Day 3 Sunday 15th May 2022 – Morning – Visit to POAS Volcano Crater
Maria Angela and her husband Henry took us sightseeing to the impressive Poas Volcano and the nearby waterfalls. Poas volcano is just one of seven volcanoes that surround the town of Grecia in the Central Valley of Costa Rica.
Caption: Poas Volcano information board in English at Poas National Park tourist centre.
Poás Volcano is an active stratovolcano in central Costa Rica and is located within Poas Volcano National Park. It has erupted 40 times since 1828, including in April 2017 when visitors and residents were evacuated.
Caption: Poas Volcano Crater Lake with active fumarole emitting hot sulphurous gases top right.
The large crater is almost a mile across and over 900 feet deep with continuous geyser-like eruptions of sulphuric gases and steam. This has earned it the reputation as the largest geyser in the world. The spectacular crater and its lake were well worth visiting. Hard-hats are essential and there is a continuous smell of “rotten eggs” from the sulphur crater lake. There are also warning claxons if the sulphuric gases reach dangerous proportions to evacuate people at the crater summit.
Caption: Close-up of crater lake and fumarole venting hot gases.
Caption: Clouds clearing from top of volcano showing the scale of the crater lake and the venting fumarole to the right of the lake.
Caption: Crater lake, fumarole, and ash debris field. Cloud forest surrounds the peak of Poas Volcano.
Around the edge of the crater there is dense cloud forest cover offering a remote habitat for animals and birds.
Caption: Wildlife does not seem to be deterred by the sulphurous fumes or risk of eruption. Inquisitive squirrel.