Arenal Volcano 1968 eruption

The Arenal Volcano had remained silent for more than 400 years. In fact it was considered extinct. The local population was calling it a mountain: Cerro Arenal. Sure, it trembled often and sometimes in some places it was feeling hot under the foot.

It was home to farmers and ranchers who worked the land along it's base and a short distance up it's steep slopes.

On Monday July 29, 1968 @ 7:30 AM the Arenal Volcano suddenly and violently erupted and blew a huge hole out the side of the mountain. The Volcano killed 87 people and buried 3 small villages: Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo & San Luís. Eruptions continued for several days and completely covered over 15 square kilometers with rocks, lava and ash. In total the eruptions affected more than 232 square kilometers by damaging crops, property, livestock and forests.

Arenal Volcano eruption 1968 Arenal eruption 1968

To the right: the desolated village of Arenal with it's main street "paved" by the lava was buried a few years later under the waters of Lake Arenal when the dam was built to create a suitable reservoir for the biggest hydroelectric project in Costa Rica.

The volcano at the height of this ferocious activity threw massive amounts of lava and ash and tossed giant rocks weighting several tons some 600 meters per second at more than a kilometer away (2,000 feet/sec. @ .62 mile). The explosions formed three new and active craters.

The Arenal Volcano as been moderately active since then producing tumbling hot rocks, smoke, ash and lava almost every day without causing any further lost of life amongst the local population who now lives at a safe distance from the colossus. The Arenal took away the lives and livelihood of several persons but then gave it back tenfold to many more in becoming one of the most visited natural attraction of Costa Rica, making tourism the main source of income for the region with agriculture still being very important.

See an interesting animation of an explosive eruption with a description of the various stage on the website of the College of Sciences of the San Diego State University (opens in a new window).

Click this image to view a small QuickTime movie of a pyroclastic flow (with sound).
Courtesy of the USGS.

Most recent Arenal Volcano Photos! & screensaver | Arenal Eruption May 22, 2005 Photos | Arenal Eruption May 15, 2005 Photos | September 5th. 2003 eruption