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Home > Travel Central America > Central America Destinations > Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar
Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is variably defined either as being a region of the Americas in its own right or as the southern portion of North America. Physiographically, Central America is a tropical isthmus that connects North and South America. It includes 7 countries and many small offshore islands. Overall, the land is fertile and rugged, and dominated through its heart by a string of volcanic mountain ranges with a few active volcanos.
Cartago is a city in Costa Rica, about 25 kilometers from east of the capital, San Jose. It is at an elevation of about 1435 meters above sea level on the Cartago River, at the base of the Irazu Volcano. Cartago is the capital of Cartago province. In 2003 the city had a population of 141,524 people.
Cartago was founded in 1563 by Spanish conquistador Juan Vasquez de Coronado, and was the first permanent Spanish settlement in Costa Rica. It served as the capital of Costa Rica until 1823, when the first elected head of state, Juan Mora Fernandez, moved the capital to the small village of San Jose because Cartago wanted to unite the newly independent province of Costa Rica to the colony of Mexico while the rest of the population wanted to form a republic.
The central park in Cartago includes the ruins of an earlier basilica. The earlier basilica was destroyed several times by earthquakes, the last time in 1910. The main products of the region are potatoes, onions, milk, and orchids. These used to support more than 90 percent of the city's economy although other resources such as computer technologies have risen since the last decade.
The province is known for its rich ecological diversity and dense tropical rainforests along the mountain ranges near the Irazu and Turrialba volcanoes. Cartago is home of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology, one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the country and one of Central America's most important engineering schools.
Today, one can also learn about its history, from its earliest times and gain enthusiasm in its natural beauty and populace. Cartago enjoys a very positive reputation with worldwide travelers.
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