Irazu Volcano
Updated: Apr 28, 2024 00:11 GMT -
Stratovolcano 3432 m / 11,260 ft
Costa Rica, 9.98°N / -83.85°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Costa Rica, 9.98°N / -83.85°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 22 Dec 2021 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Irazú (3432 m) immediately east of the capital San José is Costa Rica's highest and one of its most active volcanoes. Tephra fall (ash) during the last major eruption of Irazú in 1963-65 caused heavy damage to infrastructure and life in San José and its surroundings.
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Irazu volcano eruptions: 1726, 1775(?), 1821(?), 1822, 1823, 1826(?), 1842, 1844(?), 1847, 1864, 1875, 1882(?), 1909(?), 1914(?), 1917-21, 1924, 1928, 1930, 1933, 1939-40, 1963-65, 1977, 1994
Latest nearby earthquakes
Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
Apr 26, 06:29 pm (Costa Rica) | 2.2 6 km | 17 km (10.8 mi) to the E | Costa Rica: 5 km al Este de Santa Cruz, Turrialba. | Info | |
Friday, April 26, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 26, 06:24 am (Costa Rica) | 2.0 6 km | Costa Rica: 7 km al Sur de Orosi, Paraiso, Cartago. | Info | ||
Thursday, April 25, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 25, 02:04 am (Costa Rica) | 2.6 12 km | 26 km (16 mi) to the W | Costa Rica: 1 km al Oeste de San Jose. I FELT IT | Info | |
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 23, 01:06 am (Costa Rica) | 2.0 5 km | Costa Rica: 8 km al Este de San Cristobal, Desamparados. | Info | ||
Monday, April 22, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 22, 01:42 am (Costa Rica) | 2.0 17 km | Cartago, 27 km southeast of San Jose, San Jose, Costa Rica | Info | ||
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
Apr 15, 11:43 pm (Costa Rica) | 2.6 4 km | 22 km (14 mi) to the NE | Costa Rica: 8 km al Oeste de Alegria, Siquirres. | Info |
Background
Irazú is a massive stratovolcano covering more than 500 sq km with at least 10 flank cones on the southern flank, all being older than at least 14,000 years when a massive lava flow (the "Ceravantes" flow) was erupted.All known eruptions from Irazú during the past 10,000 years have been explosive and originated from the summit craters that show a migration to the W over time. The historically active crater contains a small acid lake of changing size and color.
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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution
Irazu Volcano Photos
The lake-filled crater of Irazu volcano, Costa Rica (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Crater El Piroclastico of Irazu Volcano near Cartago, Costa Rica (Photo: WNomad)
Crater Principal of Irazu Volcano, near Cartago, Costa Rica (Photo: WNomad)
Laguna del Irazu Volcano, Costa Rica (Photo: WNomad)