
Volcanoes in Costa Rica
With 2 volcanoes in Costa Rica there have been a total of 6 significant eruptions over the past one hundred years. Over one hundred people were killed. The worst volcanic eruption in terms of deaths, destroyed houses and financial damages happened on 12/10/1963 with the eruption of "Irazu". Here, 40 people died.All eight volcanoes in Costa Rica are still considered as active.
Other natural hazards in Costa Rica:
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› Tsunamis
› Hurricanes
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Significant volcanic eruptions in Costa Rica in the last 100 years

The highest explosivity index in Costa Rica reached in the review period was VEI 3 in 2000. The volcano Arenal threw tephramasses of at least 10 million cubic meters over 3 kilometers high. Volcanoes of this size can theoretically erupt at this intensity every year.
Eruption | Volcano | VEI | Deaths | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|
08/23/2000 | Arenal | 3 | 2 | |
07/06/1988 | Arenal | 3 | 1 | |
06/17/1975 | Arenal | 3 | 2 | |
07/29/1968 | Arenal | 3 | 80 | |
12/10/1963 | Irazu | 3 | 40 | |
03/17/1963 | Irazu | 3 | 15 |
All volcanoes in Costa Rica
Volcano | Elevation | Status | Last eruption |
---|---|---|---|
Arenal | 1552 m | Active | 08/23/2000 |
Barva | 2894 m | Active | |
Irazu | 3432 m | Active | 12/10/1963 |
Miravalles | 2028 m | Active | |
Orosi | 1440 m | Active | |
Poas | 2704 m | Active | |
Ricon de la Vieja | 1806 m | Active | |
Turrialba | 3335 m | Active |
These statistics are based on datas from the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program (GVP), and the Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database of the National Geophysical Data Center (NOAA) / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS) doi:10.7289/V5JW8BSH. Several data have been summarized and translated.