29 Arenal Volcano Facts: History, Myths, Hot Springs, And More!

The Arenal volcano, locally known as Volcan Arenal, is one of the major active volcanoes of the world.

Apart from being a dangerous site famous for its volcanic activity, the Arenal volcano is also a major tourist attraction in Central America. Located in the La Fortuna district of north-western Costa Rica, the volcanic mountain stands majestically beside Lake Arenal.

As the location of Costa Rica lies upon the zone of two earth plate boundaries, one can find the reason behind why so many volcanoes surround the area. Costa Rica's strategic location in Central America has made it a major attraction for tourists from all across the world. The Arenal volcano has gained extensive popularity not only because of its notorious volcanic activity but also for the presence of the Arenal Volcano National Park that encircles it. Millions of people flock in to witness lava flows and the rich biodiversity of Arenal, along with the dormant neighborhood volcano called the Chato volcano.

Over the years, the Arenal volcano of Costa Rica has been continuously growing in size owing to the deposition and solidification of lava flows, layer by layer. Due to this reason, the volcano has been categorized as a stratovolcano. Once thought to be a dormant or an extinct volcano, it rejuvenated its eruption, making it almost a daily occurrence in recent times.

Facts About Arenal Volcano

The Arenal volcano is of recent geological origin built with the stratified deposition of lava and pyroclastic materials. Here are some astonishing facts about the Arenal volcano that will bewilder you.

• The Arenal volcano proudly falls under the top 10 active volcanoes of the world.
• The Arenal volcano and other volcanoes, active or dormant, are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which constantly lights up the region with activities that arise deep inside the earth's interior at the junction of the crust and the upper mantle or aesthenosphere.
• It is located at the shoreline of Lake Arenal in the Alajuela Province of San Carlos, just 55 mi (88.5 km) away from San José, the capital of Costa Rica.
• The volcanic dome lies inside the land of the Arenal Volcano National Park.
• It is a young volcano that is only around 7,000 years old.
• It stands tall at the height of 5,437 ft (1,657 m) and is the third most conical-shaped volcano in the world.
• In its most active years, mini eruptions occurred between 3 to 20 times every day, throwing ash plumes that rose 0.6 mi (1 km) above the crater, with the direction of the lava flow altering every six to eight months.
• The emergence of the Arenal volcano can be attributed to the convergence of the two plates, followed by the subduction of the heavier Cocos plate under the lighter Caribbean plate.
• The local climatic temperatures around the volcano range from 60.8°F (16°C) in higher altitudes to 75.2°F (24°C) in lower altitudes.
• The eruption is of the Strombolian type, ejecting massive amounts of basaltic and andesite lava. The eruption makes it highly viscous by limiting its flow intensity and causing it to settle and solidify around the crater, making a lava dome.
• The single main crater has a diameter of 460 ft (140.2 m). Out of the three subsidiary craters, only a single crater is active.
• Lake Arenal is the largest lake of Costa Rica that serves as a major site for hydropower generation, lighting half of the region.
• Out of the 850 bird species of Costa Rica, over 75% reside in the Arenal Volcano National Park.

Arenal Volcano's History

The Arenal volcano of Costa Rica has a mysterious history that kept people under confusion for a long period. Find out why the history of Arenal volcano is unique.

• Before 1968, the volcano saw no eruptions for over 400 years, making people almost declare it as an extinct volcano.
• On July 29, 1968, a major eruption occurred, intense enough to break apart the western section of the mountain, forming three new craters.
• As immense lava, toxic fumes, and pyroclastic materials were violently erupted; it flowed out to submerge the three neighboring villages of Pueblo Nuevo, Tabacon, and San Luis, killing 78 local residents.
• Since 1968, the Arenal volcano has become a major active volcano of Costa Rica, notable for its Strombolian and occasional Vulcanian eruptions.
• The most recent eruption occurred in 2010, after which only the hot springs and fumaroles were still active.
• Studies anticipate another major eruption to occur soon that can release materials capable of traveling as fast as 80 mph (128.8 kph).

Arenal Volcano Myths And Legends

Some popular misconceptions have been cooked up by people who have very limited knowledge about the Arenal volcano. Some of these popular myths are:

• It is believed that a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) was found flying around the volcano during a very explosive eruption.
• Some people fear taking a tour of the Arenal Volcano National Park, thinking about the immersive lava flows that had once destroyed three of its neighboring towns.
• Legends have it that the town of 'El Borio' was renamed La Fortuna after the massive eruption of 1968 that created vast areas of fertile lands, bringing good fortune to the nearby locals.
• Sheets of lava flooded over 9.3 mi (15 km) of the adjoining areas of the Arenal Volcano National Park during the three-day-long eruption in 1968.
• Another myth is that skin irritation, or even cancer can develop after taking a dip at the hot springs or a massage with the volcanic sands, but in reality, it is the opposite.

Arenal Volcano Hot Springs

The high vulcanicity around the area has contributed to the emergence of numerous fumaroles and hot springs in the Arenal Volcano National Park. Here are some things to know about the famous hot springs of Costa Rica:

• All the hot springs lie at the base of the Arenal volcano, attracting tons of tourists.
• Locals have preserved these hot springs.
• Locals have also converted them into themed bath areas to generate supplementary income.
• There are several resorts around the hot springs in San Carlos that allow tourists to enjoy the scenic view of the area while soaking in the comforting warm waters.
• The most well-known of them can be found at the Tabacon Hot Springs, which is located within the Arenal Volcano National Park.