Rincón de la Vieja Volcano

The Rincón de la Vieja is an active complex volcano in north-western Costa Rica.

Geography

It is located in the National Park Rincón de la Vieja, 25 km from Liberia, in the province of Guanacaste. The volcano has a height of 1,916 m. In its crater in more than 1,800 meters above sea level, there is a acid lake, which is 100 m below the crater rim and has a diameter of about 250 meters. Temperatures up to 90 ° C measured in him. At the outbreak in 1995, the lake spilled over and there was a 18 km long mudslide. At the outbreak in February 1998 also splashed a caustic and loaded with red-hot rock debris stream of mud from the crater and spilled 18 km out into the plain, and there destroyed plantations, bridges and roads. Other smaller crater extending to the flank of the volcano in an arc that runs from northeast to southwest. The last eruption occurred on 22 September 2011.

In addition to the Rincón de la Vieja in Costa Rica there are still six more active volcanoes: Poas, Irazu, Miravalles, Orosi, Arenal and Turrialba.

Geothermal Energy

A large number of hot springs, fumaroles, hot bubbling mud pools and sulfur smell in the area around the volcano indicate the existing geothermal energy. Studies have shown that the volcano could provide a geothermal capacity of 120 MW. But since he is in a national park, smaller test drilling is only allowed. Further drilling would make studies on possible environmental damage required.

Myths

Rincón de la Vieja translates about hiding the old woman. According to the legends of the population around the Rincón de la Vieja an old witch is hiding in the lake. Because they had been chasing with their predator teeth and her fiery eyes fear the people among whom they once lived, she was cursed by a medicine man. Then she disappeared into the crater of the volcano.