San Carlos (canton)


San Carlos is the 10th canton in the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of, making it the largest canton in the country. It has a population of 178,460. ranking it fifth.
The capital city of the canton is Quesada, which is also known as San Carlos.

Geography

The canton encompasses a major portion of the San Carlos Plain, a wide expanse on the Caribbean side of the Cordillera Central. San Carlos reaches north to the border of Nicaragua, east to the province of Heredia, west to the province of Guanacaste, and south into the heights of the Cordillera.
San Carlos is noted as the home of Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The canton's principal economic activities include the production of oranges, yuca, pineapple, sugar cane, beef and dairy products. More than 50% of the total production of milk in Costa Rica comes from San Carlos.
There is a branch of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology in Santa Clara, San Carlos.

Districts

The canton of San Carlos is subdivided into 13 districts :
  1. Quesada
  2. Florencia
  3. Buenavista
  4. Aguas Zarcas
  5. Venecia
  6. Pital
  7. La Fortuna
  8. La Tigra
  9. La Palmera
  10. Venado
  11. Cutris
  12. Monterrey
  13. Pocosol

    History

The canton was established by a decree of September 26, 1911.