Irazu Volcano

One of the most famous and imponent volcanoes in Costa Rica is the Irazu volcano. It is situated in the Central Volcanic Mountain Range, that crosses the central valley of the country. It is close to the city of Cartago. Its name comes from the indigenous word "ara-tzu" which means point of thunders.

In Costa Rica the volcano is commonly called as "the colossus" due to historical reasons. The volcano has erupted multiple times, the most famous one being in 1963 and continuing on to 1965. On 1963, president John F. Kennedy visited Costa Rica. In the midst of a public speech he was giving, the volcano made eruption. The power with which the volcano erupted created a huge cloud of ash that covered the whole city of San Jose and Cartago. The nearby villages were completely destroyed. San Jose was covered in ash for two years, in a permanent volcanic winter.

After that famous eruption, the volcano has remained dormant. It is now a world-famous tourist point and it is frequently visited. The volcano is also kept under constant observation by scientists.