governorates (muhafazat, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose Independence: 15 September 1991 Climate: hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to February) Terrain: sandy beach rises to mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast Natural resources: lead, iron ore Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: 0% other: 81% Irrigated land: 11,600 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: 80% of the agricultural sector. Over 90% of food grain, vegetables
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