La Fortuna, Costa Rica
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Description
La Fortuna is the name of a district and a small city located in San Carlos canton, in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. The town is named for the fertile lands ("The Fortune") where it is located. However, its name is well place for another reason. In 1968, the Arenal Volcano erupted to the west, causing extensive damage and casualties, including 82 deaths. The eruption, however, did not reach the village of La Fortuna which had the good fortune of staying safe. This catastrophe, nonetheless, changed the geography of whole region, making it one of the most visited tourist destinations of Costa Rica. La Fortuna is less than 10 kilometres (6 mi) from the 5,480 feet (1,670 m) peak of Arenal and less than 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Arenal Volcano National Park entrance, which is west of the peak, whereas La Fortuna is east of the peak. Arenal Volcano is often cited by scientists as being in the top 10 or top 20 of the world's most active volcanoes. Picture © Credits iStock/Tiago_Fernandez
