Editing Arenal Volcano (section)

==Geographic setting and description==
Arenal is one of seven historically active Costa Rican volcanoes along with [[Poás Volcano|Poás]], [[Irazú Volcano|Irazú]], [[Miravalles Volcano|Miravalles]], [[Orosí Volcano|Orosí]], [[Rincón de la Vieja Volcano|Rincón de la Vieja]] complex, and [[Turrialba Volcano|Turrialba]]. It was Costa Rica's most active volcano until 2010, and one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world. It has been studied by [[seismologists]] for many years. The volcano is located at the center of [[Arenal Volcano National Park]] in the northern zone of the country, {{convert|15|km|mi}} southwest of the [[La Fortuna, San Carlos|La Fortuna]] district in [[San Carlos (canton)]], [[Costa Rica]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arenal.net/arenal-volcano-overview.htm|title=Arenal Volcano Costa Rica overview|publisher=Arenal.net|access-date=2015-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613055201/http://www.arenal.net/arenal-volcano-overview.htm|archive-date=2015-06-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Arenal Volcano area is an important [[drainage divide|watershed]] for the [[Lake Arenal|Arenal Lake Reservoir]]. The reservoir's water is used for [[hydroelectric power]]. It is also connected to the national system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arenal.net/lake-arenal-dam.htm |title=Lake Arenal Dam - Costa Rica |publisher=Arenal.net |access-date=2015-06-19}}</ref>

Arenal has several eruptive vents.<ref>{{cite web |date=1968-07-29 |title=Arenal &#124; Volcano World &#124; Oregon State University |url=http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/arenal |access-date=2015-06-19 |publisher=Volcano.oregonstate.edu}}</ref> [[Chato Volcano|Chato]] is a dormant [[stratovolcano|stratovolcanic cone]]. It is believed that Chato first erupted 38,000 years ago during the [[Pleistocene]] period and last erupted about 3,500&nbsp;years ago.<ref name="GVP" /> Chatito is a [[lava dome]] with an elevation of {{convert|1100|m|ft|0}}. Espina is another lava dome.<ref name="GVP" />

A study published in 2022 analyzed the long-term eruptive behavior of Arenal Volcano, which remained active from 1968 until 2010. The study identified Arenal as an open-vent system, meaning that magma was consistently supplied to the surface without major explosive events. Researchers examined how magma ascent, degassing, and structural changes influenced the volcano’s eruptive patterns. The study also suggested that while Arenal is currently dormant, future activity is likely due to its persistent magmatic supply.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mora |first=Mauricio M. |last2=Lesage |first2=Philippe |last3=Taylor-Castillo |first3=Waldo |last4=Vergniolle |first4=Sylvie |last5=Fourel |first5=Loïc |last6=Soto |first6=Gerardo J. |date=2022-06-06 |title=Evolution and dynamics of the open-vent eruption at Arenal volcano (Costa Rica, 1968–2010): what we learned and perspectives |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-022-01570-8 |journal=Bulletin of Volcanology |language=en |volume=84 |issue=7 |pages=66 |doi=10.1007/s00445-022-01570-8 |issn=1432-0819|hdl=10669/87316 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

[[File:CostaRica Arenal Volcano (pixinn.net).jpg|center|thumb|800px|Arenal Volcano with Lake Arenal on the left.]]