1990: Deforestation

The Spanish colonial farmers began the trend of unsustainable land use when they did not follow the farming methods that the indigenous created. The indigenous changed which crops they grew on which land in order to preserve the nutrients in the soil and prevent deforestation. However, the Spanish grew the same crop year in and year out on the same tracts of land. To them, the forests were the enemy -- they covered the precious soil that they wanted to take advantage of. At one point, cattle was the new trend and the conversion from crops to pasture took a huge toll on the land. Also, once the topsoil is unprotected, it soon becomes eroded due to the rain, wind, and cattle.

In 1950, 75% of the country's surface was still covered with forest.

In 1990, 23% of Costa Rica remained covered with forest.

Now it's said that 51% of the country is back under forest cover.

2010: Laura Chinchilla

2010 -- the United Stated elects its first African American president and Costa Rica elects its first woman president, Laura Chinchilla. Is it possible to feel orgullosa of a culture of which one is not a part? If so, I feel it toward the Ticos. Ticos, known for their machismo, elected a woman. Costa Rica really is a remarkable country.

1723: Irazú Volcano

The first recorded explosion of Irazú Volcano was in 1723 when it covered Cartago in ash. At the time, the capital city only consisted of 70 adobe and thatch houses, two churches, and two chapels. The city had no doctor, druggist, or any sale of food. The main way of life was farming, and even the artisans were farmers as well. Most people did not live in the city; they only came into Cartago on festival days. And even then, the poorest Colonists seldom made it into Cartago.

Since 1723 Irazú has erupted 23 times, the latest being in the 1960s.

1948 & 1948: Civil War and the New Constitution

My favorite dates in Costa Rican history! Costa Rica´s 1948 civil war lasted only 44 days, and the end result was a Constitution that is baffling. In 1948 the new constituion gave women the right to vote, abolished slavery, established the national bank, and abolished the army. The abolishment of the army is a point of pride for the Ticos and for me, it is just one aspect of what makes Costa Rica a remarkable and peaceful place.

1889: Democracy

1889 was Costa Rica´s first democratic election. This is significant because it makes Costa Rica one of the world´s oldest democracies. It is significant to me because of where Costa Rica is situated geographically and culturally -- it is a Latin American country. Latin American countries are not exactly known for peace and democracy, and that is what makes Costa Rica so special. I believe that the election of 1889 directly lead to the peacful army-free country that today I know and love. Sure, its history is not spotless, but it is by far better than most.

1929: Heroin

"That's something that everyone knows [the identity of the heroin dealers] and it's only us, those who don't have money to defend ourselves, it's only us who suffer persecution and arrest, while those who are trafficking are given every opportunity to defend themselves."

- A San José shoemaker and heroin user under police questioning, 1933

Beginning at the end of the 19th Century, it was not uncommon to find excessive amounts of marijuana and opium use in San José. They were not clearly illegal yet and Costa Ricans took full advantage. With the beginning of the 1900s, the use of narcotic drugs also began due to the expansion of medical prescriptions and pharmacies. Addiction to morphine began in only the higher social classes, but in 1929 there was widespread panic in San José when it was discovered that hundreds of young workers and artisans were using heroin. At the time, Costa Rica was an important bridge in the international trafficking of opium because they had lax import/export taxes.

Retrieved from: The History of Costa Rica: Brief, Up-to-Date, and Illustrated, By Iván Molina Jiménez and Steven Palmer

1820s & 1930s: Coffee and Crisis

By the 1820´s, Costa Rica was colonized and the coffee boom had begun. The government began offering money to farmers to grow coffee on their land. Coffee barons came into power and powerful coffee families ran Costa rica well into the 20th century. Having visited both a coffee plantation and Cafe Britt, it is evident that coffee is well ingrained into the souls of the Ticos. With its volcanic soil and beautiful climate, Costa Rica is ideal for growing coffee.

But, like any major crop boom, it was followed by a terrible crash. In the 1930´s, like nearly every country in the world, Costa Rica´s economy tanked. Over-reliance on one crop and the economic inability of the export countires to continue to purchase coffe in high quantities caused a depression. And much like the United States, it took a war to truly bring the country out of this depression.