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Platanar

Photo of this volcano
  • Costa Rica
  • Stratovolcano(es)
  • Unknown - Evidence Credible
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 10.3°N
  • 84.366°W

  • 2267 m
    7438 ft

  • 345034
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: March 1997 (BGVN 22:03) Citation IconCite this Report

Dormancy continues but S-flank residents felt six earthquakes on 30 March

On 30 March 1997 residents in the S-flank settlement of San Vicente felt about six earthquakes between 0900 and 2100. One of these earthquakes took place at 1429; it was M 2.7 and its epicenter was 5 km SE of the volcano. No residents in other nearby settlements (Porvenir, Sucre, and Quesada) reported feeling these earthquakes.

About 10 days after the earthquakes, two dry-tiltmeters, measured every 2-3 years, showed differing results. One showed great changes but had been disturbed; the other, which was considered more reliable, had changed little. An April 1980 seismic swarm near Platanar, attributed to a local fault, continued for 2-3 weeks.

Information Contacts: E. Fernández, E. Duarte, V. Barboza, R. Van der Laat, E. Hernandez, M. Martinez, and R. Sáenz, Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA), Apartado 86, 3000 Heredia, Costa Rica.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Platanar.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

06/1969 (CSLP 44-69) Increased fumarolic activity and rumblings reported

01/1993 (BGVN 18:01) No significant deformation since 1987

01/1994 (BGVN 19:01) Seven years of dry-tilt measurements show no change

03/1997 (BGVN 22:03) Dormancy continues but S-flank residents felt six earthquakes on 30 March




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


June 1969 (CSLP 44-69)

Increased fumarolic activity and rumblings reported

Card 0568 (04 June 1969) Increased fumarolic activity and rumblings reported

The following is from a cable received on 3 June. "New or increased fumarolic activity together with earth rumblings reported by municipal authorities at Cerro Platanar . . . . Although close to Quesada immediate area of volcano extremely inaccessible. Such activity appears to be unusual."

Information Contacts: Richard Berg, American Embassy, San José, Costa Rica


January 1993 (BGVN 18:01) Citation IconCite this Report

No significant deformation since 1987

Dry-tilt data have shown no significant changes since 1987.

Information Contacts: E. Fernández, J. Barquero, R. Van der Laat, F. de Obadía, T. Marino, and R. Sáenz, OVSICORI; M. Martini, Univ di Firenze, Italy.


January 1994 (BGVN 19:01) Citation IconCite this Report

Seven years of dry-tilt measurements show no change

OVSICORI reported in January 1994 that two dry-tilt inclinometers installed in 1987 have thus far showed insignificant changes.

Information Contacts: E. Fernández, J. Barquero, R. Van der Laat, F. de Obaldia, T. Marino, V. Barboza, and R. Sáenz, OVSICORI.


March 1997 (BGVN 22:03) Citation IconCite this Report

Dormancy continues but S-flank residents felt six earthquakes on 30 March

On 30 March 1997 residents in the S-flank settlement of San Vicente felt about six earthquakes between 0900 and 2100. One of these earthquakes took place at 1429; it was M 2.7 and its epicenter was 5 km SE of the volcano. No residents in other nearby settlements (Porvenir, Sucre, and Quesada) reported feeling these earthquakes.

About 10 days after the earthquakes, two dry-tiltmeters, measured every 2-3 years, showed differing results. One showed great changes but had been disturbed; the other, which was considered more reliable, had changed little. An April 1980 seismic swarm near Platanar, attributed to a local fault, continued for 2-3 weeks.

Information Contacts: E. Fernández, E. Duarte, V. Barboza, R. Van der Laat, E. Hernandez, M. Martinez, and R. Sáenz, Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional (OVSICORI-UNA), Apartado 86, 3000 Heredia, Costa Rica.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

The Global Volcanism Program is not aware of any Holocene eruptions from Platanar. If this volcano has had large eruptions (VEI >= 4) prior to 10,000 years ago, information might be found on the Platanar page in the LaMEVE (Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions) database, a part of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Platanar.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Platanar.

Photo Gallery

The Platanar volcanic complex on the horizon is the NW-most volcano in the Cordillera Central of Costa Rica. The complex consists of Platanar and Porvenir, which formed within the Chocosuela caldera. This view is from the east with the Hule maar, located about 11 km north of the Poás summit, in the foreground.

Photo by Mike Carr, 1983 (Rutgers University).
Platanar volcano is within of the Juan Castro Blanco National Park, located NW of the more well-known Poás volcano. Volcán Platanar and Volcán Porvenir were constructed along a N-S line in the western part of the park within Chocosuela caldera, which formed as a result of major explosive eruptions during the late Pleistocene.

Photo by Guillermo Alvarado (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad).
The Aguas Zarcas group of nine basaltic scoria cones is located on the northern flank of the Platanar-Porvenir complex. These cones lie 10-17 km behind the volcanic front of Costa Rica.

Photo by Paul Kimberly, 1998 (Smithsonian Institution).
The Platanar summit crater is to the upper right of this photo taken from the south. Holocene lava flows are on the western flank.

Photo by Federico Chavarria Kopper, 2004.
Volcán Platanar rises above farmlands to the north. The summit is also known as Cerro Congo after the howler monkeys occupying its slopes. It lies about 8 km SE of the city of Quesada at the northern end of the Palmira-Chocosuela-Platanar volcanic complex.

Photo by Eliecer Duarte (OVSICORI-UNA).
The Viejo-Porvenir complex is seen here rising above farmlands NE of the massif. The Viejo peak is on the left and Porvenir on the right.

Photo by Eliecer Duarte (OVSICORI-UNA).
GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 25 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number Sample Description Lava Source Collection Date
NMNH 116066-399 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-401 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-403 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-405 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-408 Augite-Hypersthene Andesite -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-410 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-411 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-412 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-413 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-414 Tephra -- 23 Apr 1985
NMNH 116066-467 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-468 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-469 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-471 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-473 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-474 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-475 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-476 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-477 Altered Volcanic Rock -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-478 Volcanic Rock -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-479 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-480 Lapilli -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-481 Pumice -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-482 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
NMNH 116066-483 Tephra -- 1 May 1985
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