Where on Earth? - April 2016

by The American Geosciences Institute
Friday, April 1, 2016

Click to enlarge photo.

Clues for April 2016:

  1. This 85-square-kilometer lake stretches to the northwest of one of Earth’s most active volcanoes, a 1,670-meter-tall andesitic stratovolcano that began forming about 7,000 years ago and most recently erupted in an episode lasting from 1968 to 2010.

  2. The volcano, part of a subduction zone-formed arc, is located in the north of a tropical isthmus nation renowned for its ecotourism. This lake in particular is a popular spot year-round for windsurfing and fishing.

  3. A 157-megawatt hydroelectric dam built in 1979 raised the lake’s surface by more than 40 meters, forcing nearby villages to relocate. Today, the dam provides roughly 10 percent of its home country’s electricity.

Name the lake and its location.

Scroll down for the answer

Answer: Lake Arenal in Costa Rica, an 85-square-kilometer lake northwest of Arenal Volcano, which most recently erupted from 1968 to 2010, is a popular spot for windsurfing and fishing. A hydroelectric dam built in 1979 raised the lake’s surface by more than 40 meters, forcing nearby villages to relocate. Photo is by Eric Youth.

April Winners: Antonio Arribas (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Richard Blair (Crescent City, Calif.) Pamela Bruder (San Diego, Calif.) Jim Patterson (Tofino, British Columbia, Canada) Chris Scott (Brentwood, Tenn.)

Visit the Where on Earth? archive.

EARTH also welcomes your photos to consider for the contest. Learn more about submitting photos here.


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