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Volcán Irazú looms high above Cartago, Costa Rica, but is easily accessed by car or bus. Over several centuries, Volcán Irazú has periodically devastated Cartago, the capital San Jose and the surrounding countryside with its eruptions. The most recent major eruption came in 1963, as U.S. President John F. Kennedy was visiting the country. This eruption severely damaged agriculture and houses in the region. The geology of the area also causes frequent earthquakes: in 1910, the city of Cartago was completely destroyed by a major earthquake.
It is difficult to tell from the picture, but the temperature was around 40° F with very high winds driving ash from the large crater behind me. I was wearing shorts because it was about 70° F when I left Cartago; the pummeling ash was very painful and I was terribly cold, even with my fleece jacket. The summit of the volcano was completely covered with thick clouds except for the approximately three minute span during which this panorama was taken.
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