Turrialba Volcano
Updated: Apr 22, 2025 06:07 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Costa Rica, 10.03°N / -83.77°W 
Summit height: 3340 m (10,958 ft)
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 19 Mar 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Turrialba volcano seen from Irazu
Turrialba (3340 m) is the easternmost of Costa Rica's active volcanoes. It is a large stratovolcano with a complex of 3 summit craters and its flanks mostly covered by farmland and forest. vegetation. After its previous eruption in 1866, signs of unrest started in 2006 and new phreatic activity began on Jan 4, 2010.
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Turrialba volcano eruptions: 1723(?), 1847(?), 1853, 1855, 1861(?), 1864-65, 1866, 2010 (Jan 4) - ongoing
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 10:24 pm (GMT -6) | 2? 99 km | 23 km (14 mi) to the SW | Costa Rica (unconfirmed) | Info | |
| Apr 13, 10:24 pm (Costa Rica) | 3.5 75 km | 26 km (16 mi) to the W | 10 km east of San Jose, San Jose, Costa Rica | Info | |
| Sunday, April 13, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 13, 01:50 pm (Costa Rica) | 4.0 11 km | 11 km (7.1 mi) to the E | Cartago, 46 km east of San Jose, San Jose, Costa Rica 9 reports | Info | |
| Friday, April 11, 2025 GMT (3 quakes) | |||||
| Apr 11, 12:34 pm (GMT -6) | 2.4 9 km | 20 km (12 mi) to the W | 9 km Al Norte De Cascajal, V. De Coronado. | Info | |
| Apr 11, 06:34 am (Universal Time) | 2? 23 km | 24 km (15 mi) to the W | Costa Rica (unconfirmed) | Info | |
| Apr 11, 01:02 am (Universal Time) | 2? 1 km | 5.8 km (3.6 mi) to the SE | Costa Rica (unconfirmed) | Info | |
Background
Turrialba is the easternmost of Costa Rica's active volcanoes and a large vegetated basaltic-to-dacitic stratovolcano. It is located opposite Irazú volcano, both being separated by a broad saddle.Together with Irazú, Turrialba is one of Costa Rica's largest volcanoes. During the past 3500 years in prehistoric times, it has had at least 5 larger explosive eruptions. The top of Turrialba has 3 craters at the upper SW end of a broad 800 x 2200 m wide summit depression breached to the NE.
Eruptions from Turrialba occurred mostly from the summit craters, although two flank cones are found on the SW flank. During the 19th century, a few eruptions occurred that produced pyroclastic flows. Since an eruption in 1866 and until 2006, Turrialba was quiescent, but showed strong fumarolic activity at the central craters.
Since 2006, increased fumarolic and seismic activity were noted. On Jan 4, 2010, two new vents that later merged into a fissure aligned along the tectonic trend of the summit area opened in its western crater and started to erupt large amounts of sulphur dioxide gas and occasional lithic ash. This phreatic activity was accompanied by strong tremors and continued for a few days, but declined since Jan 8. Ash fall in the surroundings of the volcano and acid rain caused damage to agriculture and prompted evacuation of about 30 inhabitants living in the immediate vicinity of the volcano.
Significant volcanic eruptions: Turrialba volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Turrialba has had at least 21 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 14 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 4 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Turrialba volcano.
Additionally, there are 4 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Turrialba volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Turrialba volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Turrialba can be found on the news page of Turrialba volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| Cráter Central, Cráter Oeste Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
| West Crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| West Crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| West Crater (SE flank) Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| West Crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs. | 2 | |||
| SW crater Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
| Central and SW summit craters Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
| Central and SW summit craters Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1 | |||
| ? | |||||
| ? | |||||
| Central summit crater | 4 | ||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Turrialba Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Turrialba volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Turrialba occurred in 2022.
+How often does Turrialba volcano erupt?
Since 1853, Turrialba volcano has had at least 14 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 12.3 years.
Many eruptions of Turrialba have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 18 out of 172 years until now. In other words, Turrialba has been active at least one in 9.6 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Turrialba is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.
+How active is Turrialba volcano at present?
Turrialba volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 13 eruptions, and been active during 13 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Turrialba has been in eruption one in 9.7 years on average. The last eruption was in 2022 and ended 3 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Turrialba volcano?
The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Turrialba volcano occurred around 40 AD. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
Turrialba Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Turrialba volcano (scale of few kilometers)
