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Irazu Volcano

Updated: May 22, 2025 04:48 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Costa Rica, 9.98°N / -83.85°W
Summit height: 3432 m / 11,260 ft
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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Typical eruption style: Explosive.
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

Date and TimeMag / DepthDistance / Location
May 21, 05:26 pm (GMT -6)
3.0

12 km
24 km (15 mi) to the E 50 km east of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa RicaI FELT IT Info
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 20, 10:05 am (Universal Time)
2.3

7 km
24 km (15 mi) to the SW 21 km southeast of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica Info
Monday, May 19, 2025 GMT (4 quakes)
May 19, 05:27 pm (GMT -6)
3.1

12 km
28 km (18 mi) to the S 32 km southeast of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa RicaI FELT IT - 1 reportInfo
May 18, 08:24 pm (GMT -6)
2.5

11 km
24 km (15 mi) to the SW Costa Rica: 7 km Al Sur De Agua Caliente, Cartago. Info
May 18, 06:30 pm (GMT -6)
2.2

12 km
25 km (15 mi) to the SW Costa Rica: 5 km Al Este De San Cristobal, Desamparados. Info
May 19, 12:25 am (Universal Time)
2.6

64 km
16 km (10 mi) to the SW 5 km Al Noroeste De Cartago, Costa Rica Info
Sunday, May 18, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 18, 12:07 pm (GMT -6)
2.2

10 km
30 km (19 mi) to the SW Costa Rica: 5 km Al Sureste De San Cristobal, Desamparados. Info
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 14, 11:55 am (GMT -6)
2.9

4 km
23 km (14 mi) to the W 3.5 km east of San Jose, Provincia de San Jose, Costa Rica 1 reportInfo
Saturday, May 10, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 9, 11:27 pm (GMT -6)
2.6

10 km
27 km (17 mi) to the SW 4 km Al Este De San Cristobal, Desamparados. 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.
---
Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution

Irazu Volcano Photos

Significant volcanic eruptions: Irazu volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Irazu has had at least 24 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 19 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 15 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Irazu volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Irazu volcano since around 1800. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Irazu can be found on the news page of Irazu volcano.
DateNoteVEIDeathsDamage
2019 May 2
(eruptive episode 2019 May 2)
Tsunami recorded
Historical obs./docs.
0
Info
?? 1994 Dec 8
Uncertain Eruption
Historical obs./docs.
2
1977 Mar 3
Historical obs./docs.
1
1974 Mar 2 - Mar 7
Discredited Eruption
1967 Aug 7
Discredited Eruption
1963 Mar 13 - 1965 Feb 13
Historical obs./docs.
3
1963 Dec 10
(eruption 1963 Mar 13 - 1965 Feb 13)
Historical obs./docs.
340
moderate
Info
1963 Mar 17
(eruption 1963 Mar 13 - 1965 Feb 13)
Historical obs./docs.
315
Info
1962 Aug 9
Discredited Eruption
1939 May 18 - 1940 Feb
Historical obs./docs.
2
1933 Mar 22 ? - Jul 25
Historical obs./docs.
2
1930 Oct
Historical obs./docs.
2
1928 Feb 14 - May 26 ±5 d.
Historical obs./docs.
2
1924 Mar - Apr
Historical obs./docs.
2
1917 Sep 27 - 1921
Historical obs./docs.
3
?? 1914 Feb 21
Uncertain Eruption
?
1910
Discredited Eruption
?? 1909
Uncertain Eruption
2
1899
Discredited Eruption
1894
Discredited Eruption
1889 Feb 28
Discredited Eruption
1886
Historical obs./docs.
2?
1885
Historical obs./docs.
2?
1883 Jan 3
Discredited Eruption
?? 1882
Uncertain Eruption
2
1875 ±5 y.
Historical obs./docs.
2
1864 Sep 16 - Sep 17
Historical obs./docs.
2
1847 May 18
Historical obs./docs.
2
?? 1844 May
Uncertain Eruption
2
1842
Historical obs./docs.
2
?? 1826
Uncertain Eruption
?
1823
Historical obs./docs.
2?
1822 May 7
Historical obs./docs.
2
?? 1821 May
Uncertain Eruption
2
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Irazu Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Irazu volcano?

+How often does Irazu volcano erupt?

+How active is Irazu volcano at present?

+When was the largest eruption of Irazu volcano?

Latest satellite images

Irazu satellite image sat1Irazu satellite image sat2

Irazu Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of few kilometers)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Irazu volcano (scale of few kilometers)
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Wed, 4 Nov 2020, 06:00

Irazu volcano (Costa Rica) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 4 November-10 November 2020 (Continuing Activity)

OVSICORI-UNA reported that Irazú's seismic network recorded a significant landslide in the W part of the volcano on 4 November along with a lahar. A small thermal anomaly was detected in MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite data. ... Read all
Wed, 26 Aug 2020, 06:00

Irazu volcano (Costa Rica) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 26 August-1 September 2020 (Continuing Activity)

OVSICORI-UNA reported that Irazú's seismic network recorded land movement 1.2 km SW of the SW crater rim in a high area used for radio and television antennas. Landslides in the area had been observed since 2014, but activity accelerated in the previous months. The number of events indicating landslides began to exponentially increase particularly after 20 August. ... Read all

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