View source for Turrialba Volcano

{{short description|Volcano in central Costa Rica}}
{{about|the volcano in Costa Rica|the district|Turrialba (district)|the canton|Turrialba (canton)|the national park|Turrialba Volcano National Park|the cheese|Turrialba cheese|other uses|Turrialba (disambiguation){{!}}Turrialba}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Turrialba Volcano
| photo = Turrialba volcano eruption 2014. Costa Rica (3).jpg
| photo_alt = 
| photo_caption = Turrialba volcano while in eruption, October 2014
| elevation = {{convert|3340|m|ft|0}}
| location = [[Cartago Province|Cartago]], [[Costa Rica]]
| map = Costa Rica
| coordinates = {{coord|10|1|5|N|83|45|50|W|type:mountain_region:CR_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range = [[Cordillera Central, Costa Rica|Cordillera Central]]
| type = [[Stratovolcano]]
| age = 1.5 million years
| last_eruption = 2022<ref name="GVP">[http://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=345070 Turrialba] at [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s ''Global Volcanism Program'' website</ref>
| easiest_route = hike
}}

'''Turrialba Volcano''' is an active volcano in central [[Costa Rica]] that has been explosively eruptive in recent years including 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2016/09/19/turrialba-volcano-explosion|title=UPDATE: Eruption of Turrialba Volcano closes airport, launches ash, rocks 4 km high|date=19 September 2016}}</ref> and in January, March and April 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/03/29/turrialba-volcano-ash|title=Ashes from Turrialba Volcano's explosions reach San José, Heredia|date=30 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/01/05/turrialba-update|title=UPDATE: Green alert declared as Turrialba Volcano ashfall intensifies|date=5 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2017/01/30/turrialba-volcano-costa-rica-3|title=Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano resumes vapor, ash explosions|date=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.co.cr/turrialba-volcano-near-cartago-costa-rica-back-action-calm-spell/58805/|title=Turrialba Volcano Near Cartago, Costa Rica Back in Action After Calm Spell - Costa Rica Star News|date=3 April 2017}}</ref> Visitors used to be able to hike down into the main crater, but increased volcanic activity in 2014–17, resulting in large clouds of [[volcanic ash]], led to the closure of the surrounding [[Turrialba Volcano National Park]]. However, with the eruptions subsiding, the park and access to the volcano reopened on December 4, 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zúñiga|first1=Alejandro|title=Costa Rica announces reopening of Turrialba Volcano National Park|url=https://ticotimes.net/2020/11/19/costa-rica-announces-reopening-of-turrialba-volcano-national-park|access-date=19 November 2020|work=The Tico Times|date=19 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ticotimes.net/2020/12/05/after-eight-years-turrialba-volcano-national-park-reopens-to-the-public|title = After eight years, Turrialba Volcano National Park reopens to the public -|date = 5 December 2020}}</ref>

The [[stratovolcano]] is {{convert|3340|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high and is about 45&nbsp;minutes from the [[Atlantic]] slope town of [[Turrialba (district)|Turrialba]]. The summit has three craters, the largest of which has a diameter of {{convert|50|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stater|first=Adam|title=The Turrialba Volcano's Craters|url=http://www.anywherecostarica.com/attractions/national-park/turrialba-volcano}}</ref> 
Turrialba is adjacent to [[Irazú Volcano|Irazú]] and both are among Costa Rica's largest volcanoes. Turrialba has had at least five large explosive eruptions in last 3500&nbsp;years. The volcano is monitored by the [[Deep Earth Carbon Degassing Project]].<ref>{{cite web|title=DECADE Installations at Turrialba and Poás|url=https://deepcarbon.net/feature/decade-installations-turrialba-and-poás#.V-ltH2MomXh|website=Deep Carbon Observatory|access-date=26 September 2016}}</ref>

