Northern Region
 |
Northern Region! Between volcanoes and rainforests! Forests where quetzals take refuge, fertile plains, and volcanoes looming in the distance characterize the northern landscape.
The four volcanic giants who reign over this region are Rincón de la Vieja, Tenorio, Miravalles and Arenal. At their feet, there are places full of life and enchantment to discover The Arenal Volcano National Park is located in the northern region of Costa Rica, on the north side of the Tilaran Range. The park area covers parts of three counties: Tilaran, San Carlos, and San Ramon, and its extension is 2.920 hectares. The Arenal volcano is active and has been showing lava flows for over thirty years.The lava flows and incandescent rocks are observed together with explosions of molten rocks and cinder, accompanied by thundering noises and gases, all within the normal range of its volcanic activity. The volcano’s eruptions are not dangerous for tourists, who must keep a distance and whose visits are regulated by the Park rangers. The Arenal volcanic range is also an important hydrologic resource, since its waters feed the Arenal Lake, which is utilized for the production of hydroelectric power and for other agricultural activities in the Moracia district.
The park is also important for the protection of many animal and plant species, typical of the Pre-Mountainous and Rain forests, which are, of course, of great tourist and scientific value. This park shows the three main biological zones: the Pre-Mountainous forest, the Rain Pre-Mountainous forest, and the Lower Mountain Rain forest.In these three zones one may find some of the most typical species of trees, such as: “guayabo de monte”, laurel, “cocobolo”, “nispero”, balsa trees, and many others.Concerning animal species, the most common are: the “tepezcuintle”, the tapir, the “pizote”, the sloth, the jaguar, deer, birds such as parrots, parakeets, quetzals; snakes, such as the parrot-snake, the bushmaster and the boa constrictor.
|
