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Welcome to Cerro Chato Eco Lodge on Arenal Volcano AreaArenal Volcano Mountain Hotel with excellent view in La Fortuna Transportation / Transfer's Service from San José's Hotels to Arenal Volcano Airport' Pick Up service Travel Packages and Bird Watching Tours All you need is here!! www.geocities.com/cerrochatocr |
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Welcome... Located at the base of the Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica (2.5 kms. from La Fortuna, on the road to Catarata Río's Fortuna and only 15minutes by car from Tabacón's Hot Springs) with a spectacular view of the southeast side of the volcano, we have the advantage of being at a slightly higher altitude than La Fortuna, thus cooler. Also, we are off the main road enough to avoid the sound of grinding gears that are audible from almost all other hotels. The rooms are very spacious (32m2) with 1 double and 1 single bed, a large private bath with hot water, screened windows, ceiling fans, verandas with table and chairs, and landscaped grounds abundant with tropical flowers and birds. Full breakfast, available lunches, horse rental, laundry, internet service and secure parking lot. With us you will have the opportunity to enjoy and learn from Costa Rica’s mix of cultures. Come to know how tourism can be a positive influence on local communities. By hiring local guides, patronizing locally owned restaurants and lodges, and buying local handicrafts, you can help convince residents that wild and historical places are worth saving. We collaborate with conservation organizations and government agencies to find ways to improve Costa Rica’s environmental programs. The lodge provides information about local tours: Bird Watching, Horseback Riding to the Waterfall, Canopy Adventure, Arenal Volcano, Mountain Biking, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Hiking to Cerro Chato Lake, Boat Trip to Monteverde across the Arenal Lake, Arenal Reserve, Venado Caves, White Water Rafting, Tabacón Hot Springs Resort and more. Owner/Proprietor, Miguel Zamora, is fluent in English, knowledgeable, and very helpful to guests directing them to attractions in the area and throughout Costa Rica. If you are looking for the perfect place to rest, relax and enjoy yourself, then you have found it. The Activity of Arenal Volcano Estimated to be less than 3,000 years old, Arenal is a geologically young volcano. During the various cycles of its life activity has been characterized by an alternating of an explosive, effusive phase with one of weak, explosive activity. Major events in recent history begin with the 1968 killer eruption. July 29, 1968 At 7:20 AM "Cerro" Arenal--as it was called by local residents--began explosive activity that literally blew the west side off the volcano. Two villages at the foot of the volcano-- Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacón--were completely destroyed and 78 people died. Between July 29 and 31 three new craters were formed on the western flank of the volcano and a fifteen-square kilometer area (5.8 square miles) was devastated. June, 1975 During this month a period of explosive activity resulted in four strong explosions that blew large amounts of ash into the sky. The ash was carried as far away as Tilarán, 26 kilometers (16 miles) distant. There were also several burning avalanches originating in the top crater that were channeled by the valley of the Tabacón River on the northwestern flank of the volcano. June, 1984 After a period of high effusive activity of intermittent lava flows, a new explosive phase began with 3 to 20 explosions per day of low to moderate magnitude. These explosions of steam, water, gases, and ash reached altitudes of up to 5 kilometers where winds again carried the material across the Arenal reservoir (Lake Arenal) and over the town of Tilarán. August, 1993 This month saw expulsions of pyroclastic flows (ash and rock of no more than one centimeter that appear when the rock breaks apart). Some 500 of the larger, one-centimeter size fell near the thermal pools of Tabacón Resort. March, 1996 Since this month the volcano has produced regular lava flows, accompanied by intermittent explosions of gases. Until May 5, 1998 this was the regular activity of the volcano. May 5, 1998 (This information is based on reports in the Costa Rica daily La Nación after the Tuesday eruption) Arenal Volcano experienced a series of large eruptions on Tuesday afternoon, May 5, 1998. The first was recorded at 1:05 PM local time (US Central Standard Time). In that explosion. part of the northwest wall of the crater fell away. Large amounts of lava, rock and ash issued from the volcano in this explosion. Another eruption took place at 2:20 PM local time with material falling from the same area of the volcano. A specialist with the Costa Rica Volcanic and Seismic Observatory explained that what occurred Tuesday is relatively frequent with this volcano. On this occasion the amount of lava within the crater was great and therefore more material left the crater. Also, this time there was a landslide (avalanche) as part of the crater wall fell away on the northwest side. This volcano produces similar phenomena periodically, although this time it was much larger than usual. As a normal precaution, authorities declared a red alert, closed the road between La Fortuna and Tilarán which runs around the north side of the volcano, and evacuated approximately 450 people (mostly tourists) from the immediate area which includes several hotels and tourism oriented businesses. There were no reports of injuries from the volcanic activity. At 5:20 PM on Tuesday the volcano was still discharging material, but activity had decreased significantly. May 7 update Tuesday's eruptions damaged two square kilometers and burned a 400 by 100- meter area of green forest on the side of Arenal. A fissure in the wall of the crater 500 meters long by 10 meters deep was also opened up. All this material slid down the side of the volcano. Experts say there is currently a risk of avalanches of this loose, accumulated material, especially when the heavy rains begin. During Tuesday's episode there were a total of 23 eruptions between 1:05 PM and 7 PM local time, after which the volcano returned to its normal state. During this time there were only two major eruptions of gases. The area around Arenal Volcano is a high-risk zone--this volcano has been active for the past 30 years with regular eruptions providing tourists excellent displays of nature's awesome power. The volcano has become an important tourist attraction for Costa Rica. Several hotels, restaurants and other tourist-oriented ventures have sprung up very close to Arenal in recent years. Referring to this explosion of tourism infrastructure, volcanologist Jorge Barquero of the Costa Rica Volcanic and Seismic Observatory stated that Arenal's activity on Tuesday is normal in an active volcano like this one, but what is not normal is that man has developed construction in such a high-risk zone. Barquero also commented that in this incident the volcano was telling us that just like this eruption, there could be others of greater magnitude at any moment, possibly with regrettable consequences. May 31 addendum After the eruption of May 5, Arenal returned to its typical occasional rumblings. Authorities reported no unusual behavior and the national park was reopened the same week. Local volcanologists continue to keep a close watch on the volcano and park rangers continue to vigorously enforce the safety perimeter. |
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