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NEARBY ECOLOGICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
- Volcán Irazú:
Its name derives from Iztarú,
an Indian word meaning "mountain of tremors and thunder". Rising 11,260 ft
(3,432 m), Irazú´s prime distinction is that it is one of the
worlds few volcanoes that can be viewed up close with ease. During 1963-65, the
last eruptions traumatized the region, affecting farming in San José,
Alajuela and the Heredia provinces. The volcano poured five inches of ash on
San José in 1964 and devastated its province of Cartago, on more than
one occasion, but it also has had a beneficial effect: the very ash that wreaks
devastation is also responsible for the fertility of the soil.
- Guayabo National Monument:
It is the nation´s most famous
archaeological site. It is thought to have originated around 1,000 BC, thrived
between 800 and 1300 AD, and declined thereafter. It was abandoned about 1400
AD. The circular mounds (montículos) here once supported large
buildings. Some of the stones in the walkways (calzadas) are decorated with
petroglyphs, and there´s also a large boulder carved with representations
of the crocodile and the jaguar, both indigenous deities. This park also
protects the surrounding premontane rainforest, the Guayabo River Canyon of 539
acres (218 ha) where you can walk on a nature trail.
- Tapanti National Park:
It offers nature trails full of exotic
vegetation, quetzals, lots of birds, jaguars and ocelots. Approximately 150
streams and rivers run through the 12,577-acre (5,090 ha) park, some good for
swimming. This park is very important because it supplies water to many
communities including San José province, capital of Costa Rica.
- Jardines Lánkester:
This is an orchid garden run by the
University of Costa Rica. Originally a private garden run by British orchid
enthusiast Charles Lankester. It has over 800 species of orchids. Apart from
orchids there are fruit trees, groves of bamboo, aloe, hardwoods, bromeliads
and other species.
- Orosi Valley:
This river valley southeast of Cartago is famous for
its beautiful views, colonial buildings, hot springs, swimming pools, the lake
formed by a hydroelectric damming project, coffee plantations and the national
park Tapanti. The Orosi town, located in the middle of the valley and named
after a Huetar Indian chief who lived here at the time of the conquest, is one
of the few colonial towns to survive Costa Rica´s frequent earthquakes.
It boasts an attractive church built in the first half of the 18th century -
probably the oldest church still in use in Costa Rica. Another old church is
the 17th century church from Ujarrás village, damaged by the flood of
1833 and abandoned.
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