COSTA RICA ~ The olive ridley sea turtle - Santa Rosa National Park - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful postcard of one of the most fascinating sea creatures... sea turtles have been around for about 100 million years and even witnessed the fall of the dinosaurs... Costa Rica is considered the birthplace of eco-tourism and its protected Pacific and Caribbean coastlines provide a haven for 5 of the world’s 7 species of sea turtle... but sadly all species of sea turtle are classified as endangered ( ⌣́,⌣̀)... hopefully sea turtle sanctuaries like this can save them... Thanks a lot Walter Rojas!!【ツ】

Photo: © Adrian Hepworth
Santa Rosa National Park is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Costa Rica (founded in 1971) spanning an area of 91,926 acres.  Located in the Guanacaste region, Santa Rosa National Park has two main sea turtle nesting beaches: Nancite and Naranjo. Playa Nancite is one of two sites in Costa Rica where the mass annual nesting called "Arribada " of olive ridley sea turtles take place. In early October, thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.

The olive ridley sea turtle are the smallest and most abundant of the marine turtles. The carapace of this turtle is olive coloured and relatively heart-shaped, whilst the undersurface is a greenish white. Found in tropical regions of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, excluding the Caribbean.

Santa Rosa National park is part of the UNESCO site "Area de Conservación Guanacaste" . This property was inscribed in 1999 and was extended in 2004.

Stamps:

Volcanoes
(Issued 24-06-2004) 24. June

The 75th Anniversary of the National Association of Educators
(Issued 24-10-2017)

COSTA RICA ~ Pura Vida ~

...Sweet frog postcard...Costa Rica seems to be the happiest and greenest nation on earth and with there slogan "Pura Vida", Spanish for “pure or simple life” what means living your life to the fullest, no worries, no regrets, enjoying all the little things in life that make life great... I for sure believe it 【ツ】... and more wonderful news... last year Costa Rica became the first nation in the world to source 100% of its electricity from renewable energy - for 75 days straight...Well done❗❗ ... also with great stamps and postmark...
Thanks a lot Randall Elizondo!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: Rodolfo Castillo
Costa Rica  literally meaning "Rich Coast"  is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and Ecuador. The capital and largest city is San José.

Glass frogs are generally small, ranging from 3 to 7.5 centimeters (1.2 to 3.0 in) in length, semi-translucent, and has a leaf-green color. They are similar to tree frogs, except that the eyes of this frog are oriented forward, whereas the eyes of a tree frog oriented to the sides.

They live along rivers and streams during the breeding season, and are particularly diverse in montane cloud forests of Central and South America, 13 species can be found here in different types of tropical forest.

Stamps:

The 80th Anniversary of the Ministry of Labour & Social Security
(26-08-2008)

COSTA RICA ~Keel-billed Toucan ~

... one of the most amazing exotic birds with an impressive beak and colors...a bird living in the rainforest and threatened by deforestation as so many....thanks a lot Cindy!


no real stamps...:(

The toucans of Costa Rica are a interesting and unique group of birds. They are important to the ecology of a tropical rainforest due to their ability to disperse tree seeds.

 Among all Amazon rainforest animals, toucan is one of the most well known - one of the noisiest as well - its call can be heard up to half a mile away. The Toucans bill comes in all sorts of colours, from green, to yellow, to orange, to red, and finally, black. Its bill is 1/3 (one third) of its body's length. The Toucan itself is 50 cm (20 inches) long. It roosts in holes in trees, often with several other toucans.

 They love many kinds of tropical fruits from the rainforest. Apart from fruits, the Toucan likes to eat the eggs of younger, and defenceless birds, little juicy insects, and also reptiles like snakes and lizards.

COSTA RICA ~Manuel Antonio National Park~

...And my second card is a true exotic place!! An amazing beach view...Cost Rica is one of the few countries with true ecotourism...with the most National Parks and protected areas in the world (as a percentage of the country's territory) must it be a nature lovers paradise! :-)Thanks a lot Shirley!!

With great stamps:
Anniversery Emblem Pan American Health Org.
Children's Program - Tricolin (Issued 09-09-2011)
People from Costa Rica (Issued 05-07-2002)

Manuel Antonio National Park is a small National Park located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Established in 1972 with an area enumerating 4,014 acres (16.24 km2) (the smallest of any Costa Rican national park).
This park has an impressive collection of natural attractions, wildlife, rain forests, white-sand beaches, coral reefs, rocky coves with abundant marine life. Then there's the forest, which is thick with massive ficus and two- and three-toed sloths, green and black iguanas, agoutis, four species of monkeys, and nearly 200 species of birds.

