View source for Chato Volcano

{{Refimprove|date=June 2009}}
{{short description|Volcano in Costa Rica}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Chato Volcano
| photo = Cerro_chato_crater_lake_2.JPG
| photo_caption = Crater Lake of Cerro Chato
| elevation_m = 1140
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence = 
| map = Costa Rica |relief=1
| map_caption = 
| label_position = right
| listing = 
| location = [[Costa Rica]]
| range = [[Guanacaste Cordillera]]
| coordinates = {{coord|10|26|31|N|84|41|17|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = 
| topo = 
| type = [[Stratovolcano]]
| age = 
| last_eruption = ~3500 years ago
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = 
}}

'''Chato Volcano''', sometimes called "Cerro Chato" (Spanish for "Flat Hill"), is an [[inactive volcano]] in northwestern [[Costa Rica]] northwest of [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], in the [[Provinces of Costa Rica|province]] of [[Alajuela Province|Alajuela]], [[Cantons of Costa Rica|canton]] of [[San Carlos (canton)|San Carlos]], and [[Districts of Costa Rica|district]] of [[La Fortuna, San Carlos|La Fortuna]]. It is southeast of the nearby [[Arenal Volcano]].

Cerro Chato is believed to have first erupted 38,000 years ago during the [[Pleistocene]] period and last erupted about 3,500 years ago. One of the lava flows is now the route for [[La Fortuna Waterfall, Costa Rica|La Fortuna Waterfall]]. The hill has two peaks, named Chatito ("little Chato") and Espina ("thorn"). A crater about {{convert|500|m}} wide is filled with green water, making the Laguna Cerro Chato.

[[File:Arenal Volcano with cattle in foreground.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Cerro Chato Volcano, on the left, as seen from La Fortuna. [[Arenal Volcano]] is seen on the right.]]

== Hiking ==

The Costa Rican government has closed the trail to Cerro Chato, making it illegal to climb. This law was passed in 1998 but was not enforced until 2017, encouraging hikers, tour operators and business owners to sell this attraction and tour.  When it was open it was considered a difficult hike and only recommended for hikers in good physical condition. When it rains, the path becomes muddy and even more treacherous, especially when descending into the crater itself. The environmental damage the illegal hiking has caused is the main cause of the closure.

==References==
* [ Profile of Chato Volcano at Costa Rica's Seismic National Network]
* [http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?pid=S0034-77442003000100009&script=sci_arttext Basic limnology of fifty-one lakes in Costa Rica (contains some information on Laguna Cerro Chato)]
* {{cite gvp|vn=345033|title=Arenal}}

{{Volcanoes of Costa Rica}}
{{Mountains of Costa Rica}}
{{Central American volcanoes}}

[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Mountains of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Inactive volcanoes]]
[[Category:Pleistocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Geography of Alajuela Province]]
[[Category:North American 1000 m summits]]