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The conical Volcan Arenal is the youngest volcano in Costa Rica and the most active It is a stratovolcano (also known as composite volcano) like Mt Fuji in Japan, Mt Mayon in the Philippines, and Mt Agua in GuatemalaThe 1657 meters (5,437 Feet, 1 meter = 328 feet) high andesitic volcano towers above the eastern shores of Lake Arenal, which has been enlarged by a hydroelectric project Arenal was constructed by successive eruptions to the NW  (10463°N (10°27'48"N), 84703°W (84°42'12"W)) of the older Chato volcano, which contains a 500 meters wide summit crater The earliest known eruptions of Arenal took place about 7,000 years ago, and the two volcanoes were active concurrently until the activity of Chato ended about 3,500 years ago

Growth of Arenal has been characterized by periodic major explosive eruptions at several-hundred-year intervals and periods of lava effusion that armor the cone Volcan Arenal  actual eruptive period began with a major explosive Arenal eruption in 1968 Continuous daily explosive eruption activity accompanied by slow lava effusion and the occasional emission of pyroclastic flows (avalanche of hot gases, rocks and ashes that can travel @ 80 km per hour) has occurred since then from vents at the summit and on the upper western flank Arenal eruptions are of the strombolian type (name after the volcano Stromboli in Italy: A type of volcanic activity which produces frequent, moderate eruptions  Most recent Arenal Volcano June 22, 2005; May 22, 2005; September 5th 2003

Once locally known as Cerro Arenal (ie 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 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

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 , 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

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