The first European to reach what is now Costa Rica was Christopher Columbus in 1502.

COSTA RICA ~San-Jose National Theatre~

Costa Rica mostly known for its beautiful beaches, sea, palm trees.. has also wonderful architectue...
And the most special for me is that this great building was designed by Belgian architects...what a coincidence!! Thanks a lot Erick!

With lovely ATM stamp dedicated to the tourist area "the Gulf of Papagayo", it shows the image of a shoal of reef fish.
This design was first used in the Correo Central or San José main post office counters on August 25th 2010... a spot varnish with the text CORREOS DE COSTA RICA, in 2 lines, visible only when tilting the stamp slightly, in front of a light. (yes, I've seen it!:D)

This theatre was built in 1897 and is considered as San Jose's Architectural gem. It was designed by Belgian architects and decorated by Italian artists. With its 1,000 seats stone and metal structure it offers performances by the world´s most famous of artists.

Wealthy coffee barons voted a tax on coffee exports to fund construction of a theater. Craftsmen were brought in from Europe were imported to build the magnificent structure with a classical Renaissance facade. The Theater was inaugurated in October 1897, with a performance of Faust by the Paris Opera and its famous Corps de Ballet.

Statues on the outside of the theater represent Dance, Music, and Fame. The inside foyer is decorated in pink marble with allegorical figures of Comedy and Tragedy. Beautiful murals depict native Costa Rican themes. A giant crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

COSTA RICA

Got such a sweet card from Costa Rica.... I must say, I'm only a occasional coffee drinker, sometimes one cup a day with lunch.
....But here is how you make good old-fashioned coffee for all who's addicted to coffee(its from the back of the card):
Put 6 tsp of fresh-ground coffee in a cloth filter and wood base it is called a "chorreador"). Heat 2 cups of water and remove just before it comes to boil. Pour very slowly over the coffee to release its aroma and flavor. You'll feel like you are walking through a field of ripe coffee bushes....:-)


In Costa Rica coffee is not just a crop, it's an integral part of life. You can smell it brewing at all hours- in homes, at work, in the countryside and in the city.

COSTA RICA

Got great mail today....Lovely views from France a beautiful nature view from the Uk and last but not least a really cute and lazy looking ape from an exotic place Costa rica! And all with amazing stamps, I like the back of my lately received cards almost as much as it front!^__^


The Brown-throated Sloth is a species of three-toed sloth from Central and South America.
The Brown-throated Sloth is the most widespread and common species of the group, being found in many different kinds of environments, including evergreen and dry forests and in highly perturbed natural areas.
It is a solitary, nocturnal and diurnal animal, feeding on leaves of many species of trees.

COSTA RICA ~Puerto Vargas Beach - Cahuita National Park ~

... This great National Park is one of the highlights of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast... it has beautiful beaches, lush rainforest, incredible wildlife, and stunning corals offshore...Puerto Vargas beach is part of this National Park and possesses a great biodiversity... it is best known for the coral reefs close to shore... Thanks a lot Brenda!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Created in 1970 to protect Costa Rica’s biggest coral reef, this national park is located in Limon province. Encompassing a land area of just 1,067 hectares, it protects over 22,400 hectares of ocean and marine life,

The small village of Cahuita is located on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast,Just east of the village is Cahuita National Park, which protects a lush peninsula jutting out 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) into the Caribbean.

Although the Cahuita coral reef was badly damaged during an earthquake in 1991, it still includes over 35 species of coral including brain, elkhorn and fan coral. Among the many mammals found on land are sloths, possums, monkeys, coatimundis, frogs, pacas, iguanas, basilisks, porcupines and several bird species including ibises, herons, gulls and kingfishers.


Stamp:

Boyero (Ox cart driver)
(Issued 02-2008)

COSTA RICA ~Tortuguero National Park~

... Wonderful exotic view of one of the best known parks... despite its remote location, it is the third-most visited park in Costa Rica, reached only by airplane or boat... Tortuguero beach is the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemishpere... and serves as a refuge for other turtles, such as Giant leatherbacks, loggerhead turtles and hawksbills.... Thanks a lot Shirley!!【ツ】

The area protected by Tortuguero (turtle catcher) National Park was an archipelago of volcanic islands until alluvial sediments from the interior mountains filled in the spaces and formed a network of marshy islands.

Tortuguero National Park, located in the northeast part of Costa Rica’s Atlantic coast.

Stamps:
Achiote
(Issued 12-10-2006)

The 100th Anniversary of Pan American Health Organization
(Issued 05-07-2002)