On clear days both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea can be seen from the summit. Below the summit is a mountain range and [[montane forest]], with [[fern]]s, [[bromeliad]]s, [[lichen]]s and [[moss]]es. Most of the forest is either [[Primary forest|primary]] or [[secondary forest]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Stater|first=Adam|title=Forest Types, Turrialba Volcano|url=http://www.anywherecostarica.com/attractions/national-park/turrialba-volcano}}</ref>

The volcano is named after its [[Canton (country subdivision)|canton]], [[Turrialba (canton)|Turrialba]], in Costa Rica's [[Cartago Province]].  There is no clear consensus on the origin of the name Turrialba, but historians disagree with attempts to attribute the name to the patronym Torrealba (from Aragon in [[Spain]]) or from the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''Turris alba'' (white tower). The general consensus is that Turrialba derives from the local Indian ([[Huetar language]]), but there is no agreement on its actual roots.

==Activity==
* During the 19th century, the volcano erupted and emitted ash several times (1847, 1853, 1855, 1859, 1866), producing [[pyroclastic flow]]s. The last major eruption was in 1866.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2010/enero/08/pais2218168.html|title=El Turrialba ha hecho erupción seis veces en últimos 3.500 años}}</ref>
* Small signs of activity started in 1996.
* In January 2001, the volcano reported increased activity, displaying strong fumarole activity at the central craters. The volcanic activities have increased since 2005. 
* On March 31, 2017, the volcano started to show some activity with ash eruptions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/sucesos/Actividad-sismica-aumenta-volcan-Turrialba_0_1269473155.html |title=Actividad sísmica aumenta en el volcán Turrialba|date=19 May 2012 }}</ref>
* The National Park area opened for visitors was closed from 2009 to 2011.
[[File:Turrialba Volcano cone  Sept 2005.jpg|thumb|right|Turrialba in 2005]]
* On January 8, 2010, a [[phreatic eruption]] occurred, creating a new opening near the crater on the southwest, and the temperature increased from {{convert|200|to|600|C}}. Two villages, La Central and El Retiro, were evacuated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/2010/enero/08/pais2218187.html |title=Erupciones abren dos nuevos cráteres en volcán Turrialba}}</ref>
* In January 2012 a new opening on the west of the crater was created after a phreatic eruption. 
* On April 12, 2012, a small eruption occurred.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/sucesos/Volcan-Turrialba-hizo-pequena-erupcion_0_1262273966.html |title=Volcán Turrialba hizo pequeña erupción|date=13 April 2012 }}</ref>
* On May 21, 2013, at 08:52, a gas explosion widened several openings near the main crater that appeared in 2010 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/sucesos/Erupcion-volcan-Turrialba-ensancho-boquetes_0_1343065767.html |title=Erupción de ceniza en volcán Turrialba ensanchó boquetes|date=22 May 2013 }}</ref>
* In July 2013 researchers found that tremors around the area increased from about twenty earthquakes a day, to up to thirty per hour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/sucesos/desastres/Volcan-Turrialba-paso-sismos-hora_0_1354664571.html |title=Volcán Turrialba pasó de 20 sismos por día a 30 por hora|date=19 July 2013 }}</ref>
* On October 17, 2014, the quantity of tremors increased from around 50-100 a day, to 200 a day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/nacional/salud-publica/Ceniza-Turrialba-toca-millon-habitantes_0_1448455187.html |title=Ceniza del Turrialba alcanza a un millón de habitantes|date=31 October 2014 }}</ref>
* On October 29, 2014, at around 10:10, a tremor started and kept constant, until a phreatic eruption occurred around 23:10 at the west opening that appeared in January 2012. This eruption sent a large amount of volcanic material to areas up to {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} away. Many citizens reported ash falling on their properties and a strong odor of sulphur in the cantons of [[Vázquez de Coronado (canton)|Vázquez de Coronado]], [[Goicoechea (canton)|Goicoechea]], [[Moravia (canton)|Moravia]], [[Desamparados (canton)|Desamparados]], [[Aserrí (canton)|Aserrí]], [[Escazú (canton)|Escazú]], [[Santa Ana (canton)|Santa Ana]], [[Montes de Oca (canton)|Montes de Oca]], [[Tibás]], [[Alajuelita (canton)|Alajuelita]], [[Puriscal (canton)|Puriscal]], [[San José (canton)|San José]] in the province of [[San José Province|San José]], [[La Unión (canton)|La Union]] in the province of [[Cartago Province|Cartago]] and [[Santo Domingo (canton), Costa Rica|Santo Domingo]] and [[Heredia (canton)|Heredia]], in the province of [[Heredia Province|Heredia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/sucesos/desastres/Vecinos-actividad-Volcan-Turrialba-lanzamientos_0_1448255240.html |title=Volcán Turrialba hace erupción y provoca intensa caída de ceniza en los alrededores |date=30 October 2014 |language=es |trans-title=Turrialba Volcano erupts and a lot of ash fell in the surrounding areas}}</ref>

