Turrialba Volcano

Infobox Mountain
Name = Turrialba
Photo = Turrialba Volcano cone Sept 2005 .jpg
Caption =
Elevation = convert|3340|m|ft|0|lk=off
Location = Costa Rica
Range = Cordillera Central
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|10|2|N|83|46|W|type:mountain
Topographic

Type = Stratovolcano
Age = 1.5 Myr
Last eruption = 1866
First ascent =
Easiest route = hike
Listing =
Translation =
Language =
Pronunciation =

Turrialba Volcano was named after the region of Costa Rica in which the volcano is situated. There is no clear consensus on the origin of the name Turrialba, but historians disagree with attempts to attribute the name to the patronym Torrealba (from Aragon in Spain) or from the Latin Turris alba (white tower). The general consensus is that Turrialba derives from a local Indian language (Huetar) but there is no agreement on its actual roots.

The stratovolcano is convert|3340|m|ft|0|abbr=on high and is about 45 minutes from the Atlantic slope town of Turrialba. The summit has three craters, one of which has fumaroles and sulfur pits. Turrialba Volcano is one of the few volcanos in Costa Rica where the visitor can actually descend into one of the craters. The hike takes about one hour. Below the summit is a mountain range and cloud forest, with ferns, bromeliads, lichens and mosses. During the 19th century, it explosively erupted several times (1847?, 1853, 1855, 1861?, 1864-1865, 1866), producing pyroclastic flows. The last major eruption was in 1856, but in January 2001, the volcano reported increased activity, displaying strong fumaroles at the central craters.

Turrialba is adjacent to Irazú and both are among Costa Rica's largest volcanoes. It had at least five large explosive eruptions in last 3500 years.

ee also

*List of volcanoes in Costa Rica

References

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External links

* [http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/vulcanologia/volcanes/turrialba.htm Costa Rican Vulcanologic and Seismologic Observatory: Turrialba]
* [http://www.elazucarero.com www.elazucarero.com news from turrialba (Spanish) ]
* [http://www.turrialbahotel.com/about_turrialba.htm About Turrialba City]
* [http://www.costaricaiswaitingforyou.com/eng/1042.htm Turrialba Volcano's Pictures]
* [http://www.trycostarica.com/info.php?id=867&cat=101 Turrialba Volcano] Details about visiting Turrialba by Try Costa Rica