Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-09-14
Costa Mca,s ht1znc Re41o1 20
HE earth's crust underlying
Costa RIGA and the whole of
Central America is one Of
mother earth's great labOra-

Central America is one Of
mother earth's great labora'
tories. The chemical work
that is going on uninterruptedly deep
below her glorious mountains is made
evident to the inhabitants of the coun-
try by the numerous volcanoes and
warm springs, as we'll as by the almost
ceaseless upheaving of the soil, mostly
in tremors imperceptable to the SEN
SEES, but also occasionally in powerful
and destructive connections.
The mountains of Costa RIGA are
divided into two main systems. The
southeastern system; which has one
peak of 12,467 feet elevation, is at
present without volcanoes, although
its skeleton is formed mainly by old
eruptive rocks. The peaks Of the
northwestern system; of less develop
ment and elevation, are mostly active
or semi.active craters, the base Of
which IS geologically Of very recent
origin This chain begins with the
conical peak OF Turrialba, which rises
In an uninterrupted slope from the
plains Of Santa Clara, about 1000 feet
above sea-level, to the towering height
of 1906 feet. Its beautiful crater,
forming a narrow. elongated basin,
is constantly active, strong current
of sulphuric and aqueous vapors,
| mixed with sand, escaping noisly from
broad vent at it's .westermost extrem-
ity. The only known violent eruption
of this volcano, however, took place
in 1869, when 1t poured forth huge
! quantities Of stones and fine sand, the
latter of which were carried by the
trade-winds westward to Punta Ar
enas and further away over the Pa
cific ocean.
Within close proximity of Turrialba
is Irazdu, about $50 feet higher, and
far better known ON account Of the
faculty with which it is reached on
horseback from Carriage. This vol
cano shows three large extinct era
tiers, and, far down on its northern
slope, numerous solfataras and hot
water springs. 1t enjoys the unde-
served reputation Of being the one
point from which both the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans are visible at the
same time-a popularity that In re-
ality is shared by Turrialba and sew.
eral other points of vantage along
the ridge of the southeastern system.
Its historical eruptions took place in
1923. 1926, 1921, 1922, 1874, and 1847,
eingularly enough in each instance.
except the first (which began IN Feb
ruary), during the month IF May.
The eruption of 1847 was simultaneous
with heavy earthquakes, which were
felt from Rivas in Nicaragua to the
city of Panama.
The Worlds Biggest Geyser.
From Irazdu the range continues
westward until it Peaches Poas. a pic
turesque mountain with a geyserian
crater, photographed for the first time
By the writer In 1888, and which
seems to have shown of late an I'm.
usual activity coincident with the long
series of Qaakes that have. Just
afflicted Costa RIGA.
Geysers, or hot water volcanoes are
the world, and have been often stud
led and described. It is therefore
no doubt matter Of surprise to many
readers to learn that the highest and
By fer the most formidable of them
is not located in Iceland. nor in the
Yellowstone National park, nor in
New Zealand, but in the little Re
public of Costa Rica, on the northern
harder of Panama.
Poas has at least two craters. The
higher one on the pyramidal top OF
the mountain is extinct and filled by
a marvellous sheet of blue, cold wa.
ter, framed in an exuberant border
of semi-tropical vegetation; the 9th.
err crater, 1000 feet lower showing
a. its bottom lead-colored lagoon, is
surrounded by almost vertical jagged
walls OF gray pumice and other erup
tive materials. This is a geyserian
basin, the eruptions OF which occur al
irregular intervals of from ~ to 20
minutes or more, and with variable
intensity. At times the water, which
tastes like strong vinegar, is hardly
disturbed; at other times a heavy
column accompanied bF dense clouds
'of vapor surges to variable height
creating 9 furious tempest on the usu
ally placid lake s.5.5
The volcanic cordillera Of Costs
,RicA ends the sonth westsrn extrsm.