Upala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Upala
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District
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 Upala
Location in Costa Rica
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| Country |  Costa Rica |
| Province | Alajuela |
| Canton | Upala |
| Area | |
| • Total | 148.65 km2 (57.39 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 16,139 |
| • Density | 108.570/km2 (281.196/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 |
| Postal code |
21301
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Upala is a district in Costa Rica. It's part of the Upala canton, which is in the Alajuela province. Think of a district as a smaller area within a larger region.
Contents
The History of Upala
Upala became known as a "city" on May 4, 1970. This was made official by a special law.
Exploring Upala's Geography
Upala covers an area of about 148.65 square kilometers. It sits at an elevation of 48 meters above sea level.
Where is Upala Located?
Upala is in the northwest part of the San Carlos Plain. This area is in northern Costa Rica. It's about 76 kilometers southeast of La Cruz. It's also 124 kilometers northwest of Ciudad Quesada. The provincial capital, Alajuela, is 195 kilometers away. The national capital, San José, is 214 kilometers from Upala.
People and Population in Upala
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1963 | 10,001 | — | |
| 1973 | 5,492 | −45.1% | |
| 1984 | 7,008 | 27.6% | |
| 2000 | 12,372 | 76.5% | |
| 2011 | 16,139 | 30.4% | |
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Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos |
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According to the 2011 census, Upala had a population of 16,139 people.
Getting Around Upala: Transportation
Upala is connected by several important roads. These roads help people and goods move in and out of the district.
Main Road Routes
The following road routes pass through Upala:
National Route 4
National Route 6
National Route 138
National Route 164
National Route 728
National Route 729
National Route 730
National Route 731
Upala's Economy and Daily Life
Upala is an important center for local farmers. It helps support cattle ranchers and people who grow rice in the area.
Services and Businesses
The town has many useful services. You can find a hospital, a bank, and a medical clinic here. There's also a pharmacy and a gas station.
Local Marketplace
The town center has a busy market. Vendors sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and many other local products. Several small restaurants are also in the market area. You can find other restaurants and places to stay in the town too.
Nearby Places to Explore
If you visit Upala, there's a cool place nearby called the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge.
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
This refuge is a wet, lowland area. It has lush swamps, marshes, and a lake that appears in certain seasons. It's full of amazing wildlife. If you love watching birds, this place is a paradise! It's about 37 kilometers east of Upala. You can get there by taking Highway 4 to Colonia Puntarenas, then Highway 138 to Caño Negro.
Upala's Climate
Upala typically has a clear dry season. The weather here is known as a tropical savanna climate. This type of climate is often called "Aw" on climate maps.
| Climate data for Upala | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.6 (87.1) |
31.3 (88.3) |
33.1 (91.6) |
34.0 (93.2) |
34.0 (93.2) |
32.8 (91.0) |
31.8 (89.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.1 (89.8) |
31.1 (88.0) |
30.6 (87.1) |
32.2 (90.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.4 (75.9) |
24.6 (76.3) |
25.7 (78.3) |
26.4 (79.5) |
26.9 (80.4) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.2 (79.2) |
25.4 (77.7) |
24.7 (76.5) |
25.9 (78.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) |
17.9 (64.2) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.7 (65.7) |
19.8 (67.6) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.7 (69.3) |
20.7 (69.3) |
20.5 (68.9) |
20.4 (68.7) |
19.7 (67.5) |
18.9 (66.0) |
19.5 (67.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 111.1 (4.37) |
68.0 (2.68) |
38.2 (1.50) |
53.4 (2.10) |
185.1 (7.29) |
325.3 (12.81) |
322.0 (12.68) |
317.9 (12.52) |
281.0 (11.06) |
283.9 (11.18) |
227.9 (8.97) |
185.2 (7.29) |
2,399 (94.45) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 16 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 204 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 86.8 | 82.6 | 78.0 | 76.2 | 82.0 | 87.9 | 88.8 | 88.7 | 87.2 | 87.5 | 88.2 | 88.1 | 85.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 155.0 | 163.9 | 207.7 | 186.0 | 158.1 | 117.0 | 89.9 | 108.5 | 117.0 | 130.2 | 123.0 | 127.1 | 1,683.4 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 5.0 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.6 |
| Source: Instituto Meteorologico Nacional (precipitation 1963–2012, temperatures 1990–2013, sun 1984–1995, humidity 1989–2013) | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Upala para niños
