C. Campbell_Week 4_Volcanoes_Poás Volcano

Poás Volcano

This week I traveled to the beautiful Poás Volcano in Cost Rica. It is a stratovolcano, meaning it was built up by many layers of hardened lava. It also had the typical steep conical slope of a stratovolcano, unlike the less common shield volcanoes which are low lying and resemble a shield. 

Poás Volcano, Costa Rica

Poás is a unique volcano in that it has two crater lakes near its summit. The northern lake, Laguna Caliente, or hot lagoon, is one of the most acidic lakes in the world! There are signs posted that no visitor may stay in excess of 20 minutes due to its acidic fog!! 

Laguna Caliente

The southern, Lake Botos, fills an inactive crater which last erupted in 7500 BC. It has cool, clear water and is surrounded by a luscious green cloud forest...it is a breathtaking sight and one that vacillates between life and death depending on the side of the cone you are on. 

Lake Botos

Stratovolcanoes are known for their periodic intervals of explosive and effusive eruptions and in September of 2019, Poás sent a 2km column of ash and solid material spewing into the skies. Given it's explosive history, I took no chances! I got my pictures and got outta there!