Active volcanoes of the world. Volcanoes: characteristics and types

10 biggest and dangerous volcanoes on the ground.

A volcano is a geological formation that arose due to the movement of tectonic plates, their collision and the formation of faults. As a result of collisions of tectonic plates, faults are formed, and magma comes to the surface of the Earth. As a rule, volcanoes are a mountain, at the tip of which there is a crater, which is the place where the lava comes out.

Volcanoes are divided into:

- operating;
- sleeping;
- extinct;

Active volcanoes are those that have erupted in the short term (approximately 12,000 years)
Dormant volcanoes are called volcanoes that have not erupted in the near historical perspective, but their eruption is practically possible.
Extinct volcanoes include those that have not erupted in the near historical future, however, the top has the shape of a crater, but such volcanoes are unlikely to erupt.

List of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world:

1. (Hawaii, USA)

Located in the islands of Hawaii, it is one of the five volcanoes that make up the islands of Hawaii. It is the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume. It contains over 32 cubic kilometers of magma.
The volcano formed about 700,000 years ago.
The last volcanic eruption occurred in March 1984, and it lasted more than 24 days, causing great damage to people and the surrounding area.

2. Taal Volcano (Philippines)

The volcano is located on the island of Luzon, belonging to the Philippine Islands. The crater of the volcano rises 350 meters above the surface of Lake Taal and is located almost in the center of the lake.

The peculiarity of this volcano is that it is located in the crater of a very old extinct mega volcano, now this crater is filled with lake water.
In 1911, the most powerful eruption of this volcano occurred - then 1335 people died, within 10 minutes all life around the volcano died at a distance of 10 km.
The last eruption of this volcano was observed in 1965, which led to 200 human casualties.

3. Merapi Volcano (Java Island)

The name of the volcano in the literal sense is the Mountain of Fire. The volcano has been systematically erupting over the past 10,000 years. The volcano is located near the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the population of the city is several thousand people.
It was the most active volcano among the 130 volcanoes in Indonesia. It was believed that the eruption of this volcano led to the decline of the Hindu Kingdom of Matarama. The peculiarity and horror of this volcano is the speed of magma propagation, which is more than 150 km / h. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 2006 and claimed 130 lives and made more than 300,000 people homeless.

4. Santa Maria Volcano (Guatemala)

It is one of the most active volcanoes of the 20th century.
It is located at a distance of 130 kilometers from the city of Guatemala, and is located in the so-called Pacific. Ring of Fire. The Santa Maria crater was formed after it erupted in 1902. About 6,000 people died then. The last eruption occurred in March 2011.

5. Volcano Ulavun (Papua - New Guinea)

Ulawun volcano, located in the region of New Guinea, began to erupt from the beginning of the 18th century. Since then, eruptions have been recorded 22 times.
In 1980, the largest volcanic eruption occurred. The ejected ash covered an area of ​​more than 20 square kilometers.
Now this volcano is the highest peak in the region.
The last volcanic eruption occurred in the year 2010.

6. Volcano Galeras (Colombia)

The Galeras volcano is located near the border of Ecuador in Colombia. One of the most active volcanoes in Colombia, it has been systematically erupting over the past 1000 years.
The first documented volcanic eruption occurred in 1580. This volcano is considered the most dangerous because of its sudden eruptions. Along the eastern slope of the volcano is the city of Paphos (Pasto). Paphos is a residence for 450,000 people.
In 1993, six seismologists and three tourists died during a volcanic eruption.
Since then, the volcano has erupted every year, claiming thousands of lives and making many people homeless. The last volcanic eruption occurred in January 2010.

7. Volcano Sakurajima (Japan)

Until 1914, this volcanic mountain was located on separate island very close to Kyushu. After a volcanic eruption in 1914, a lava flow connected the mountain to the Ozumi Peninsula (Japan). The volcano was named as Vesuvius of the East.
It serves as a threat to the 700,000 people of Kagoshima City.
Since the year 1955, eruptions have occurred every year.
The government even built a refugee camp for the people of Kagoshima so they could find shelter during the volcanic eruption.
The last volcanic eruption occurred on August 18, 2013.

8. Nyiragongo (DR Congo)

It is one of the most active, active volcanoes in the African region. The volcano is located in Democratic Republic Congo. The volcano has been monitored since 1882. Since the beginning of observations, 34 eruptions have been recorded.
The crater in the mountain serves as a holder for the magma fluid. In 1977, there was a major eruption, neighboring villages were burned by hot lava flows. The average speed of the lava flow was 60 kilometers per hour. Hundreds of people died. The most recent eruption occurred in the year 2002, leaving 120,000 people homeless.



