Puntarenas Province facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Province of Puntarenas Provincia de Puntarenas
Province
Cultural Centre of Puntarenas
Flag Coat of arms
Location of the Province of Puntarenas
Country	Costa Rica
Capital city	Puntarenas
Area
• Total	11,265.69 km2 (4,349.71 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	410,929
• Density	36.47615/km2 (94.47280/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Puntarenense
ISO 3166 code	CR-P

Puntarenas is a large province in Costa Rica. It is located on the western side of the country. Most of Costa Rica's Pacific Ocean coast is part of this province. The main city and capital of the province is also called Puntarenas.

Where is Puntarenas Located?

The Puntarenas province shares borders with several other provinces. To the north, it borders Alajuela, San José, and Limón provinces. To the east, it borders the country of Panama. The Pacific Ocean is to its south and west. To the northwest, it borders the Guanacaste province.

	Guanacaste	Alajuela, San José and Limón
	Pacific Ocean
		Puntarenas province
		Pacific Ocean	Panama

Geography and Natural Features

Puntarenas is the largest province in Costa Rica. It covers most of the country's Pacific Ocean coastline. The province is also known for having many islands. Some of these islands include Chira, Bejuco, Caballo, and the famous Coco Island. The total area of the province is about 11,265.69 square kilometers (4,349.71 square miles).

Mountains and Rivers

The highest mountain in Puntarenas province is Cerro Dúrika. It is located on the border with the Limón province. This mountain stands tall at 3,280 meters (10,760 feet) high.

Many rivers flow through the province. Some important rivers are the Ario, Lagarto, Barranca, and Grande de Tárcoles. Other rivers include the Grande de Térraba, General, and Coto Brus.

People of Puntarenas

People who live in the Puntarenas province are called puntarenense. This name is used for both men and women.

In 2011, the province had a population of 410,929 people. This means there were about 1.9 inhabitants per square kilometer. The canton (a type of local division) of Puntarenas has the most people, with 115,019 residents.

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Puntarenas has grown a lot over the years. This chart shows how the population has changed.

Evolution of the population in Puntarenas

How Puntarenas is Divided

The Puntarenas province is split into 11 main areas called cantons. Each canton is then divided into smaller areas called Districts. There are 60 districts in total across the province.

Cantons of Puntarenas

Here is a list of the cantons in Puntarenas:

Economy of Puntarenas

The main ways people make a living in Puntarenas are through farming and fishing. These activities are very important for the province's economy.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Provincia de Puntarenas para niños