Turrialba Volcano National Park was created by Article 6 of Law No. 1917 of July 30, 1955, published in Official La Gaceta 175 of August 9 of that year, indicating that its perimeter is given by 1.24 miles (2 km) in diameter around the active crater, which gives a total of 1256 hectares.
Its name comes from the Spaniards who called in the first time: Torre Blanca (White Tower) or Torre Alba.
Currently it has volcanic activity that began in the 80s and gradually increase to January 5, 2010, when the first eruption happened, generating gas and dust mainly; since that time it is taken as active, reporting a new eruption on January 12, 2012.
In 2013 new eruptions within the normal range of activity were reported, without causing major risks or damage, they were primarily exhaust gas and ashes in a low proportion, the largest one happened on May 21, resulting in the largest volume of material and gases expulsion, so far.
During the morning of October 29, 2014, it was presented a strong eruption, with several subsequent minor eruptions occurring in the morning and next day, forcing to move all emergencies agencies in the canton and a national level alert, due the great expulsion of gases and ash magnitude.
On March 12, 2015 three eruptions of large dimensions are presented, which even forced the closure of Juan Santamaria International Airport by the expulsion of large amounts of gases and ash containing juvenile material, reporting for the first time the output of magma, determining its entry to a new activity stage.
During October 2015, it entered into a period of shorter eruptions, but with a higher level of explosiveness.