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15-508: Due to its height and the narrowness of the isthmus of Panama, it is possible (though relatively rare) to see both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea from Volcán Barú's peak on a clear day. The small town of Volcán at the base of Volcán Barú sits on the remnants of a huge lahar that appears to have breached the caldera. A small river has eroded the lahar exposing an ancient forest below dated to about 1000 years old. Volcán Barú

30-648: A particularly advantageous shortcut for marine transport. For example: Volcano junco The volcano junco ( Junco vulcani ) is a New World sparrow endemic to the Talamancan montane forests of Costa Rica and western Panama . This junco breeds above the timberline, typically at altitudes above 3,000 m, but there is an isolated population at 2,100 m on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica and forest clearance on Cerro de la Muerte has allowed this species to descend to 2,600 m. The habitat

45-540: A response system in preparation for the eventual onset of an eruptive episode. The volcano was declared Volcán Barú National Park in 1976, with an area of 14,325 ha (35,400 acres). It is a part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor . Fauna include the black guan , black-and-white hawk-eagle , Underwood's water mouse , volcano junco , wrenthrush , and yellow-thighed brushfinch . Over 250 species of birds have been identified within

60-509: Is an isthmus that consists of a spit or bar , and a strait is the sea counterpart of an isthmus, a narrow stretch of sea between two landmasses that connects two larger bodies of water. Isthmus and land bridge are related terms, with isthmus having a broader meaning. A land bridge is an isthmus connecting Earth's major land masses. The term land bridge is usually used in biogeology to describe land connections that used to exist between continents at various times and were important for

75-485: Is another trail to the top of the volcano, but this is long, steep and strenuous. Both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea can be seen from the summit on a clear day. Isthmus An isthmus ( / ˈ ɪ s m ə s , ˈ ɪ s θ m ə s / ; pl. : isthmuses or isthmi ) is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water by which they are otherwise separated. A tombolo

90-515: Is evidence that during the last eruption, which occurred in the 16th century, the debris avalanche deposits covered a volume of 20 to 30 km, reaching as far as the Pacific Ocean (the largest documented in Central America and nearly 10 times the area covered by the Mt. St. Helens debris avalanche in 1980 ). Data collected at several locations from four previous eruptions which occurred during

105-458: Is open grassy or brushy areas with some stunted scrubs. The nest is a neat, lined cup constructed on the ground under a log, bush or rock, or in a cavity on a vegetated bank. The female lays two brown-spotted pale blue eggs. The volcano junco is on average 16 cm long and weighs 28 g. The adult has brown upperparts with dark streaking especially on the back. The wings and tail feathers are dark fringed. The underparts are grey. The sides of

120-470: Is surrounded by a fertile area of cool highlands drained by the Chiriquí Viejo and Caldera Rivers. The towns of Volcán and Cerro Punta can be found on its western side, while Boquete is on the eastern flank. The occasional fall of hail or ice pellets has been reported on the summit, where the minimum temperature can be below 0 °C (32 °F) and the formation of frost is frequent during

135-538: The dry season. The peak is host to a large installation of broadcast towers. De Boer et al. were the first to show that El Barú volcano is active and part of the extension of the Central American Volcanic Arc in Panama. Further detailed work on the geochemistry of the lavas from El Barú and other volcanoes in Panama was completed by Defant et al. They substantiated, based on geochemistry, that

150-825: The last 1600 years indicate that a new eruption would last several years, putting at risk population and costly infrastructure in the areas surrounding the volcano. Typical events during such volcanic episodes include pyroclastic flows , super-heated gas clouds rapidly descending the volcano's east flank, conceivably reaching as far as Boquete, Alto Boquete, and the Caldera River, and fallout of ash and other particles ranging in size from dust to 1-meter blocks, known as tephra , causing fires, roof collapses, water contamination, crop damage and eye and lung irritation, especially among elders and infants. A third type of event, mud and debris flows, known as lahars , create landslides, obstruct rivers courses, and could have long-term effects in

165-481: The lavas were derived by subduction (calc-alkaline). Radiometric dates also showed that the volcanism falls into two groups that range from 20 million years to recent. They also showed that the youngest volcanism consists primarily of adakites (partial melts from the subducted slab) whereas the older volcanism is normal calc-alkaline lavas. In 2006, an earthquake swarm was registered in the Volcán Barú area. This

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180-796: The migration of people and various species of animals and plants, e.g. Beringia and Doggerland . An isthmus is a land connection between two bigger landmasses, while a peninsula is rather a land protrusion that is connected to a bigger landmass on one side only and surrounded by water on all other sides. Technically, an isthmus can have canals running from coast to coast (e.g. the Panama Canal ), and thus resemble two peninsulas; however, canals are artificial features distinguished from straits . The world's major isthmuses include: Of historic importance were: The cities of Auckland , Madison , Manila , and Seattle are located on isthmuses. Canals are often built across isthmuses, where they may be

195-485: The park, and all five species of big cats live here as well. The national park protects a range of habitat, including humid montane forests, low humid montane forests, and montane rainforests. The park's most popular hiking trail is the Sendero Los Quetzales (Los Quetzales Trail), which connects Boquete with Cerro Punta and wraps around the side of the volcano. The trail takes around 6 hours to hike. There

210-478: The zone. The severity of these events is directly related to the lava flows and their interaction with underground water deposits. A comprehensive set of maps is included with the study, clearly showing the most likely affected areas in Boquete , Volcán , Bambito and other towns in vicinity of the Volcán Barú. The study recommends local authorities should make the population aware of the potential risks, and create

225-512: Was not the first one; researchers cite at least three other seismic events of the same nature recorded in the recent past (1930, 1965, 1985). In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey ( USGS ), in cooperation with Panama's Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat ( SENACYT ) and the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ), published a study on different aspects of Volcán Barú. The 33-page report outlined potential hazard areas, rock composition, and areas affected by previous eruptions; there

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