Costa Rica

The country of Costa Rica provides the main setting for the book. It is the perfect location for diverse species, having three times as many birds as North America and more than 5,000 species of insects. Its geological diversity is evident in containing both the seacoasts of the Atlantic and Pacific and four mountain ranges. The lack of government regulation in scientific work makes it an attractive place for companies like InGen to perform secret experiments.

Isla Nublar

Isla Nublar is the specific island where Jurassic Park is located, about forty-five minutes by airplane from San Jose. Its name comes from the fact that weather conditions mean it’s almost constantly covered in fog. It is not actually a true island, but a volcanic upthrusting of rock from the ocean floor. It is difficult to get to and even more difficult to leave. Ian Malcolm comments that...