Turrialba, Active stratovolcano in Cartago Province, Costa Rica.
Turrialba is an andesite volcano in Cartago Province, Costa Rica, rising south of the Santa Cruz settlement with three separate craters near the summit. The highest point reaches 3,340 meters (10,958 feet) and overlooks steep slopes covered with sparse vegetation where volcanic activity has shaped the terrain.
The dormant period lasted until 1996, when steam vents and minor earthquakes signaled a new phase of unrest. Larger eruptions followed from 2010 onward, reshaping the landscape around the craters through ash deposits and gas emissions.
The name comes from a local language referring to the mountain's shape, while surrounding communities have adapted their daily routines to regular ashfalls. Visitors often notice how paths and buildings nearby are covered with a fine grey layer from recent eruptions.
Visitors should use a four-wheel drive vehicle to handle the unpaved roads leading to the park and prepare for rapid weather shifts at higher elevations. Visibility from the summit depends heavily on cloud cover, so early morning visits often yield clearer skies.
On clear days, visitors can see both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea from the summit, a rare geographic feature. The middle crater sometimes shows faint glow after dark when fresh magma circulates near the surface.
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