Archive for August 19th, 2008
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
As a tropical nation Costa Rica has an extremely fascinating ecosystem. To be able to study this from a birds eye view is what makes the Canopy Tours so popular in the area. Cranes and Climbing gear combine to create a fascinating adventure for the tourists as they rise above the sky and view the Arenal Volcano or any other area in Costa Rica. There are numerous companies that offer Canopy and Jungle Tours and yet, the experience you have directly correlates to the company you choose.
So to make choosing easier we have gathered together reviews of the Top 5 Canopy Tour Companies in Costa Rica. (more…)
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Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
Pedestrian imprudence is the reason for many deaths on Costa Rica’s roads. According to figures releases by the Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), 33 people lost their lives between January and July this year.
The numbers are alarming and top deaths of cyclists, becoming the number three cause of traffic accidents.
The number two cause of traffic accident deaths is drunk driving with 35 deaths and speeding, causing 55 fatalities in the same period.
Officials of the Policía de Tránsito say that many of the pedestrian fatalities could have been avoided if they had used the overhead passes, cross at traffic lights and at corners.
Pedestrians frequently dash across busy highways like the General Cañas in the areas of the Plaza Cariari and the Fernando Prospero in Escazú or dash out into traffic stepping off a bus, not paying attention to the oncoming traffic.
It is also common to see people begin to cross a road, aware of an oncoming vehicle, but unable to properly calcuate the speed and distance of the vehicle or believing that a vehicle can come to a full stop in an instant.
And not uncommon for people to cross the highway under the pedestrian overpasses in front of the Cariari Plaza, or hospital México or CIMA. Although the MOPT has erected a divider fence to frustrate pedestrians, holes in the fences have been made or take the time to walk around the fence and made a mad dash rather than use the overhead pass.
Tránsito officials say that many see road safety as a subject for drivers and not all that use the public roads.
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Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
The New England Revolution announced on Monday that the club has signed Costa Rican defender Gabriel Badilla to a Major League Soccer contract to play for the Revs pending U.S. P-1 Visa approval.
He will occupy one of the team’s seven available international roster spots. Per MLS and club policies, terms of the deal were not released.
“We’re pleased we are finally able to bring Gabriel to the Revolution,” Revolution vice president of player personnel Michael Burns said. “He is a strong, versatile defender who has gained tremendous club and international experience at a young age. With so many extra games on our schedule this season, Gabriel will give us added defensive depth as we prepare for a busy fall.”
Badilla, 24, comes to the Revolution from Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica’s Primera Division, where he has spent his entire professional career. He made his debut with Saprissa in November 2001 and has appeared in more than 130 matches for the “Monstruo Morado.”
He has helped Saprissa earn five national championships, including each of the last four. Badilla was also a member of the Saprissa team that earned a third- place finish at the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan following its 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup title.
Badilla is also a member of the Costa Rica National Team, with which he has earned 12 caps and competed in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
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Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
A physicist and a conservationist from The University of Manchester are heading for the rain forests of Costa Rica – in a bid to understand more about a deadly fungus that is killing amphibians around the world.
Physicist Dr Mark Dickinson from the Photon Science Institute and Andrew Gray, Curator of Herpetology at the Manchester Museum are using equipment more commonly used for medical diagnosis to see inside the skin of South American tree frogs.
Infrared reflection spectroscopy and photography does not cause harm or distress and allows images to be obtained from the surface and within the tissue of the frogs
Manchester researchers believe these spectroscopy techniques could hold the key to understanding the alarming global decline in amphibians.
Now the researchers are taking their work outside the lab and into the field. Dr Dickinson, Mr Gray and former Manchester zoology student Stephanie Dawson will spend just over two weeks in Costa Rica. (more…)
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