Irazú Volcano

Irazu Volcano with acid lake and Gunnera insignis on the crater rim

The Irazu, in the Indian language Iaratzu ( " rumbling mountain") is with 3432 meters, the highest volcano in Costa Rica. The stratovolcano ( composite volcano ) is one of the most dangerous and unpredictable volcanoes in the country.

He broke in 1994, the last time with an intensity of 2 on the Vulkanexplosivitätsindex ( VEI ). An outbreak of the thickness 3 there were in 1963. During this eruption phase, which lasted until 1965, shot repeatedly with lava dust and stones laden clouds of steam up to 500 meters high in the sky.

Another outbreak its ash clouds could reach the densely populated capital of this Central American country, San José.

The volcano belongs to those who harbor a acid lake in its crater lake. He is here of poison green color. The dangers posed by this volcano, relate primarily to a landslide of the thin crater wall. Then, several million tons of rock would slide off and the acid lake to flow out.