El Pinolero's Website - Volcanoes

STRICLY IMAGES CONTAINS ADDITIONAL PICTURES OF CERRO NEGRO, INCLUDING WHEN IT WAS ERUPTING

Nicaragua's Natural Beauty:
Cerro Negro Volcano

Cerro Negro is one of Nicaragua's natural beauties alright, but it's a very powerful and destructive one. This member of the Maribios Volcanic Range is the most active volcano in the country and as a result, it's been such a headache for the nearby residents.

Cerro Negro, the second-shortest (Masaya is the shortest at 635 meters high) volcano in the country at only 675 meters high, has proven time after time that when it comes to intimidation, height means "nada"(nothing). For many years, this volcano has remained very active. It has given a lot of hard times to the nearby residents, including León City people who live around 20KM but the emission of ash by this volcano still reach them and cover the city's colonial buildings.

What makes Cerro Negro a vey dangerous volcano is that not only it erupts very frequently, but when it does, it does it with such a force. During the last fourty-plus years, it has erupted nine times: three times in the '60s ('60, '68, '69), once in the '70s ('71) and four times in the '90s: '92, '95 twice and its last misdemeanor was in August of '99. Its longest lasting eruption was recorded in '60 when lava flow lasted three months. Most of this volcano's eruptions feature amazing exhibition of lasting lava-fountaning.

An Extreme Volcano

Skateboarding and skiing on Cerro Negro?????? That's right. That's exactly what Mr. Pierre Gédéon and his friends practice, skiing into Cerro Negro's crater and skateboarding on its flank.

elnuevodiario.com.ni

According to an article by El Nuevo Diario, Mr. Gédéon is a French guy living in Nicaragua who loves skiing. When he lived in his homeland, he'd always go to "Monte Blanco", a 4,807 meters high peak in the European Alps but since he is now living in Nicaragua, he really missed his favorite sport. So, he came up with the idea to ski on a volcano. He first tried Cerro Negro and loved it. Now, he even skiis in Momotombo. He comments that skiing into Cerro Negro's crater is just a bit tough, especially because of the gas emission so not anybody can do it. But he definitely recommends skateboarding on Cerro Negro's flanks. He believes it's so safe that a kneepad won't even be necessary.

Now, that's a very extreme sport. Just incase you're reading this, congratulations, Mr. Gédéon, you should definitely appear on "Ripley's Believe it Not". Goodluck and maybe I'll see you in Cerro Negro Volcano!

EXTERNAL LINKS: El Nuevo Diario's article on skiing on Cerro Negro and Momotombo (Spanish): "Volcán adentro y en ¡esquí!" , "A bajar el Momotombo"

Movie of Cerro Negro's Nov. '99 eruption