Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Kenya suffered smaller episode of unrest leading up to the 2013 pres-
idential vote. Tribal rivalry was once more an issue, but this time land
ownership had moved to the forefront. The Kalenjin people believe that the
Kikuyu took much of their land in the Rift Valley, dating back to the British
colonial government. They and others believe that land titles continue to
be manipulated as political rewards. A new National Land Commission,
which is supposed to resolve injustices, faces a nearly impossible task due
to conflicting and unclear ownership. Observers suggest that the politi-
cians are using land as an emotional topic to inflame partisanship.
Costa Rica is an environmental paradise, with soaring mountains,
active volcanoes, tropical rain forests, and beautiful beaches on both the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Moreover, it comes close to being a political
paradise also. Since 1948 it has had a stable democratic government, has
abolished its army, and enjoys economic prosperity. Its combination of
mountains, middle-class prosperity, and democracy has earned it the
nickname of the Switzerland of Central America. Additionally, it has
the highest literacy rate and lowest rate of infant mortality in the region.
In recent years, it  has developed medical tourism. Hospitals and clinics
offer high-quality surgery for joint replacement, cosmetic procedures,
dental care, and weight loss at a fraction of the cost in the United States.
Electronics is now a big industry.
The small nation borders Panama to the south and Nicaragua to the
north. It is a bit larger than Switzerland. Its population is 4.6 million,
about the size of Ireland. The people are 94% white, 3% black, and 1%
indigenous. The white category includes mestizos of mixed Spanish and
indigenous blood. Away from the coastal plains, the terrain is very moun-
tainous, rising to 3,800 meters at Cerro Chirripo. More than a hundred
peaks have volcanic origins, and a half-dozen are active volcanoes. The
interior has many valleys, whose high elevation provides a cool climate.
The Ticos, as the people are known, brag that they enjoy eternal spring-
time. A quarter of the land is protected as parks, forest reserves, wildlife
refuges, and native people's reservations. This is a higher percentage than
any other country. It has 850 species of birds, 280 species of mammals,
220 species of reptiles, and 1,200 species of orchids
Columbus arrived on the Caribbean side at present-day Puerto Limon
in 1502. He noted the lush vegetation and prosperous indigenous people,
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