# Tenorio Volcano

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**Tenorio Volcano** (Spanish: *Volcán Tenorio*) is an inactive [andesitic](/source/Andesite) [stratovolcano](/source/Stratovolcano) in the southeasternmost part of the [Cordillera de Guanacaste](/source/Cordillera_de_Guanacaste) volcanic mountain range in northwestern [Costa Rica](/source/Costa_Rica).[1][2] It is the main geographical feature of the eponymous [Tenorio Volcano National Park](/source/Tenorio_Volcano_National_Park).[3]

## Geology

It is composed of four volcanic peaks and twin craters Tenorio and Montezuma.[4] The formation occupies 225 square kilometres (87 sq mi).[5]

Tenorio, the principal peak, has three craters in the central cone, while Montezuma, to the north, has two.[5] Tenorio's summit is 1,916 metres (6,286 ft) high,[6] while Montezuma's is 1,513 metres (4,964 ft).[7] Lava flows descend to the northeast from Tenorio's northwestern-to-southwestern flank.[6] The Biguana lava domes lie on the northern flank[6] at 700 metres (2,300 ft).[7] The [volcanic cones](/source/Volcanic_cone) Cerro Barrera and Olla de Carne are at elevations of 720 metres (2,360 ft) and 454 metres (1,490 ft), respectively.[7] The southeastern flank features a number of small, inactive parasitic cones.[1]

There are no known eruptions during the [Holocene](/source/Holocene) epoch (about 11,700 years ago to the present).[6] Weak earthquakes were detected in 1997 and 1998, the latter consisting of 170 with magnitudes ranging from 0.9 to 3.3.[8]

## Feasibility of geothermal power generation

The *[Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad](/source/Instituto_Costarricense_de_Electricidad)* (Costa Rican Institute of Electricity) conducted an evaluation of the country's geothermal resources between November 1987 and October 1988; Tenorio was selected as one of three high-priority areas.[9] In 1999–2000, two exploratory wells were dug to evaluate its potential as a source of [geothermal power](/source/Geothermal_power), with disappointing results.[10][11]

## References

1. [*Geomorphology and Volcanology of Costa Rica*](https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Geomorphology_and_Volcanology_of_Costa_R/L8_8DAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Tenorio+volcano&pg=PA166&printsec=frontcover). Elsevier. 2017. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-12-812067-5. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. McGonigle, Andrew; Aiuppa, Alessandro; Bobrowski, Nicole; Tassi, Franco; Viveiros, Fátima (eds.) (2020). [*Recent Advances in Volcanic Gas Science*](https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Recent_Advances_in_Volcanic_Gas_Science/0rfLDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Tenorio+volcano&pg=PA7&printsec=frontcover). Frontier. p. 7. ISBN 978-2-88963-382-1. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. Alvarado Induni, Guillermo. *Los volcanes de Costa Rica*. Editorial de la Universidad Estatal a Distancia. pp. 92–98. ISBN 978-9968-316-79-8.

1. "Tenorio"

1. ["Tenorio: Geological Summary"](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=345031). [National Museum of Natural History](/source/National_Museum_of_Natural_History). Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. ["Tenorio: Eruptive History"](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=345031). National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. ["Tenorio: Synonyms & Subfeatures"](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=345031). National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. ["Tenorio: Latest Activity Reports"](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=345031). National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. Dagoberto Herrera Cabezas (1990). ["Gravity and Magnetic Assessment of the Tenorio Area, Costa Rica"](https://gogn.orkustofnun.is/unu-gtp-report/UNU-GTP-1990-07.pdf). p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. Moya, Paul & Mainieri, Alfredo. ["Geothermal Energy Development in Costa Rica"](https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Geothermal_Energy/xVJNAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Tenorio+volcano&dq=Tenorio+volcano&printsec=frontcover). p. 46. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

1. Kim, Esther E. (1 May 2000). ["Geothermal power in Central America: A case study of the Miravalles Project, Costa Rica"](https://web.mit.edu/10.391J/www/proceedings/Geothermal_Kim2000.pdf). p. 21. Retrieved 16 May 2026.

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