Cordillera Central (Costa Rica)

Cordillera Central
Cordillera Volcánica Central
Range
Crater of Irazú Volcano
Country	Costa Rica
Region	Continental Divide
Highest point	Irazú Volcano
- elevation	3,432 m (11,260 ft)
- coordinates	9°58′37″N 83°51′15″W / 9.97694°N 83.85417°W / 9.97694; -83.85417
Biome	Lowland tropical wet forest
Period	Quaternary
Map of Cordillera Central

The Cordillera Central is a volcanic mountain range in central Costa Rica which continues the Continental Divide east of Cordillera de Tilarán. It extends 80 km from Tapezco Pass to the Turrialba Volcano and ending on the Pacuare River. It is separated from Cordillera de Tilarán by Balsa River and Platanar and Zarcero hills.

It contains four large volcanoes Poás (2,708 m), Barva (2,906 m), Irazú and Turrialba (3,340 m). The highest peak is Irazú at 3,432 m.^[1]

South of the range lie elevated plains of central tectonic depression of Costa Rican Central Valley.^[2]

Cordillera Central's four main volcanoes are protected as national parks. Volcanic massif of the Poás Volcano is the central feature of Poás Volcano National Park, featuring permanent fumarolic activity. Barva Volcano features prominent hydrothermal activity (hot springs) and is a part of Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Irazú Volcano National Park contains Irazú Volcano, the highest volcano of Costa Rica. The significant elevation of the volcano makes it a strategic site for telecommunications, many national television and radio stations have their antennas at the summit.

Turrialba Volcano National Park centered around Turrialba Volcano features fumarolic activity and gas emissions.^[3]

References

1. ^ Hopkins, Jack W. (1995). Policymaking for Conservation in Latin America: National Parks, Reserves, and the Environment. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 18. ISBN 0275953491. 
2. ^ Baker, Christopher P. (2007). Costa Rica. Moon Handbooks (6th ed.). Emeryville, California: Avalon Travel. p. 516. ISBN 1566918472. 
3. ^ Costa Rican Vulcanologic and Seismologic Observatory: Turrialba

Coordinates: 9°58′37″N 83°51′15″W / 9.97694°N 83.85417°W / 9.97694; -83.85417