← ExploreHistorical note During the 1963–1965 eruptions of Irazú Volcano, the spectacle of an active volcano drew large numbers of visitors. Families and tourists drove remarkably close to the crater to watch and photograph the eruptions, a practice that was even promoted as a tourist attraction. This photograph captures that striking proximity: parked cars and groups of people watch an eruption from a short distance away. The danger of these visits became clear in 1964, when several explosions killed and injured people near the crater, leading to greater restrictions on access. Keywords strong perspectivehuman figure for scalepanoramic viewbacklightingcrowddistant human figurelight reflectiondeep depth of fieldmonumentalitydynamismwalkingunposedlooking / observingstanding
Visitors Watching the Eruption
Volcán Irazúca. 1964Francisco Coto
© Francisco Coto Archive
