Carara National Park

Location:Costa Rica
IUCN Category:II
Area:12,983 acres (5,254 hectares)
Species:All  Endangered  Invasive
Climate:View Climate Data
Land Use:View Land Use Data
Köppen climate classification:Aw (Climate: equatorial; Precipitation: winter dry)

Ecoregions

Central American dry forests
Costa Rican seasonal moist forests
Isthmian-Pacific moist forests

Soils

Protected Area Boundary
 ABC
    
Share70 %30 %  
Soil TypeEutric LeptosolsEutric RegosolsChromic LuvisolsHumic Nitisols
Topsoil TextureMediumMediumFineFine
Reference Depth30 cm100 cm100 cm100 cm
DrainageImperfectlyModerately wellModerately wellModerately well
Available Water Capacity50 mm150 m150 m150 m
Topsoil Properties
Gravel31 %49 %1 %1 %
Sand50 %48 %17 %24 %
Silt30 %28 %30 %27 %
Clay20 %24 %53 %49 %
USDA TextureLoamLoamClayClay
Reference Bulk Density1.42 g/cm³1.39 g/cm³1.21 g/cm³1.24 g/cm³
Bulk Density1.35 g/cm³1.25 g/cm³1.4 g/cm³1.18 g/cm³
Organic Carbon0.72 %1.25 %2.51 %2.45 %
PH6.565.65.3
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity49 cmol kg⁻¹140 cmol kg⁻¹28 cmol kg⁻¹21 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity12 cmol kg⁻¹46 cmol kg⁻¹23 cmol kg⁻¹20 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation87 %79 %82 %27 %
Total Exchangeable Bases10.4 cmol kg⁻¹36.3 cmol kg⁻¹18.9 cmol kg⁻¹5.4 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate0.2 %0 %0 %0 %
Calcium Sulphate0.1 %0 %0 %0 %
Exchangeable Sodium2 %2 %1 %1 %
Electrical Conductivity0.1 dS m-10 dS m-10 dS m-10 dS m-1
Subsoil Properties
Gravel 60 %1 %1 %
Sand 64 %14 %18 %
Silt 25 %27 %21 %
Clay 11 %59 %61 %
USDA Texture Sandy loamClayClay (heavy)
Reference Bulk Density 1.54 g/cm³1.19 g/cm³1.2 g/cm³
Bulk Density 1.71 g/cm³1.41 g/cm³1.25 g/cm³
Organic Carbon 0.42 %0.46 %0.96 %
PH 66.35.4
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity 140 cmol kg⁻¹27 cmol kg⁻¹16 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity 55 cmol kg⁻¹17 cmol kg⁻¹20 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation 89 %83 %29 %
Total Exchangeable Bases 49 cmol kg⁻¹14.1 cmol kg⁻¹5.8 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate 0 %0.2 %0 %
Calcium Sulphate 0 %0.1 %0 %
Exchangeable Sodium 2 %1 %1 %
Electrical Conductivity 0 dS m-10.1 dS m-10 dS m-1
Soil data provided by FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISSCAS/JRC, 2012. Harmonized World Soil Database (version 1.2). FAO, Rome, Italy and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.
Köppen climate classification provided by Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263