This volcano is a caldera - the formation of a pronounced rounded shape with a flat bottom.
The volcano is located in the Yellow National Park of the United States.
This volcano has not erupted for 640,000 years.
The question arises: How can it be an active volcano?
There are claims that 640,000 years ago, this super volcano erupted.
This eruption changed the terrain and covered half of the US in ash.
According to various estimates, the volcanic eruption cycle is 700,000 - 600,000 years. Scientists expect this volcano to erupt at any time.
This volcano could destroy life on Earth.

Undoubtedly, the active volcanoes of the world are one of the most fascinating and beautiful and at the same time frightening natural phenomena. These geological formations played one of the key roles in the formation of the Earth. Millennia ago, there were a huge number of them throughout the planet.

Today, there are few volcanoes that are still active. Some of them frighten, delight and at the same time destroy entire settlements. Let's see where the most famous active volcanoes are located.

Llullaillaco

A typical stratovolcano (has a layered, conical shape) with a height of 6739 m. It is located on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Such a complex name can be interpreted in different ways:

• "water that cannot be found, despite a long search";
• "soft mass that becomes hard."

On the side of the Chilean state at the foot of the volcano is national park with the same name - Lullaillaco, so the surroundings of the mountain are very picturesque. During the ascent to the top, tourists meet donkeys, many species of birds and guanacos living in natural conditions.

There are two routes to get to the crater:

• northern - duration 4.6 km, the road is suitable for travel by car;
• southern - duration 5 km.

If you are going on foot, bring special shoes and an ice ax as there are snowy areas along the way.

Interesting fact! During the first ascent in 1952, an ancient Inca repository was discovered on the mountain, and in 1999, the mummies of a girl and a boy were found near the crater. According to scientists, they became ritual victims.

The strongest eruptions were recorded three times - in 1854 and 1866. The last eruption of an active volcano happened in 1877.

San Pedro

The giant with a height of 6145 meters is located in the Andes, in the northern part of Chile near Bolivia on the Western Cordillera. The peak of the volcano rises above the longest body of water in Chile - Loa.

San Pedro is on the list of the highest active volcanoes. For the first time, it was possible to climb to the crater in 1903. Today it is a unique attraction in Chile, which attracts thousands of tourists from different corners peace. In the 20th century, the volcano reminded of itself 7 times, the last time in 1960. For more than half a century, San Pedro has been like a bubbling cauldron that could explode at any moment. At the foot there are signs that warn that it is only possible to climb to the crater in a mask that protects against toxic emissions.

Interesting:

• San Pedro is one of the few giant volcanoes that has remained active to this day. Many giants are recognized as extinct.
• San Pedro's neighbor is the San Pablo Volcano. It is located to the east and its height is 6150 m. The two mountains are connected by a high saddle.
• The inhabitants of Chile tell many legends associated with the San Pedro volcano, since each eruption in the past was considered a heavenly sign and had mystical significance.
• For the descendants of migrants from Spain and local indigenous people, the volcano is a source of constant and considerable income.

El Misty

Among all the active volcanoes in the world on the map, this one is rightfully considered the most beautiful. Its summit is sometimes covered with snow. The mountain is located near the city of Arequipa, its height is 5822 meters. The volcano is notable for the fact that on its top there are two craters with diameters of almost 1 km and 550 m.

There are unusual parabolic dunes on the slopes. They appeared as a result of constant winds between El Misti and Mount Cerro Tacune, they stretch for 20 km.

The first active action of the volcano was recorded during the migration of Europeans to latin america. The strongest, devastating catastrophe occurred in 1438. In the 20th century, the volcano showed activity of varying degrees several times:

• In 1948 for half a year;
• in 1959;
• steam emissions were observed in 1985.

Scientists in Peru concluded a few years ago that the seismic activity of the volcano is gradually increasing. This leads to earthquakes, which are not uncommon in this area. Considering that El Misti is located near a large settlement in Peru, this makes it a rather dangerous active volcano.

popocatepetl

Located in Mexico, the highest point reaches 5500 m above sea level. On the territory of the state, this is the second highest mountain peak.

The Aztecs believed that worshiping the volcano would bring rain, so offerings were regularly brought here.

Popocatepetl is dangerous because many cities are built around it:

• the capitals of the states of Puebla and Tlaxcal;
• the cities of Mexico City and Cholula.

