The USGS always thinks all the world's superlatives are in the USA. Kilauea has been erupting almost daily since 1984. Arenal, has been erupting almost daily since 1968 beating Kilauea by a full 16 years! I've been to both and both are worth the visit!
Nice page. Thanks for posting this. I have some old photos of this Mtn.I'l have to dig out. I have to wonder though, did you make it to the top? When I was there (at night) there were pieces of firey-red rock and lava flying into the air and rushing down the slopes as we climbed. Talk about adding a whole new dimension to climbing. A scary hike indeed. Needless to say we did not even try to make it to the top.
Scott, you should clear the 1st link called Eruption Updates, I think it is not about Arenal. Perhaps you may add some other links too, I have found many.
I was just wondering if anyone has successfully climbed Arenal (recently). I intend to visit in April (should still be dry season) and won't be satisfied until I climb it, at least as far as I can go safely. After scouring the internet, I have only found accounts from people who tried and failed to reach the summit. I would love to hear about a success story. And no, there is nothing that anyone can say to deter me from my own attempt. I won't let my experience at other volcanoes delude me into thinking it is safe (I NEVER feel safe on volcanoes), but it certainly will help me reduce the risk.
Secondly, some people were ruminating about the "most active" designation. There really is no consensus amongst volcanologists, but I think there are two schools of thought. The first (which I favour) believe that the designation should go to Kilauea volcano because it constantly pumps out lava, 24/7, and has done so for a quarter-century.
The second school of thought is with Arenal or Stromboli (Italy) or Yasur (Vanuatu) or Sangay (Ecuador), depending on who you ask, all volcanoes that have been active for much longer than 25 years (Stromboli wins this one at 2 millenia I believe). This type of volcano typically undergoes several eruptive episodes an hour.
Contrast this with Kilauea, which has only undergone around 60 eruptive episodes since 1983. Many of them have been short-lived (hours long), but a few have lasted years (e.g. Episode 55 maintained an average lava production of ~300,000 m^3 per day for over 10 years). Because it is usually constantly erupting lava, its activity level is much higher.
Stromboli (and Arenal) depends on gas pistoning to eject lava. Gas builds up in the magma, and eventually breaks free with some material, flying into the air. Then the gas pressure has to build again in order to eject more material. Very inconsistent. Kilauea undergoes pistoning too, but gas pressure is high enough at the baseline condition (before building in a pistoning event), to keep the lava flowing out.
I won’t comment on the rest, but here are some comments below:
Secondly, some people were ruminating about the "most active" designation. There really is no consensus amongst volcanologists, but I think there are two schools of thought.
Agreed and perhaps even much more than two. That's why I added the "according to many sources" part of the claim.
The first (which I favour) believe that the designation should go to Kilauea volcano because it constantly pumps out lava, 24/7, and has done so for a quarter-century.
If that definition is used, the title could possibly actually go to Erta Ale in Ethiopia. It has been constantly pumping lava and has had a permanent lava lake for several decades (at least since 1967, but probably as early as 1906). Since it’s in a little known part of the world, it doesn’t get much attention and you won’t find much info on it.
The second school of thought is with Arenal or Stromboli (Italy) or Yasur (Vanuatu) or Sangay (Ecuador), depending on who you ask, all volcanoes that have been active for much longer than 25 years (Stromboli wins this one at 2 millennia I believe). This type of volcano typically undergoes several eruptive episodes an hour.
All of those could be candidates, plus a few in Indonesia and perhaps Guatemala as well. I have heard that Sangay might be the most active of all, but it’s in a more isolated area than say Arenal or Stromboli. Supposedly there are some really active volcanoes under the ocean as well that could also be candidates. I guess it’s really hard to find a clear definition of most active and it can depend on how it’s measured. It makes good postcard and SP page information.
Scott - Mar 5, 2004 10:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThe USGS always thinks all the world's superlatives are in the USA. Kilauea has been erupting almost daily since 1984. Arenal, has been erupting almost daily since 1968 beating Kilauea by a full 16 years! I've been to both and both are worth the visit!
Johan Heersink - Mar 6, 2004 1:16 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentAnother nice page, Scott!
Gangolf Haub - Mar 6, 2004 4:07 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentVery interesting page, Scott. Thanks for Sharing!
