What is Arenal Volcano known for?
Volcán Arenal, a beautiful, 1657-m high conical andesitic stratovolcano near Lake Arena, is the youngest and one of the most active stratovolcano in Costa Rica. It is famous for a large explosive eruption in 1968 that killed several people and threw incandescent bombs to 5 km distance from the vent.
How old is the Arenal Volcano?
7,500 years old
Geologically, Arenal is considered a young volcano and it is estimated to be less than 7,500 years old. It is also known as “Pan de Azúcar”, “Canaste”, “Volcan Costa Rica”, “Volcan Río Frío” or “Guatusos Peak”.
How many people have died from Arenal Volcano?
87 people
The eruptions continued unabated for several days, burying over 15 square kilometers with rocks, lava and ash. When it was finally over, the eruptions had killed 87 people and buried 3 small villages – Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luís – and affected more than 232 square kilometers of land.
How many times did the Arenal Volcano erupt?
The magma of the Arenal Volcano contains high levels of water and other chemicals that make it highly explosive. Due to this, Arenal has the potential to erupt frequently – as many as 3 to 5 times a day.
How did volcano Arenal get its name?
In 1922, it is given the name Volcán Arenal [Sand Volcano], by reason of its lava undergoing disintegration due to physical and chemical processes and resulting in lithic and crystalline sands that settle in the cone foothills, giving the volcano a sand hill appearance.
What is the Arenal Volcano made of?
Arenal is what is known as a stratovolcano – a tall, symmetrical volcano that’s built upon successive layers of rock, ash and lava.
How did the Arenal Volcano get its name?
Its oldest recorded name was “Los Ahogados” (1852), Spanish for “The Drowned”.
When was the last time Arenal Volcano erupted?
2010
Arenal Volcano/Last eruption
What country is Arenal Volcano in?
Costa Rica
In the Central Volcanic Mountain Range of Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano is one of the country’s most famous volcanoes. Arenal is an active stratovolcano in northwestern Costa Rica, around 90 km northwest of San José, in the province of Alajuela, and 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the town of La Fortuna.
How was Arenal Volcano made?
The earliest known eruptions of Arenal began around 7,000 years ago, breaking through older volcanic tuffs and sedimentary rocks. Plinian eruptions occurred about every 1,000 years, interspersed with lava flow and pyroclastic activity and periods of quiescence, and built Arenal into a classic stratovolcano.
How does the Arenal Volcano work?
Arenal Volcano Geology and Hazards Arenal is a young volcano at about 7,000 years old, and is still in the process of building its 1,670 m (5,479 foot) cone by alternating periods of major explosive eruptions with lava flows that stabilize the loose material on its cone.