According to scientists, during its history, the volcano erupted more than three dozen times. The last eruption was recorded in May 2013. During the disaster, the airport of the city of Puebla was closed, and the streets were covered with ash. Despite the hidden danger, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the volcano every year. different countries the world to admire the scenery, listen to the legend and enjoy the majesty of the mountain.

Volcano Sangay

Sangai is rightfully included in the top ten active volcanoes, which are the most powerful in the world. The mountain is in South America, its height is 5230 meters. In translation, the name of the volcano means “awe-inspiring” and this fully reflects its behavior - eruptions are a frequent occurrence here, and sometimes stones weighing 1 ton fall from the sky. On the top of the mountain, covered with eternal snow, there are three craters with a diameter of 50 to 100 meters.

The age of the volcano is about 14 thousand years, the giant has been especially active in recent decades. One of the most destructive activities was recorded in 2006, the eruption lasted more than a year.

The first ascent took almost 1 month, today tourists travel in comfort, by car, people overcome the finish line on mules. The journey takes several days. In general, the journey is assessed as quite difficult, so few dare to climb to the crater. Tourists who have conquered the mountain feel a strong smell of sulfur and are surrounded by smoke. As a reward, an amazing landscape opens up from the top.

The volcano is surrounded by the Sangay National Park, whose area is more than 500 hectares. In 1992, UNESCO listed the park as endangered. However, in 2005 the object was delisted.

Interesting fact! Three of the highest volcanoes in Ecuador are located in the park area - Sangay, Tungurahua and El Altar.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

The volcano is the highest on the territory of the Eurasian continent - 4750 meters, and its age is more than 7 thousand years. Klyuchevskaya Sopka is located in the central part of Kamchatka, there are several other volcanoes nearby. The height of the giant increases after each eruption. There are more than 80 side craters on the slopes, so several lava flows are formed during the eruption.

The volcano is one of the most active in the world and declares itself regularly, approximately once every 3-5 years. The duration of each activity reaches several months. The first happened in 1737. During 2016, the volcano was active 55 times.

The most serious disaster was recorded in 1938, its duration was 13 months. As a result of the cataclysm, a crack 5 km long was formed. In 1945, the eruption was accompanied by a serious rockfall. And in 1974, the active actions of Klyuchevskaya Sopka led to the explosion of the glacier.

During the 1984-1987 eruption, a new peak formed, and ash plumes rose 15 km. In 2002, the volcano became more active, the greatest activity was recorded in 2005 and 2009. By 2010, the height of the mountain exceeded 5 km. In the spring of 2016, another eruption took place for several weeks, accompanied by earthquakes, lava flows and ash emissions to a height of up to 11 km.

mauna loa

The eruption of this huge volcano can be observed from anywhere in Hawaii. Mauna Loa is located in an archipelago formed as a result of volcanic activity. Its height is 4169 meters. The peculiarity is that the crater is not round, so the distance from one edge to the other varies within 3-5 km. The inhabitants of the island call the mountain Long.

On a note! Many guides on the island take tourists to the Mauna Kea volcano. It is indeed a little higher than Mauna Loa, but unlike the latter, it is already extinct. Therefore, be sure to specify which volcano you want to see.

The age of Mauna Loa is 700 thousand years, of which 300 thousand it was under water. Record active actions of the volcano began only in the first half 19th century. During this time, he reminded himself more than 30 times. With each eruption, the size of the giant increases.

The most devastating disasters occurred in 1926 and 1950. The volcano destroyed several villages and the city. And the eruption in 1935 was reminiscent of the plot of the legendary Soviet film The Crew. The last activity was recorded in 1984, for 3 weeks lava poured out of the crater. In 2013, several earthquakes occurred, which indicate that the volcano may soon again show what it is capable of.

We can say that scientists are showing the greatest interest in Mauna Loa. According to seismologists, the volcano (one of the few in the world) will continuously erupt for another million years.

Cameroon

Located in the republic of the same name, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. This is the highest point of the state - 4040 meters. The foot of the mountain and its lower part are covered tropical forests, there is no vegetation at the top, there is a small amount of snow.

Within the territory of West Africa it is the most active volcano of all active on the mainland. Over the past century, the giant showed himself 8 times. Each eruption resembles an explosion. The first mention of the catastrophe dates back to the 5th century BC. In 1922, volcanic lava reached the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The last eruption occurred in 2000.

Good to know! The best time to climb is December or January. In February, an annual competition is held here - the Race of Hope. Thousands of participants climb to the top, competing in speed.

