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Volcanoes of Costa Rica

Costa Rica belongs to the area popularly known as the Pacific Ring of Fire and in the land itself there are 112 volcanic formations. Amongst these seven are taken to be the most active ones.

The activity of these volcanoes results in the soil of the surrounding areas to be fertile and rich in minerals.

The volcanoes of Costa Rica often have erupted and have caused destruction on a massive scale. There are about five very active volcanoes and most of them are situated in the area of the Central Highlands where people pass by mistaking the volcanoes to be hills.

There are three very important volcanic mountain range systems in the land of Costa Rica. They are the Guanacaste range system, the Talamanca range system and the Central Volcanic system.

The Guanacaste Range System

This range system consists of the Orosi, Rincon de la Vieja volcano, Miravalles volcano, Tenorio volcano and the Arenal volcano. The Orosi is the first of the range that you come across when you enter Costa Rica from the Nicaraguan side.

The altitude of Orosi is 1,487 meters and the drive is indeed enjoyable. There are miles of cattle land on the sides and the minerals that come down from the volcanic eruptions enrich the soil.

There are also forests that are a treat to the eye. On the western side of these forests are a few thousands of Columbian petroglyphs. The Orosi means that in it there is no silver but there is gold.

No visitors are allowed to climb the Orosi as they do stand the chance of falling into the volcano and be converted to steam within a few seconds. Only scientists are allowed to venture up the slopes.

One will find a lovely view of the Orosi from the nearby Santa Rosa National Park. Among the others in this range the most peaceful is the Miravelles and the Tenorio.

Talamanca Range System

The next important range is the Talamanca Range system and this consists of the El Viejo volcano and it is situated in the northwest of the Poas volcano.

It has an altitude of 2060meters. The word El Viejo means the "Old Man" after a businessman who had tried to extract pumice stone from a mine.

Here the countryside has a beautiful covering of palm forests and cedar trees. It is a wonderful place to come closer to nature and feel the bounty. It is also an ideal place to go hiking.
 

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