Finca Alto Mirador is located in the foothills above the Caribbean Lowland city of Siquirres. These properties are accessible year-round by a gravel road that leads from National Highway 32 (San José to Limón) up to Barbilla National Park. The properties are located 3 kilometers (1.875 miles) off National Highway 32. 2
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VIEWS The above image shows just a small part of the view from the flat ridge in the center of one of the properties. This is an excellent potential building site. Additional images of the site on the flat ridge. 4
The four following images show the right to left view from the flat ridge. 5
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The above image connects the views into one panoramic photo. Even though this image does not give the more than 180 view justice, I think you can get the idea The views from this ridge include the northern Caribbean lowlands, City of Siquirres, Pacuare River, and the Turrialba Volcano. Turrialba Volcano (upper center) and Pacuare River (lower left-center). 7
Climate: The Caribbean versant of Costa Rica receives on the average more rainfall than most of the Pacific side of Costa Rica due to the dominant winds blowing off the Caribbean Sea. As an air mass travels above a tropical sea it collects abundant humidity. When this air mass hits the land, especially the foothills, it starts to rise and in doing so it cools and the moisture condenses to produce precipitation. This is known as the orographic lifting effect, and another example of this phenomenon is along the Pacific northwest of the United States. This process of rising air also creates mild temperatures in the foothills. As air rises it expands, and as it expands it cools. This process of cooling by expansion is represented by Humboldt s law, which states that for every 100 meters one increases altitude the air temperature drops by roughly one degree Fahrenheit. Finca Alto Mirador has an altitudinal range from roughly 225-350 meters above sea level. The average temperature varies little throughout the year, with an average high of 28-30 C (82-86 F) and an average low of 21-19 C (69-66 F). A slight to medium breeze is common on the high parts of the property, such as the flat ridge. This breeze helps provide comfort on warm days. The area of Finca Alto Mirador receives an average annual rainfall amount of 4500-5000 mm (160-200 inches). These stable average temperatures and abundant rainfall create conditions that are favorable for a rich biodiversity. Flora and Fauna: Fincas Alto Mirador have an incredible biodiversity. In the old-growth forest sections numerous species of rare plants and animals have been found, including species such as the Annulated Tree Boa, Splendid Leaf Frog, and Ocelot. The diversity of bird species within these properties is also very impressive. 8
Examples of some of Finca Alto Mirador s Flora and Fauna Ocelot track Annulated tree boa (Corallus annulatus) Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio) Yellow-striped Poison Frog (Phyllobates lugubris) Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla calcarifer) 9
Large Espavel Tree (Anacardium excelsum) in the old-growth forest section. 10
This photo shows the impressive root strucuture of this Mastate tree These properties are of conservational importance due to their dominant forest coverage, especially at this altitude where much of the old-growth forest has been cut down. Another important aspect of these property is their connection to the large strip of gallery forest in the Pacuare River Valley, forming a biological corridor to Barbilla National Park. It is important to respect the conservational value of this property due to its corresponding biological diversity, forest connectivity, and hydrologic richness. These farms have an abundance of 11
springs and streams. Many of the small streams originate within the boundaries of the properties, and are free of contamination. This image shows a small cascade in one of the streams that originate within the boundaries of one of the farms. 12