=== March 2015 ===

* On March 12, 2015, eruptions at around 11:00 and 14:12 sent ashes through all the Central Valley, it is regarded as the most significant activity since 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/sucesos/desastres/Volcan-Turrialba-registra-erupcion-importante_0_1474852625.html |title=Volcán Turrialba registra la erupción más importante desde 1996 |date=12 March 2015 |language=es |trans-title=Most important eruption since 1996 registered at Turrialba Volcano.}}</ref> The [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|Juan Suantamaría]] and [[Tobías Bolaños International Airport|Tobías Bolaños]] international airports were closed due to visibility being less than 100 meters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacion.com/nacional/transportes/Cierran-Aeropuerto-Juan-Santamaria-ceniza_0_1474852642.html |title=Cierran Aeropuerto Juan Santamaría debido a caída de ceniza |date=12 March 2015 |language=es |trans-title=Juan Santamaria airport closed due to falling ashes.}}</ref>
* On March 13, 2015, an eruption occurred at 21:07.

=== May 2015 ===

* On May 4, 2015, an eruption occurred at 15:24.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/05/04/costa-ricas-turrialba-volcano-erupts-ash-expected-in-san-jose | title=Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano erupts, forcing capital airport to temporarily close | date=4 May 2015 }}</ref>

[[Image:Turrialba Volcano Sept 2005.jpg|thumb|530px|left|The three craters of the volcano, the oldest one is to the right, the newest and most active is to the left.]]
[[Image:Unrest at Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|Turrialba emits a translucent plume of volcanic gases in this natural-colour satellite image.]]
{{clear left}}

===May 2016===
An eruption occurred on May 21, 2016. It was characterized by one resident as the largest since 2010. Ash fell as far away as the capital, San Jose, and at least 500 people went to hospitals complaining of breathing problems. Flights into San Jose were cancelled due to concerns about ash.<ref>
{{cite news
| title        = Volcano ash covers Costa Rica towns
| url          = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36348904
| newspaper    = BBC
| location     = London
| access-date  = 2016-05-21
}}</ref>

===September 2016===
On September 19, at 02:54 an eruption lasting around fifteen minutes was the first event of many through the day that eventually covered the metropolitan area with ash.  There were events at 11:30, 14:40, 15:34.

The events continued through September 20 with an eruption at 06:20.

Airports in the metropolitan area were closed.<ref>
{{cite news
| title        = Eruption of Turrialba Volcano closes airport launches ash, rocks 4 km high
| url          = http://www.ticotimes.net/2016/09/19/turrialba-volcano-explosion
| newspaper    = Tico Times
| location     = Costa Rica
| access-date  = 2016-09-20
}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of volcanoes in Costa Rica]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite gvp|vn=345070|name=Turrialba}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Turrialba volcano}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100212231201/http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/vulcanologia/volcanes/turrialba.htm Costa Rican Vulcanologic and Seismologic Observatory: Turrialba]
*[http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/index.php/camaras/v-turrialba Webcam of the Vulcanological and Seismological Observatory of National University of Costa Rica].

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

[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Active volcanoes]]
[[Category:Mountains of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Geography of Cartago Province]]
[[Category:North American 3000 m summits]]