Costa Rica's independence month festivities began on Monday with the raising of the country's largest flag.

The 205-square-meter flag was raised in the central park of Vásquez de Coronado Canton, San José Province.

According to the National Union of Local Governments, a group that represents all of the country's municipalities, this is the largest flag ever raised in the country.

The 25-meter-high mast that supports the national insignia is positioned in front of the canton's Catholic Church.

The National Flag was designed when Costa Rica became a sovereign nation in September 1848. It was made up of five horizontal stripes. Blue dominates the first and fifth stripes, while white dominates the second and fourth. In the center, a red stripe doubles the breadth of each of the other four stripes.

The National Emblem is included in the flag. It has three volcanoes and a long valley that stretches between two oceans. There is a commerce ship in each ocean and a riding sun between the blue sky and the blue water on the horizon. On the national seal, two wreaths of myrtle leaves are united by a ribbon with the words "República de Costa Rica." The seven stars create an arch to represent the seven provinces of Costa Rica: San José, Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela, Puntarenas and Guanacaste. The crown is made of a blue ribbon with the words "América Central."

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