Lake Arenal, Costa Rica: majestic complement of rainforest scenery!

 Blue sky colored in clear days, Lake Arenal is fringed by emerald mountains, and is a svelte platinum gem of entrancing beauty, enticing camera-toting visitors seeking pleasure in its picture-postcard appeal and proving the adage that a fine jewel is made complete by its setting.

Lake Arenal
Location: Arenal, San Carlos. Costa Rica.
10.53° N 84.93° W (around 95 km north-west of San José)
Activities: Jet-ski, boat tour, windsurf (western side)
Depth: 100-200 ft (average)
Area: 124 sq Km (48 square miles)
Type: Dam reservoir on a natural smaller lake
*Lake Arenal must be enjoyed with safety equipment properly worn if a small boat is used.

Lake Arenal in a clear day.
  Lake Arenal view from rainforest in a December clear day.
  Awesome sunset at Lake Arenal.
  Lake Arenal from space, Arenal volcano is the brown stain at the east side (right)
Satellite photo courtesy of NASA & JPL-Caltech.

 Costa Rica’s largest inland body of water occupies a depression that forms a gap between the Cordillera de Guanacaste and Cordillera de Tilarán. The Lake, covering 48 square miles (124 sq km), lies to the east of the continental divide at an elevation of 1,798 feet (548 m) above sea level. It is topped by mountains shimmering every shade of green in the clear light. To the south and west great carpets of green pasture unfurl down to the cobalt waters. To the north, primary tropical wet forest clambers up the steep slopes, dark and foreboding and raucous with the screeching of monkeys and birds. To the east, reflected in the silvery lake is the black, smocking peak of Arenal Volcano, brooding ominously between fits of pique.

Lake Arenal is a reservoir in Costa Rica, formed by enlarging an existing small lake of the same name by the completion of a dam in 1979. It is located near the Arenal Volcano and the Monteverde cloud forest, at 10.53° N 84.93° W. Lake Arenal is the key driver in a nationwide hydroelectric project that currently produces the majority of electricity for the entire country.[1]. Water depth generally varies between 100 and 200 feet. The communities of "old" Arenal and Tronadora were submerged by the expanded lake.

From November through April the dependable strong winds attract wind surfers to its western end.

Wildlife: Primarily, there are two species of fish in Lake Arenal, the Machaca fish (not to be confused with Machaca food) and Bass. Birds found in the area include the hummingbird and woodpecker. Wetland birds are Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Green Heron and Tiger Heron.

Don't forget that after an intense and active tour day you can enjoy relax in the natural hot springs hotel facilities and get relax, health and beauty at our Fangus Spa Resort.