The Volcano Poas erupts on Christmas Day
When it comes to Costa Rica volcano’s tourist usually think of Arenal, when in reality, the Pacific Ring Fire Circle, Costa Rica has over 200 identifiable volcanic formations However, only 100 or so show any signs of volcanic activity, while just five are classified as active volcanoes. Most of the volcanoes in Costa Rica lie in the northern part of the country and in the Central Highlands.
With Volcán Poás spilling out vapor, water, rocks and sediment on Christmas morning, is this just a prelude for Costa Ricans of what to expect in 2010?
Even at the delight of tourists who admired the show, one was heard loudly, “Let’s get out of here!”
There have been two similar eruptions this year. One was Jan. 12, just four days after the deadly 6.2 magnitude Cinchona earthquake that destroyed a town not far away and killed forty people and affected Fraijanes, Vara Blanca, the capital San José and the Central Valley region of Costa Rica. The second eruption was Sept. 18.
All doing 2009 its activity involved minor eruptions and landslides within the northern active crater which is having many researchers and scientists believing that this could be just the signs of something bigger brewing inside. Researchers from the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica at Universidad Nacional in Heredia have been closely studying the situation since Christmas.
The real activity in the volcano started in March 2006, which has been a major draw to tourists to the Parque Nacional Volcán Poás. After the Cinchona earthquake, the park was closed and suffered economical hardships from tourist bucks along with other tourist facilities in the general area. Poás is north of Heredia and Alajuela centro. With its easy vehicle access, it has always been a hot item for travel agents booking one-day tours.
However, it is not just Poás, on the east end of the Central Valley the Volcán Irazú continues to spit its acidic vapors that have wilted the vegetation. And the farmers are not taking any chances, many have moved their livestock from the general area of the volcano. Periodically the park there closes when the volcano acts up. However, most experts say the activity is normal and dismiss the possibility of a full-scale eruption like the one in 1963. Hummm!
Botos Lagoon is a filled-up crater in the Parque Nacional Volcan Poas. Its deep blue waters contrast with the dense tropical forest that surround it. Volcan Poas is one of the most visited volcanoes in Costa Rica, because of its proximity to San Jose and because of the luxuriant forest that surrounds the two craters. The park measures 5600 hectares, and this basaltic volcano stands at an altitude of 2708 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level.
All of Costa Rica’s volcanoes play a role in its economy and history. The volcanic soil is perfect for growing the country’s three main cash crops: bananas, pineapples and coffee. Volcanoes are also good for tourism, and help make Costa Rica the most visited Central American country. They are still dangerous, however; Irazu’s eruptions in the 60s killed at least 20 people and destroyed buildings with ash and mudflows, and Arenal’s 1968 eruption killed 87 people and buried 3 small villages (Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luís).
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