When folks think of Costa Rica what generally comes to mind are its beaches, jungles and volcanoes. I have written about certain of Costa Rica volcanoes, Arenal, Poas, Turrialba, etc. This post is dedicated to all of them, because together they make Costa Rica a really cool place (as long as they are nice, that is). Costa Rica is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions encircling the basin of the Pacific Ocean. The Ring of Fire has a total of 452 volcanoes and is home to 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes. Costa Rica has over 100 volcanoes, with five being considered active. The active ones are Arenal, Poas, Irazú, Turrialba, and Rincon de la Vieja (sometime Miravalles is cited as being one of the active….it last erupted in 1946). The most active is, of course, Arenal. Arenal is considered one of the top ten most active volcanoes of the world. So what is so cool about a place where there are killer volcanoes? Hmmm, good question. I guess it makes things a little more exciting to think that in any moment you could be burned to a crisp by a pyroclastic flow or a river of lava. Kind of keeps you on edge, if you catch my drift. No really, the volcanoes are an amazing spectacle of nature. They are a constant reminder of how small we are compared to the forces of nature around us. They help keep things in perspective and us in our proper place, lest we get a little too, as we say down south (South Carolina, that is), “high on the hog.” They also are one of the primary reasons Costa Rica is so lush and green and gorgeous. Almost anything can grow in the fertile volcanic soil and here everything does grow there. My ex-girlfriend and I used to visit Arenal frequently and she loved to gather volcanic rock (pumice). She would put the rock in an ornamental bowl with a plant and just let’er rip. With a little water and the nutritional sustenance provided by the pumice, the plant would grow forever. Ahhhh, memories, memories. Costa Rica’s volcanoes make this country all the more exotic and mysterious. The indigenous, of course, were fond of throwing virgins into the craters as a sacrifice to their gods. We don’t do that anymore, but sometimes when I look up at Arenal (especially after a few drinks) I get that wild and savage feeling…..like I want to dance around in a loin cloth, hooping and hollering to the fire god dwelling deep inside the bowels of the beast. Well I’ve never actually done that, but it has crossed my mind. Costa Rica’s volcanoes are near and dear to my heart and forever will be another of those reasons I love Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s Volcanoes from Volcano Live.com
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