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Volcano Dossier•GVP #345040
10.20°N, 84.23°W
Erupted since 2000

Volcano Poas

One of Central America's most visited volcanoes, with a crater lake among the most acidic on Earth. A 2017 eruption destroyed the visitor viewpoint and closed the national park for more than a year, and strong eruptions returned in 2025.

Last eruption

2026

Erupted since 2000

Summit

2.7 km

Stratovolcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Activity

Normal Baseline

1 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Live camera: Poas

Third-party livestream. The view may be dark at night, hidden by cloud, or temporarily offline.

Source: Extra TVOpen on YouTube

Recent seismicity within 50 km

1 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

TimeMagnitudeEpicenter / PlaceDistance
11h agoM3.4COSTA RICA (UCR)11 km
13h agoM2.5COSTA RICA (UNA)13 km
17h agoM2.5COSTA RICA (UNA)4.1 km
11d agoM3.2COSTA RICA (UCR)13 km
11d agoM3.1COSTA RICA (UCR)16 km
14d agoM3.3COSTA RICA (UCR)21 km
14d agoM2.7COSTA RICA (UNA)18 km
21d agoM3.1COSTA RICA (UCR)36 km
26d agoM3.1COSTA RICA (UNA)22 km
28d agoM2.7COSTA RICA (INET)27 km
30d agoM2.5COSTA RICA (UNA)47 km
37d agoM3.3COSTA RICA (UNA)36 km
37d agoM2.8COSTA RICA (UNA)48 km
37d agoM2.9COSTA RICA (UNA)48 km
37d agoM2.7COSTA RICA (UNA)47 km
37d agoM2.7COSTA RICA (UNA)49 km
37d agoM2.5COSTA RICA (UNA)49 km
37d agoM2.8COSTA RICA (UNA)47 km
37d agoM2.6COSTA RICA (UNA)48 km
37d agoM2.6COSTA RICA (UNA)48 km
38d agoM2.6COSTA RICA (UNA)29 km
38d agoM2.8COSTA RICA (UNA)31 km
40d agoM3.0COSTA RICA (UNA)48 km
48d agoM3.8COSTA RICA (UNA)40 km
48d agoM2.5COSTA RICA (UNA)20 km
53d agoM4.218 km WSW of Guápiles, Costa Rica33 km
53d agoM4.218 km WSW of Guápiles, Costa Rica33 km
58d agoM3.4COSTA RICA (UCR)28 km
58d agoM3.1COSTA RICA (UCR)27 km
65d agoM3.5COSTA RICA (UCR)34 km
65d agoM2.5COSTA RICA (UNA)37 km
65d agoM4.218 km SW of Guápiles, Costa Rica37 km
65d agoM4.6COSTA RICA36 km
65d agoM4.910 km NNW of Cot, Costa Rica42 km
84d agoM3.6COSTA RICA (UCR)38 km
86d agoM3.0COSTA RICA (INET)44 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcano

Poas is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeStratovolcano
Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite
TectonicsSubduction zone
Volcanic ArcCentral America Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #345040

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryCosta Rica
Crater Coordinates10.200°, -84.233°
Summit2.7 km
SubregionCentral America Volcanic Arc
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#345040)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →
Seismic ObservatoryGSN / FDSN
Global Seismographic Network & Regional Centers
Official Portal
ICAO Aviation Ash Center
ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Network
International Civil Aviation Organization
VAAC Advisory Desk
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Poas recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2026.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile