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Volcano

and Arenal Lake

 

The mountains on the bottom is actually the Arenal volcano. Until the 29th july 1968 in the early morning, the Arenal was a quiet mountain, covered from a luxuriant vegetation. The volcano had been inactive for three thousands years. That day it had a spectacular renewed trembling : the earth started to shake, some panaches of ash rised up in the sky and refell in the forest ; the washer-women who had the harms immersed in the river felt the water becoming boiling. A incandescent lava flow rushed down the volcano.
After its trembling, the volcano didn't stop being active, as you can see from its perfect cone that didn't have the time neither to start the erosion process, nor to be taken away from an explosion. The Arenal volcano hangs its 1600 metres of slopes over the village.

When you reach the top, it's a spectacular. But it always depends from the weather. When it's cloudy, you'll have the impression to surf the steam clouds which are thrown out from the volcano, still red in the face with anger.

 

 

And between two clouds, you'll see a charming lake. Beware: it's prohibited to have a swim. The temperature is terribly hot and the water is not so welcoming. The colour of the water is so strange that you've the impression it's the result of a photomontage...

 

 

In this area you'll find several natural saunas and hot clay, that is rich in trace elements and with which you can cover your entire body. You'll find also the famous "pailas", a kind of boiling clay geyser which can raise the temperature of 108 degrees. Be careful not to put inside your fingers or your feet, contrary to what certain tourists can say: in fact it's really dangerous and can cause serious burns.