 Poás Volcano National Park
The major attraction in the Poás Volcano National Park is
the volcano situated in the center of the park- the Poás
Volcano (2704m). There have been three major periods of activity,
1888 to 1895, 1903 to 1912 and 1952 to 1954. The gas emissions from
the volcano led to acid rains from 1989 to 1991. The volcano is not
a threat as of now.
Location
The Park is situated close to San Jose, making it a frequently
visited destination. The drive from San Jose to Poás Volcano
National Park is very beautiful. The idea of the conservation of
the park was the brainchild of Mario Boza, who got impressed with
the idea of Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The
park is spread over a vast expanse of 6500 Hectares.
Flora
The Volcano has a huge crater measuring 1.5 Kilometers in
diameter and 300 meters deep. Due to the poisonous fumes emanating
from the crater, people are not allowed inside the crater. At the
bottom of this crater lies a blue colored lagoon, known as Lagoon
Botos. There is a stunted growth of the forest near the crater.
Quite characteristic of the effects of the acid rains the
vegetation is not only stunted but is black and brown in color. The
vegetation here forms a bizarre sight for the onlookers, with
bromeliads, lichens and mosses twisting and gnarling around trees.
Despite emanating the toxic fumes and acid rains the Volcano is
home to four diverse habitats, which includes areas with scarce
vegetation, a cloud forest, a stunted forest, and an area of
arrayans. The lower slopes of the place don't bear any trace of the
volcanic activity. Infact, they are covered with fruit and flower
farms making for a beautiful trip downhill.
Fauna
The birds one can commonly find here are mountain robin, brown
jay, the resplendent quetzal, fiery throated and other species of
hummingbirds. There are about 79 species of birds that one can find
here. The mammals one can easily spot here are coyotes, skunks,
long-tailed weasels and a few felines.
You can also learn more about the volcanoes at the visitor's
center and the museum it houses. You can also collect souvenirs
from the souvenir shop and collect little souveniers from this
place.
The best time to visit the park is the morning and the best
season to visit it is from January to April. You should carry a
sweater because of the chilly winds and freezing temperatures the
Volcano has even during the daytime.
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