National Parks
Irazu: Mountain of thunder
By Staff
Apr 18, 2005, 14:38

The Irazu National Park is locat4ed along the Central Volcanic range, 20 miles Northeast of Cartago.

Irazu Volcano

The volcano itself is located 15 miles inside the park. Rising 8,000 feet above the central Valley and 11,260 feet above sea level, Irazu is the highest volcano in Costa Rica.

The curious name of Irazu comes from the indigenous community of Irazu, which was located on the slope of the volcano. The word means ‘Peak of Quakes and Thunder”, but it gradually changed through t5he years. At the top of Irazu, it can get cold enough to require a sweater of jacket. Especially during the night temperatures in the area can drop significantly.

One of the country’s most frequently visited national parks, Irazu, is very popular among national and international tourists, perhaps because of its closeness to the capital. The volcano is characterized by violent eruptions and five separate, well-defined is during the early morning hours, since clouds tend to roll in as the day progresses.

Irazu Volcano

Irazu is made up of five craters: the Main crater (320.04 feet in diameter and 91.44 feet deep). Diego de la Haya (210.31 feet in diameter and 24.38 feet deep), Playa Hermosa (a large ashy beach that at one time was active), Laguna, and the Pyroclastic crater. This is an active volcano with fumaroles that erupt with pyroclastic flow3sw and ash, sometimes accompanied by relatively light tremors.

When the day is clear, it’s possible to observe three of the craters, including the Main one, and its sulfurous green lake at the bottom. Even if the clouds block your views, a strong sulfur smell fills the air. The other two craters are t he Diego de la Haya crater, and the Playa Hermosa crater. Lucky visitors can appreciate a magnificent view of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts from the top of Alto Grande Peak.

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