Barva Volcano
Encyclopedia
Barva Volcano, sometimes called "Las Tres Marías" is an andesitic
shield complex in central Costa Rica
22 km north of San José
, in the province of Heredia
. It sits on the small agricultural community of Sacramento
.
Barva has a dozen different erruptive spots in the summit and some parasitic cones in the flanks of the mountain. Its three principal summits visible from the Central Valley
give it the common local name of Las Tres Marías (The Three Marys)
Four pyroclastic cones are constructed within the 2 x 3 km caldera at the central and NW part of the summit. The SW peak contains four cones, one of which has a crater lake.
The volcano has not presented any erruptive activity since colonial times. Eruptions were reported around 1760 but later visits to the summit did not provide evidence of eruptions during historical time.
Andesite
Andesite is an extrusive igneous, volcanic rock, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between basalt and dacite. The mineral assemblage is typically dominated by plagioclase plus pyroxene and/or hornblende. Magnetite,...
shield complex in central Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
22 km north of San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, in the province of Heredia
Heredia Province
Heredia is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the north-central part of the country. As a result, the province covers areas as diverse as the agriculture rich Northern plains of San Carlos as well as the more metropolitan areas like the city of Heredia located in the Central Valley...
. It sits on the small agricultural community of Sacramento
Sacramento, Costa Rica
Sacramento de Heredia is a small town in the district of San Jose de la Montana, Barva, Heredia, Costa Rica. It is home to the Braulio Carillo National Park and the Bar y Restaurante Sacramento and is a popular tourist location...
.
Barva has a dozen different erruptive spots in the summit and some parasitic cones in the flanks of the mountain. Its three principal summits visible from the Central Valley
Costa Rican Central Valley
The Central Valley is a plateau and a geographic region of central Costa Rica. The land in the valley is a relative plain, despite being surrounded by several mountains and volcanos, the latter part of the Central Range. The region houses almost three quarters of Costa Ricans, and includes the...
give it the common local name of Las Tres Marías (The Three Marys)
Four pyroclastic cones are constructed within the 2 x 3 km caldera at the central and NW part of the summit. The SW peak contains four cones, one of which has a crater lake.
The volcano has not presented any erruptive activity since colonial times. Eruptions were reported around 1760 but later visits to the summit did not provide evidence of eruptions during historical time.