Gangolf
bakcast - Mar 6, 2004 9:19 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentNice page. Thanks for posting this. I have some old photos of this Mtn.I'l have to dig out. I have to wonder though, did you make it to the top? When I was there (at night) there were pieces of firey-red rock and lava flying into the air and rushing down the slopes as we climbed. Talk about adding a whole new dimension to climbing. A scary hike indeed. Needless to say we did not even try to make it to the top.
tlogan - Mar 6, 2004 5:52 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentGreat page! Its nice to see pages from this area . Cheers -Tim-
kletterwebbi - May 11, 2004 3:10 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentNice page, great pictures !
Felsberg - Jun 1, 2004 4:30 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentNice page, and good photos.
Corax - Nov 7, 2004 6:08 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentVery good photos!
When I was there, the peak was never visible. A red glow behind clouds in the night was all I saw of it :-(
Diego Sahagún - Jun 23, 2005 8:28 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentScott, you should clear the 1st link called Eruption Updates, I think it is not about Arenal. Perhaps you may add some other links too, I have found many.
Gracias
chris_2112 - Feb 29, 2008 3:58 am - Hasn't voted
question and commentI was just wondering if anyone has successfully climbed Arenal (recently). I intend to visit in April (should still be dry season) and won't be satisfied until I climb it, at least as far as I can go safely. After scouring the internet, I have only found accounts from people who tried and failed to reach the summit. I would love to hear about a success story. And no, there is nothing that anyone can say to deter me from my own attempt. I won't let my experience at other volcanoes delude me into thinking it is safe (I NEVER feel safe on volcanoes), but it certainly will help me reduce the risk.
Secondly, some people were ruminating about the "most active" designation. There really is no consensus amongst volcanologists, but I think there are two schools of thought. The first (which I favour) believe that the designation should go to Kilauea volcano because it constantly pumps out lava, 24/7, and has done so for a quarter-century.
The second school of thought is with Arenal or Stromboli (Italy) or Yasur (Vanuatu) or Sangay (Ecuador), depending on who you ask, all volcanoes that have been active for much longer than 25 years (Stromboli wins this one at 2 millenia I believe). This type of volcano typically undergoes several eruptive episodes an hour.
Contrast this with Kilauea, which has only undergone around 60 eruptive episodes since 1983. Many of them have been short-lived (hours long), but a few have lasted years (e.g. Episode 55 maintained an average lava production of ~300,000 m^3 per day for over 10 years). Because it is usually constantly erupting lava, its activity level is much higher.
Stromboli (and Arenal) depends on gas pistoning to eject lava. Gas builds up in the magma, and eventually breaks free with some material, flying into the air. Then the gas pressure has to build again in order to eject more material. Very inconsistent. Kilauea undergoes pistoning too, but gas pressure is high enough at the baseline condition (before building in a pistoning event), to keep the lava flowing out.
Scott - Feb 29, 2008 10:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: question and commentI won’t comment on the rest, but here are some comments below:
Secondly, some people were ruminating about the "most active" designation. There really is no consensus amongst volcanologists, but I think there are two schools of thought.
Agreed and perhaps even much more than two. That's why I added the "according to many sources" part of the claim.
The first (which I favour) believe that the designation should go to Kilauea volcano because it constantly pumps out lava, 24/7, and has done so for a quarter-century.
If that definition is used, the title could possibly actually go to Erta Ale in Ethiopia. It has been constantly pumping lava and has had a permanent lava lake for several decades (at least since 1967, but probably as early as 1906). Since it’s in a little known part of the world, it doesn’t get much attention and you won’t find much info on it.
The second school of thought is with Arenal or Stromboli (Italy) or Yasur (Vanuatu) or Sangay (Ecuador), depending on who you ask, all volcanoes that have been active for much longer than 25 years (Stromboli wins this one at 2 millennia I believe). This type of volcano typically undergoes several eruptive episodes an hour.
All of those could be candidates, plus a few in Indonesia and perhaps Guatemala as well. I have heard that Sangay might be the most active of all, but it’s in a more isolated area than say Arenal or Stromboli. Supposedly there are some really active volcanoes under the ocean as well that could also be candidates. I guess it’s really hard to find a clear definition of most active and it can depend on how it’s measured. It makes good postcard and SP page information.
osatrik - Sep 10, 2014 4:05 pm - Hasn't voted
No longer "most active"This page needs edits to reflect no volcanic activity save steam since about 2011-12
Scott - Sep 11, 2014 8:02 am - Hasn't voted
Re: No longerThanks. I updated the page.