Kerinci

The highest volcano in Indonesia (its height reaches 3 km 800 meters) and the highest point in Sumatra. Located in the central part of the island, southbound from the city of Padang. Not far from the volcano is Keinci Seblat Park, which has the status of a national park.

The depth of the crater is more than 600 meters; there is a lake in its northeastern part. A strong eruption was recorded in 2004, when a column of ash and smoke rose 1 km. The last serious catastrophe was recorded in 2009, and in 2011 the activity of the volcano was felt in the form of characteristic shocks.

In the summer of 2013, the volcano threw out a column of ash 800 meters high. Residents of nearby settlements hastily packed up and evacuated. Ashes painted the sky gray, and the air smelled of sulfur. It took only 30 minutes, and several villages were covered with a thick layer of ash. Fears were caused by tea plantations, which are located near the volcano and also suffered as a result of the disaster. Fortunately, after the event, heavy rain fell, and the consequences of the eruption were washed away.

This is interesting! Climbing to the crater takes 2 to 3 days. The route is laid through dense forests, most often the road is slippery. To overcome the path, you will need the help of a guide. In history, there were cases when travelers disappeared, setting off on a journey on their own. It is best to start climbing in the village of Kersik Tua.

Erebus

Active volcanoes on every continent (except Australia) attract the attention of scientists and tourists. Even in Antarctica there is one of them - Erebus. This volcano is located to the south of other objects that are the subject of seismological research. The height of the mountain is 3 km 794 m, and the size of the crater is a little more than 800 m.

The volcano has been active since the end of the last century, when a station was opened in the state of New Mexico, its employees monitor its activities. The unique phenomenon of Erebus - lava lake.

The object is named after the god Erebus. The mountain is located in a fault zone, which is why the volcano is recognized as one of the most active in the world. The emitted gases cause serious damage to the ozone layer. Scientists note that this is where the thinnest layer of ozone is found.

Volcanic eruptions occur in the form of explosions, the lava is thick, solidifies quickly and does not have time to spread to large areas.

The main danger is ash, which makes air travel difficult, as visibility drops sharply. The mud stream is also dangerous, as it moves at high speed, and it is almost impossible to escape from it.

Erebus is an amazing natural creation - formidable, magical and charming. The lake in the crater attracts with special mystery.

Etna

Located in Sicily, in the Mediterranean Sea. With a height of 3329 meters, it cannot be attributed to the highest active volcanoes in the world, but it can be confidently included in the most active. After each eruption, the height increases slightly. In Europe, this is the largest volcano, its top is always decorated with a snow cap. The volcano has 4 central cones and about 400 lateral ones.

The first activity dates back to 1226 BC. The most terrible eruption occurred in 44 BC, it was so strong that the ash completely covered the sky over the capital of Italy, destroyed the crop on mediterranean coast. Today, Etna is no less dangerous than in the prehistoric period. The last eruption occurred in the spring of 2008 and lasted almost 420 days.

The volcano is attractive for its diverse vegetation, here you can find palm trees, cacti, pines, agaves, spruces, biscuses, fruit trees and vineyards. Some plants are characteristic only for Etna - stone tree, ethnian violet. Numerous myths and legends are associated with the volcano and the mountain.

Kilauea

On the territory of the Hawaiian Islands, this is the most active volcano (although far from the highest in the world). In Hawaiian, Kilauea means strongly spreading. Eruptions have been occurring continuously since 1983.

The volcano is located on the territory national park volcanoes, its height is only 1 km 247 meters, but it compensates for its insignificant growth with activity. Kilauea appeared 25 thousand years ago, the diameter of the volcano's caldera is considered one of the largest in the world - about 4.5 km.

Interesting! According to legend, the volcano is the residence of the goddess Pele (the goddess of volcanoes). Her tears are individual drops of lava, and her hair is streams of lava.

An amazing sight is the Puuoo lava lake, which is located in the crater. Molten rocks seethe restlessly, creating amazing stains on the surface. Being close to this natural phenomenon is dangerous, as fiery lava breaks out to a height of 500 meters.

In addition to the lake, you can admire a cave of natural origin. Its length is more than 60 km. The ceiling of the cave is decorated with stalactites. Tourists note that walking through the cave is reminiscent of flying to the moon.

In 1990, volcanic lava completely destroyed the village, the thickness of the lava layer was from 15 to 25 meters. For 25 years, the volcano destroyed almost 130 houses, destroyed 15 km of the roadway, and lava covered an area of ​​120 km.

