Arenal hanging bridges and Fortuna (Costa Rica)

El volcán Arenal en Costa Rica situado en la provincias de Alajuela y Guanacaste, con una altura de 1.657 msnm, cumplió su último periodo en actividad en el año 1968, el día 29 de julio a las 7.30.
Desde esa fecha emite en forma costante gases y vapores de agua, con algunas explosiones con emisión de materiales piroclásticos y en ocasiones fuertes retumbos.

The Arenal Volcano, in Spanish Volcán Arenal, is an active andesitic stratovolcano in north-western Costa Rica (10.5N, 84.7W), around 90 km north-west of San José, in the province of Alajuela. Recognised as a volcano since the 19th century, it was known by foreign investigators as "Volcan Costa Rica, Rio Frio", "Canastos" Volcano and "Cerro de los Guatusos". Arenal is the youngest and most active of all the mountains in Costa Rica. Scientists have been able to date it back to more than 4000 years ago. The area remained largely unexplored until 1937, when a documented expedition took place to reach the summit.
Once locally known as Cerro Arenal (i.e. Mount Arenal) it was presumed extinct until July 29, 1968 when an earthquake caused it to erupt, after approximately 400 years of dormancy. The eruption wiped out the town of Arenal and killed 87 people [1]. It lasted for several days, and during that time destroyed crops, property, livestock, and forests. 15 square kilometers were buried and the explosion affected over 232 square kilometers. The eruption caused three new and active craters to form. Before the eruption, there was a wide veriety of plant and wildlife on the mountain. It has been active since the explosion and can be reported to have minor eruptions every 5-10 minutes.
Arenal rises 1657 metres above sea level and overlooks Lake Arenal; both are part of Arenal Volcano National Park. The country's most active volcano, Arenal's eruptions are strombolian in type, being frequent but moderate and can be viewed without danger as long as the viewers are behind the safety perimeter. This constant activity and minimal endangerment makes Arenal a popular tourist destination, especially at night (See image), because the lava and incandescent rocks make a spectacular sight. The last major eruption of Arenal occurred on August 23, 2000. Most of the time, the volcano is surrounded by clouds near the tip, and it is touted as good luck to see the whole volcano without clouds. The volcano heats several hot springs nearby, including Tabacon, a popular tourist destination.
This is one of seven historically active Costa Rican volcanoes: Poás, Irazú, Miravalles, Orosí, Rincón de la Vieja [complex], and Turrialba.
Arenal Volcano National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal) is a Costan Rican national park in the central part of the country, forming the Arenal Tilaran Conservation Area. The park encompasses the Arenal Volcano the most active in the country, which had previously been believed to be dormant until a major eruption in 1968. It neighbours Lake Arenal which is the site of the country's largest hydroelectricity project, the Lake Arenal Dam.
The park also contains a second volcano, Chato, whose crater contains a lagoon, it is also called Cerro Chato (literally Mount Chato) as it has been inactive for around 3500 years--coinciding with the creation and growth of Arenal itself.
The site has accommodation in the form of the Arenal Observatory Lodge and also the Museum of Vulcanicity, as well as a ranger station.
(wikipedia)
08.2007
VALPARD FILMS http://valpardfilms.free.fr

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• Arenal
• Fortuna
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• Rica
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[dheovlotn]

i'm going here this summer any suggestion comments?

[valpard]

You can find the complete video about my trip costa rica + nicaragua on google video

Look for valpard+costa. The title is

"DES FORETS DU COSTA RICA AUX VILLES COLONIALES DU NICARAGUA"

Only the intro is in french. There is no other comments is the video

Have a nice trip !

[rioapartments02]

You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your video.

[Davidsbeenhere]

You will love the place I'm sure.

I've visited Costa Rica and I found out that they're rich in natural resources.

Check out my travel from different part of the world.

Thank you guys :-)

[LnTsMaymay]

I just came back a few weeks ago and loved it. This tour was great -- I loved the hanging bridges. I watched a couple of guys build an "authentic" hanging bridge for Hollywood while I was there.

[MarianodeCR]

i HAVE BEEN THERE THE BRIGES ARE SO SCARY BUT IT WAS SO COOL

[PutUpOrShutUp221]

hhah ive been there:)

[jgstargazer]

Brings back memories of my time in Fortuna and Arenal area. Beautiful!

[x0hitskellyx3]

i wentt on those bridgess last week :) prettyyyy cool

[WELUVFRENCHFRYS]

THAT WAZ STUPID

[fleiva30]

went there on dec-07 strongly recomended!!