Volcán Cerro Negro, Active volcano in Cordillera de los Maribios, Nicaragua.
Volcán Cerro Negro is an active volcano in the León Department, part of the Cordillera de los Maribios range. The cone of dark basalt rock rises sharply from the surrounding plain and appears almost black against the lighter hills nearby.
Cerro Negro first appeared on 13 April 1850 amid tremors, underground noise and lava projections, and within two weeks had built a cone about 50 metres high. Its 23 eruptions since then include the sub-plinian event of 1923, the ash-heavy eruption of July 1947 that buried León's streets and cathedral terrace, and the 1999 outburst that opened three flank craters. No eruption has occurred since.
Local guides lead tours to the summit and show visitors the dark grey ash fields that shift underfoot with every step. Many travelers rent protective gear before sliding down on boards, an activity that became popular in the region.
The climb to the summit takes about one hour and crosses loose ash and steep terrain. Solid footwear and enough water are necessary, as there is no shade along the way.
The volcano is considered one of the youngest in Central America and last erupted in the 1990s. From the summit, several other volcanoes in the chain are visible on clear days.
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