<P> The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó, at 3,819 metres (12,530 ft); it is the fifth highest peak in Central America . The highest volcano in the country is the Irazú Volcano (3,431 m or 11,257 ft) and the largest lake is Lake Arenal . There are 14 known volcanoes in Costa Rica, and six of them have been active in the last 75 years . The country has also experienced at least ten earthquakes of magnitude 5.7 or higher (3 of magnitude 7.0 or higher) in the last century . </P> <P> Costa Rica also comprises several islands . Cocos Island (24 square kilometres or 9.3 square miles) stands out because of its distance from the continental landmass, 480 kilometres (300 mi) from Puntarenas, but Isla Calero is the largest island of the country (151.6 square kilometres or 58.5 square miles). Over 25% of Costa Rica's national territory is protected by SINAC (the National System of Conservation Areas), which oversees all of the country's protected areas . Costa Rica also possesses the greatest density of species in the world . </P> <P> Because Costa Rica is located between 8 and 12 degrees north of the Equator, the climate is tropical year round . However, the country has many microclimates depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of each particular region . </P> <P> Costa Rica's seasons are defined by how much rain falls during a particular period . The year can be split into two periods, the dry season known to the residents as summer (verano), and the rainy season, known locally as winter (invierno). The "summer" or dry season goes from December to April, and "winter" or rainy season goes from May to November, which almost coincides with the Atlantic hurricane season, and during this time, it rains constantly in some regions . </P>

Is costa rica north or south of the equator