Chato Volcan, Dormant volcano near La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Chato Volcan is a dormant volcano near La Fortuna in Costa Rica with a summit reaching approximately 1140 meters high. Its crater holds green-colored water and spans about 500 meters across.
The volcano formed around 38,000 years ago during the Pleistocene period, with its last eruption occurring roughly 3,500 years ago. Since then, the mountain has remained quiet with no further volcanic activity.
The volcano holds significance as a local landmark that shapes how people see the landscape around La Fortuna. The two peaks, called Chatito and Espina, are points of reference that visitors recognize and that appear in stories told about this region.
The trails leading up to the volcano have been closed since 1998 for environmental protection and safety reasons. Visitors can view the formation from a distance and explore the surrounding area without accessing the mountain itself.
The lava flows from this volcano carved natural pathways long ago that now lead toward the La Fortuna Waterfall. These two natural features are linked through their shared geological history.
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