The whole world watched the most powerful Kilauea eruption in 2014. The eruption was accompanied by periodic earthquakes. Huge volumes of lava destroyed residential buildings and operating farms. The evacuation of the nearest settlements was carried out, but not all residents showed a desire to leave their homes.

Which continent has no active volcanoes?

There are no extinct or active volcanoes in Australia. This is explained by the fact that the mainland is located far from the crustal faults and the volcanic lava has no outlet to the surface.

The opposite of Australia is Japan - the country is located in the most dangerous tectonic zone. This is where 4 tectonic plates collide.

Volcanoes are attractive due to their beauty, but they can harbor destructive power, causing massive loss of life and severe destruction. Although volcanic eruptions themselves are relatively rare and controlled by scientists, they still pose a huge source of danger to people who choose to live near them. Here is a list of the 10 most active volcanoes:

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10

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

Mauna Loa is one of the most big volcanoes on our Earth in terms of height and area covered. It is also one of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii in America. Mauna Loa is an active volcano that, in all likelihood, has been erupting for 700,000 years. The most recent eruption occurred relatively recently from March 24 to April 15, 1984.

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9

This famous volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, it is located about 50 km from the capital of this country - Manila. Taal is one of the active Philippine volcanoes, part of the Pacific ring of fire. It erupted many times, bringing nearby settlements around the lake of sacrifice and destruction. The last eruption occurred in 1977, but signs of activity have been regularly observed since 1991, characterized by both high activity and small seismic hydraulic fractures.

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8

Ulavun, Papua New Guinea

The most active volcano in papua new guinea- Ulavun, he is also one of the most dangerous. This is the most high volcano and the highest peak in the Bismarck archipelago. The very first recorded eruption of Ulawun occurred in 1700. Since then, there have been 22 eruptions to date. Several thousand people constantly live near the volcano. During a major eruption in 1980, ash was thrown up to a height of 18 kilometers, producing pyroclastic flows that rushed all the flanks of the volcano and devastated an area of ​​20 square kilometers.

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7

Nyiragongo, Congo

One of the most active volcanoes in Africa and one of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. Since 1882, Nyiragongo has erupted at least 34 times. The most recent destructive eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano occurred on January 17, 2002, when hot lava destroyed 40% of the city of Goma.

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6

Merapi, Indonesia

Merapi is the most famous and active volcano in Indonesia and has been erupting regularly since 1548. It is located very close to the city of Yogyakarta, where thousands of people live on the slopes of Merapi. The volcano has been active for 10,000 years.

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5

Galeras, Colombia

Galeras has been active for at least 1 million years. The volcano is located in the south of Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. In this country, Galeras is the most active volcano.

After only 10 years of dormancy, Galeras became active again in 1988. In 1993, a terrible disaster occurred when an expedition of several scientists went to the Galeras crater. The eruption happened very unexpectedly and led to the death of nine people: six scientists and three tourists.

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4

Sakurajima is an active composite volcano and former island. Often referred to as the eastern Vesuvius, it erupts almost constantly. The remnants of the eruptions formed in this region highlands from white sand. The volcano is dangerous due to its location in a densely populated area - near the city of Kagoshima, which is very close to the volcano.

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3

Popocatepetl is an active volcano and the second highest peak in Mexico (5426 m). Residents of the city of Puebla, which is only 40 km east of the volcano, can enjoy the view of the snow-covered and glacier-covered mountain almost all year round. The last major eruption occurred in 2000. Fortunately for the residents, scientists were able to warn the government in time, and people were evacuated from the disaster area in time.

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2

Vesuvius, Italy

Mount Vesuvius is located 9 km east of Naples, a short distance from the coast. It is the only volcano in Europe that has erupted over the past hundred years. Vesuvius has erupted many times, the last one was in 1944. To date, Vesuvius is considered one of the most destructive volcanoes in the world due to the 3 million people living nearby and the high probability of its eruptions.

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1

Yellowstone Caldera, USA

This is the most dangerous active supervolcano, which means that the volume of emissions from this volcano can be more than 1000 cubic kilometers, and this will have devastating consequences. Supervolcanic eruptions typically cover vast areas of lava and volcanic ash, enough to threaten the extinction of entire species. Such a super-eruption can become one of the reasons for the death of our civilization, because when this volcano erupts, it causes the activity of other volcanoes, which leads to massive tectogenesis.

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Conclusion

These were the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world. We hope you enjoy our content.

