Fumarolic activity continued within the small crater lake, concentrated at the three fumarole groups (to the SE, NE, and NW). Extensive sulfur exhalation and precipitation continued. The strongest activity was noted in the NW group of fumaroles, which formed an E-W-trending line. One of the fumaroles produced emissions of primarily SO₂ gas, while others produced a jet aircraft sound, and two had orange flames. Temperatures of fumaroles on the top of the 1953-55 dome, S of the crater lake, were stable at <92.5°C.

Geological Summary. The broad vegetated edifice of Poás, one of the most active volcanoes of Costa Rica, contains three craters along a N-S line. The frequently visited multi-hued summit crater lakes of the basaltic-to-dacitic volcano are easily accessible by vehicle from the nearby capital city of San José. A N-S-trending fissure cutting the complex stratovolcano extends to the lower N flank, where it has produced the Congo stratovolcano and several lake-filled maars. The southernmost of the two summit crater lakes, Botos, last erupted about 7,500 years ago. The more prominent geothermally heated northern lake, Laguna Caliente, is one of the world's most acidic natural lakes, with a pH of near zero. It has been the site of frequent phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions since an eruption was reported in 1828. Eruptions often include geyser-like ejections of crater-lake water.

Information Contacts: G. Soto, ICE.