Irazú Volcano National Park

Irazú Volcano National Park, or in Spanish the Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú, is a National Park in the Central Conservation Area of Costa Rica that encompasses the area around the Irazú Volcano in Cartago Province which incorporates what used to be the Ruben Torres Rojas Forest Reserve now called the Prusia Forest Reserve. The volcano is still active although the last major eruptions were between 1963 and 1965, with occasional minor eruptions and some small lava flows since that time.

Irazú Volcano National Park
Irazú volcano crater
Map
Irazú Volcano National Park
LocationCosta Rica
Nearest cityCartago
Coordinates9°58′44″N 83°51′7″W / 9.97889°N 83.85194°W / 9.97889; -83.85194
Area20 km²
Established9 August 1955
Governing bodyNational System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)
Irazú Volcano National Park is located in Costa Rica
Irazú Volcano National Park
Location in Costa Rica

The park is the site of a reforestation project to restore the area which was destroyed by the eruptions. The forest is made up of conifers and other exotic and native species and also a native forest consisting mainly of oaks and alder, protecting the watershed of the Reventado River.

The Crater Principal lake has an unusual greenish yellow coloring caused by rainfall dissolving the minerals along the craters walls. It has also been known to change colour to rust-red depending on the minerals present. The inactive, dry Diego de la Haya crater is just to the East of the Crater Principal and is filled with volcanic ash.

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Panoramic view from the summit of the Irazú Volcano