Turrialba Volcano

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Turrialba
Elevation	3,340 m
Location	Costa Rica
Range	Cordillera Central
Coordinates	10°2′N 83°46′W
Type	Stratovolcano
Age of rock	1.5 Myr
Last eruption	1866

The Turrialba Volcano was named after the region of Costa Rica in which the volcano is situated. There is no clear consensus on the origin of the name Turrialba, but historians disagree with attempts to attribute the name to the patronym Torrealba (from Aragon in Spain) or from the Latin Turris alba (white tower). The general consensus is that Turrialba derives from a local Indian language (Huetar) but there is no agreement on its actual roots.

The stratovolcano is 3,329 meters high and is about 45 minutes from the Atlantic slope town of Turrialba. The summit has three craters, one of which has fumaroles and sulfur pits. Turrialba Volcano is one of the few volcanos in Costa Rica where the visitor can actually descend into one of the craters. The hike takes about one hour. Below the summit is a mountgain range and cloud forest, with ferns, bromeliads, lichens and mosses. During the 19th century, it explosively erupted several times (1847?, 1853, 1855, 1861?, 1864-1865, 1866), producing pyroclastic flows. The last major eruption was in 1856, but in January 2001, the volcano reported increased activity, displaying strong fumaroles at the central craters.

Turrialba is adjacent to Irazú and both are among Costa Rica's largest volcanoes. It had at least 5 large explosive eruptions in last 3500 years. This volcano is one of the least visited in Costa Rica due to the long journey on foot required to reach the summit.