Brus. On Atlantic side the main valleys are Estrella and Talamanca.

Valley of Coto Brus - It`s a part of tectonic depression between Cruces Hills and Cordillera Talamanca. It has been covered since 1949 with coffee plantations (is said to be planted best coffee in Costa Rica). Its name was derived by Indian words meaning "province" - Coto and the name of Indian tribe Brus. It`s drained by the river of the same name (the main tribatury of Rio General). There is the indigenous reserve of Guaymi. San Vito is the biggest town. On July 30th 2002, the earthquake (6,2 R) hit that.

Valley of Coto Colorado - It streaches in South-East part of the country, next to the border with Panama. It`s separated to the south-west by Bay of Dulce, and to the North by the Cruces Hills. There are placed the coffee plantations. It`s drained by the river of the same name. It`s destinguished by the tiny lake Colorado. Ciudad Neily is the biggest town.

Valley of Diquis - it`s fertile and covered with bananas plantations. To the north-west it`s separated by a large swamp fed by Rio Grande de Terraba. It used to abound with gold, that Indians washed from the rivers. There in banana plantations are dug out huge misterious, granite stone balls from Precolombian period.

Valley of Escondido - (Hidden Valle). Small valle in Cartago province. It`s limited to the west by Rio Pacuare and the slopes of Cordillera Central, to the north by Mirador Hills and to the east by Matina Hills (part of Cordillera Talamanca). It`s almost noninhabited terrain.

Valley of El General - It`s on the south of Costa Rica, in distance of 64 kilometres, between Cordillera Talamanca and Fila Costena (Coastal Hills). The rivers: General, Coto Brus and their many tributaries have carved a deep, steep-sided troughs. There are coffee and pineapples plantations. Until finishing construction of Panamerican Highway in 1950, this valley was separated from the world.

Valley of Estrella - It`s located in North-East part of Costa Rica, on Caribbean Sea. It`s a long established banana (since 1905) and cacao growing region. In 1991 there was an epicentre of earthquake. On January 2000 due to the inundaciones it was flooded by the rivers. In May 2002 there was dropped 972 mm of rain. 1.700 inhabitants have been evacuated, many platanas and bananas plantations destroyed.

Valley of Matina - It`s on the central Caribbean Coast. It`s full of banana plantations. In XVII century it was often penetrated by English pirates. To the south it`s limited by the Cordillera Talamanca. It`s drained by the river of the same name. On January 2000 due to heavy rains it was flooded by the river.

Valley of Parrita - It streaches as a narrow strip in the central pacific coast. It`s drained by the Parrita river and its tribaturies: Pirris and Grande de Candelaria. There are the plantations of oil palms and pineapples. To the Nort-West part it`s limited by the Turrubares Hills. The main town within that is Parrita.

Valley of Reventazon - Narrow, small valley in Cartago province. It`s limited to the north by slopes of Volcan Turrialba, to the west by Cachi Lake and to the south by the Tapanti National Park. It`s opened steeply to the east side. It`s covered by plantations of sugar cane, citruses and macadamias nuts.

Valley of Talamanca - It streches in eastern part of Costa Rica within the tributaries of Sixaola river. It`s limited to the south by Cordillera Talamanca and to the West by Matama Hills. To the North it`s stuck to the Valley of Estrella. It`s scarsely inhabited (within that there are few indigenous reserves: Telire, Cabecar and Bri-Bri). On January 2000 it was partly covered by the water.

Valley of Tempsique - It streaches in the river-basins of Tempsique and Bebedero rivers, in the western part of the country (at the northernmost part of Nicoya Bay). It encompasses the Palo Verde National Park and Lomas de Barbudal National Reserve. To the North and West it borders with Cordillera Guanacaste.