It exploded without warning
Considered once a dead volcano

Until the morning of July 29 1968, the Arenal Volcano had remained silent for more than 400 years.

It was home to farmers and ranchers who worked the land along its base and a short distance up its steep slopes.

Arenal Erupts

But at 7:30 a.m. on Monday July 29, 1968 the Arenal Volcano erupted and blow a hole out the side of the mountain. Eruptions continued for several days, killing 87 people and buried over 15 square kilometers in rock, lava and ash. In total, the eruptions affected more than 232 square kilometers by damaging crops, property, livestock and forests.

At the height of this activity, the volcano threw massive amounts of lava and ash and tossed giant rocks some 600 meters per second for more than a mile. The explosions formed three new and active craters.

Since the original eruption, the Arenal Volcano has remained active. At times, there are only a few quiet explosions with large mushroom-shaped clouds of ash. At other times, it rumbles the ground and sends hot rocks nearly a kilometer into the air with pyroclastic explosions highlighted by the flow of lava down the side of the volcano.

Recent eruption

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The most recent serious eruption in August 2000 killed two people - a Costa Rican guide and an American girl. The girl died of her burns several weeks later. The Arenal Park was closed to visitors and neighbouring hotels and resorts were evacuated.

Hear the interview with a survivor of the first eruption of the Arenal Volcano

For the people who lived near the volcano during its first eruption, it was a horrible reminder of the original eruption.

 

 

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