Osa is a canton in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica.[2][3] The head city is in Puerto Cortés district.

Osa
Corcovado National Park
Flag of Osa
Official seal of Osa
Map
Osa canton
Osa canton location in Costa Rica
Osa canton location in Costa Rica
Osa
Osa canton location in Costa Rica
Coordinates: 8°53′29″N 83°31′43″W / 8.8913368°N 83.5286361°W / 8.8913368; -83.5286361
Country Costa Rica
ProvincePuntarenas
Creation29 July 1940[1]
Head cityPuerto Cortés
Districts
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyMunicipalidad de Osa
Area
 • Total
1,930.24 km2 (745.27 sq mi)
Elevation
24 m (79 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
29,433
 • Density15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−06:00
Canton code605
Websitewww.gobiernolocalosa.go.cr

History

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Osa was created on 29 July 1940 by decree 185.[1] In pre-Columbian times was populated by Boruca which left legacies such as fields and stone walkways.

Geography

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Osa has an area of 1,930.24 km2[4] and a mean elevation of 24 metres.[2]

The canton begins at the Barú River near Dominical on the central Pacific coast. It continues as a narrow strip of land southward to include the area around Palmar and Sierpe, finally widening to take in the entire neck and upper portion of the Osa Peninsula, where significant gold mining operations are located. As its name suggests, humpback whales and dolphins migrate into the waters to calve, mate, and to rest. Whale watching is available along the coasts. Isla del Caño is part of Osa canton.

Districts

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The canton of Osa is subdivided into the following districts:

  1. Puerto Cortés
  2. Palmar
  3. Sierpe
  4. Bahía Ballena
  5. Piedras Blancas
  6. Bahía Drake

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.±% p.a.
19274,367—    
195011,518+4.31%
196317,574+3.30%
197324,613+3.43%
198426,294+0.60%
200025,861−0.10%
201129,433+1.18%
202236,088+1.87%
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos[5]
Centro Centroamericano de Población[6]

For the 2011 census, Osa had a population of 29,433 inhabitants.[7]

Transportation

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Road transportation

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The canton is covered by the following road routes:

Conservation and tourism

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In the canton there are conservation areas that are part of the Osa Conservation Area, such as Corcovado National Park, Ballena Marine National Park and Piedras Blancas National Park. The stone spheres of Costa Rica are found in this canton.

References

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  1. ^ a b Hernández, Hermógenes (1985). Costa Rica: evolución territorial y principales censos de población 1502 - 1984 (in Spanish) (1 ed.). San José: Editorial Universidad Estatal a Distancia. pp. 164–173. ISBN 9977-64-243-5. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP". Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish). 19 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  3. ^ División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica (PDF) (in Spanish). Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional. 8 March 2017. ISBN 978-9977-58-477-5.
  4. ^ "Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos" (in Spanish).
  6. ^ Centro Centroamericano de Población de la Universidad de Costa Rica. "Sistema de Consulta a Bases de Datos Estadísticas" (in Spanish).
  7. ^ "Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.