Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano
Highest point
Elevation1,670 m (5,480 ft)[1]
Coordinates10°27′48″N 84°42′12″W / 10.46333°N 84.70333°W / 10.46333; -84.70333
Geography
Arenal Volcano is located in Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano
Costa Rica
LocationAlajuela Province, Costa Rica
Geology
Age of rock7,000 years old
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption1968 to 2010
Arenal in November 2006

Arenal Volcano (Spanish: Volcán Arenal) is an active andesitic stratovolcano in north-western Costa Rica around 90 km (56 mi) northwest of San José, in the province of Alajuela, canton of San Carlos, and district of La Fortuna. The Arenal volcano measures at least 1,633 metres (5,358 ft) high.[2] It is conically shaped with a crater 140 metres (460 ft) in diameter. Geologically, Arenal is considered a young volcano and it is estimated to be less than 7,500 years old.[1] It is also known as "Pan de Azúcar", "Canaste", "Volcan Costa Rica", "Volcan Río Frío" or "Guatusos Peak".[1]

The volcano was dormant for hundreds of years and exhibited 2 craters at its summit, with minor fumaroles activity, covered by dense vegetation. In 1968 it erupted unexpectedly, destroying the small town of Tabacón. Due to the eruption three more craters were created on the western flanks but only one of them exists today. Arenal's eruption from 1968 to 2010 is the tenth longest duration volcanic eruption on Earth since 1750.[3] Since 2010, Arenal has been dormant.[4]

  1. ^ a b c "Arenal". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  2. ^ "Arenal" (in Spanish). Costa Rican Vulcanologic and Seismologic Observatory. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  3. ^ Venzke, E., ed. (December 10, 2020). "What volcanoes have had the longest eruptions?". Global Volcanism Program — Volcanoes of the World (Version 4.9.2). Smithsonian Institution. doi:10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW4-2013. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "Arenal Volcano". crtraveling.com. October 14, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.

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