|
Irazú is a strato volcano that towers
3,432 meters above sea level. There are two craters at the rim
with very steep rocky sides. These depressions caputure
rainwater, which when filtered through the chemical substances
on the walls accumulates in small, lovely and brightly colored
seasonal lakes. Nearby are several identical crates,
adventitious cones and Turrialba Volcano, 10 kms northeast at
3,329 meters above sea level. It is believed that both volcanoes
are the result of the same internal source. At the foot of
Irazú,
on the southern side, loom Pasqui Peak (2,554 metres), an
adventitious cone responsible for the Cervantes lava-flow, which
13,000 years ago blocked the River Grande de Orosí, giving rise
to a lake that is currently occupied by the Cachí Dam.
|
Irazú Volcano National Park is located on the
continental divide, 15 kilometres, as the crow flies, northeast
of the City of Cartago. It covers 2,309 hectares that range from
2,200 to 3,432 meters above sea level. The wilderness area
includes the volcano of the same name, over 400 hectares of
volcanic ash and scoria, upland plateaux over 3,000 meters above
sea level, and small cloud forests that have been greatly
altered by the eruptions of the volcano, previously known as the
"Volcano of Thunder and Tremors". The park shelters
some wildlife, mainly clay coloured robins, black-faced
solitaries, coyotes, Eastern cottontails, tiger cats and long
tailed weasels.
|
| The climate on Irazú is cold and damp.
The average temerature ranges from 6°C to 10°C around noon.
The average minimum temperature is 4.8°C but it can get as cold
as -3°C (below freezing), when there are frequent frosts.
|
Apparently, the name Irazú is derived
from "Istarú", a 16th century Indian palisade built
on the southern slope above the existing village of Cot. The
volcano has a long history of eruptions, instilling fear in the
religious habitants of Cartago and deep concern among the people
living in San José, Heredia, Alajuela and other towns in the
central region of the country. The first recorded eruption took
place in 1723 during colonial times. Recently, from 1962-1965,
among other phenomena, it spewed out a shower of ash that the
trade winds blew as far as the city of San José. A large amount
of volcanic fallout accumulated there over a period of three
years, causing serious damage and disturbance to agriculture,
industry, commerce and, in general, to all habitants, who were
forced to change their daily customs to protect themselves from
this unusual occurance. For example cars, had to be driven with
their lights on during the day because of the thick curtains of
ash that blocked out the sunlight. Today, there are solfataras
on the volcano that emit clouds of hydrogen and carbon dioxide
gas. |
