|
Irazú--"thunder point"--last erupted in March of 1963 after 20 years of inactivity. The eruption coincided with a visit of then-president John F. Kennedy to Costa Rica, but while Kennedy remained only a few days, Irazú continued to spew ash for 2 years, damaging crops and sending ash as far as San José. Except for a "hiccup" of gas, ash and breccia in 1994, Irazú has not shown any activity since 1963, and its crater--part of which collapsed in 1965--is now filled with a lime-green (sometimes rust red) mineral tinted lake. |
| At 3,432 meters above sea level,
Irazú's top is usually above the clouds which surround it.
The ride to the top provides us with a magnificent view of the topography
of Costa Rica. We will stop on the way to the top to view the valleys
and mountain ranges of Costa Rica, and to help get us accustomed to the
height. As we near the top, the vegetation will change from lush
tropical to stunted dwarf oaks, ferns and lichens, to a lunar landscape.
An interesting fact about Irazú is that you can get sun- and wind-burned while freezing! We must take warm clothes because the temperature can be as low as 45 degrees F by the rim of the volcano, even on a beautiful, clear and sunny day, due to the height. On the leeward side of the mountain, though, it feels quite warm. The picture on the right is from our 2001 excursion. It was so windy it was raining sideways, and as you can see, I wasn't the only one wearing my winter coat! The temperature was a frosty 32 degrees F. |
 |
|
See?!? Even the bravest of the brave didn't get to see anyting in 2001!! But the volcano IS out there, or more accurately, down there! |