It was really nice riding the bus with Laura because 1: she knew where we were going and 2: she knew a lot about the areas we were in.
I had heard that Lago Arenal was significantly enlarged after the volcano erupted in the 60s and that it was used as a hydroelectric source of power for Costa Rica. I had not heard that it provided most of the water for the dry regions to the north or that it was man made.
I also had not heard that there was a town underneath! Apparently when Arenal erupted, most of the people in the nearby town of Arenal died. Even though there wasn't that much damage to the town itself (the gasses, ash and smoke were enough to wreak havoc), no one wanted to move back because of the bad memories. Some people even thought it was cursed. So, the ICE, which is the electricity monopoly here, bought up all the land and damed up a nearby river, putting the entire town underwater!
When it is really dry and the water is low, you can supposedly see the church steeple out in the middle of the lake and the graves of a cemetery near shore (many are above ground cement deals here). An underwater ghost town - pretty creepy!
Tilaron, which is the big town on the other side of the lake, has a large hill that they suspect to be a dormant volcano. You can see the volcanic rock all over it and there are tons in the area, so it's possible that it is. To protect and bless themselves, the people of the town erected a huge cross on top of it. I'd be worried to, especially if I had lived long enough to see what Arenal had done to my neighbors!
Lastly, a picture of of some of the hundreds of wind turbines in the area. They are also owned by ICE and work really well because it is ALWAYS very windy in that region. It has something to do with the lay of the land and the added flat expanse of lake. Lake Arenal is supposed to be one of the best places for wind surfing in the world.
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