Despite their lethality, various volcanoes have long attracted man. Previously, people were attracted by fertile soils enriched with minerals and trace elements due to the activity of volcanoes, now tourists are attracted by the beauty and majesty of these natural objects.

Where are the largest volcanoes on the world map?

Most of today's active volcanoes are located in Pacific volcanic ring- area in which the largest number eruptions and 90% of earthquakes on our planet.

The second most powerful seismic zone is the Mediterranean fold belt, stretching from the Indonesian islands to.

The strongest eruption in history

The most destructive eruption in terms of its consequences is considered to be a catastrophe that occurred in 1883 during an explosion. Krakatoa volcano located in . During this cataclysm, more than 36 thousand people died, more than 165 cities and villages were completely destroyed, and ash was thrown to a height of 70 kilometers.

The force of the explosion during the eruption exceeded the force of the nuclear bomb explosion over Hiroshima by 10,000 times. Most of the deaths are the result of huge tsunami caused by the eruption. The island on which Krakatoa was located was almost completely destroyed during the disaster. The sound from the explosion spread to a distance of 5 thousand kilometers from the epicenter of the disaster.

Earth's Greatest Active Volcanic Mountains

The largest active volcanoes in the world in terms of volume:

• mauna loa, Hawaii, with a volume of 80 thousand cubic kilometers;
• kilimanjaro(Tanzania), which is considered dormant but potentially active, has a volume of 4,800 cubic kilometers;
• Volcano Sierra Negra, located in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) has a volume of 580 cubic kilometers.

Which country has the largest source of lava?

In terms of size, there is no equal to the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa, which has a volume of 80 thousand cubic kilometers. The title of the highest is contested by 2 volcanoes from South America:

1. Llullaillaco, located on the border of Argentina and Chile with a height of more than 6 thousand meters;
2. Cotopaxi, located in Ecuador with a height of 5897 meters.

Description with titles

There are between 1000 and 1500 active volcanoes on our planet. Many of them are located close to densely populated areas and pose a threat to human life. The most dangerous volcanoes, which are under special supervision, are included in List of Volcanoes of the United Nations Decade.

Merapi

Merapi, which in Indonesian means "mountain of fire", recognized as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Asia. It is located in the south of the island of Java in Indonesia, and its peak rises to a height of 3 thousand meters.

Significant eruptions of Merapi occur with a frequency of about 7 years; during its history, Merapi has repeatedly caused the death of many people. In 1930, 1400 people became victims of the eruption, and in 2010 more than 350 thousand people had to be evacuated, 353 inhabitants of the island died.

Located near Merapi Yogyakarta city, in the agglomeration of which more than 2 million people live. For its activity and danger to people's lives, Merapi is included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade.

Sakurajima

Sakurazdima volcano (Japan) is located on Kyushu island, its peak rises to a height of 1110 meters. The first eruption recorded by the chronicles occurred in 963, and the most powerful one dates back to 1914, but thanks to the tremors preceding it, most of the local residents managed to evacuate, “only” 35 people died.

Since the middle of the 20th century, the volcano has been constantly active. Every year there are thousands of small explosions and ash emissions.

In 2013, there was a large ash ejection, reaching a height of 4000 meters.

Sakurajima is also on the Volcanoes of the Decade list.

Aso

Aso Volcano is also located on Kyushu island in Japan. The highest point of Aso is at an altitude of 1592 meters. During the observation of the volcano, about 165 large and medium-sized eruptions occurred, many of which led to human casualties.

The last time people died as a result of volcanic eruptions in 1979, when 3 people died and 11 were injured. But Aso is dangerous not only for its eruptions, poisonous vapors of volcanic gas regularly poison tourists who try to conquer Aso. The last such incident occurred in 1997, when two climbers died.

The last eruption of Aso was noted in 2011, when ash was ejected to a height of up to 2 kilometers.

If you are traveling by plane, then you will be interested in where you will find out how the seats on the plane are located and which ones are the most convenient.

Nyiragongo

Nyiragongo is located in DR Congo in the Virunga mountain range (Africa). In the crater of the volcano is the world's largest lava lake, the depth of which can reach 3 kilometers. In 1977, the crater wall ruptured, resulting in a major lava flow to the surrounding area, resulting in the death of 70 people.

During observations of Nyiragongo since 1882, it was recorded 34 major volcanic eruptions. A feature of the Nyiragongo eruptions is an extremely fast flow of lava, reaching a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. During a major eruption in 2002, 400,000 residents of the city of Goma, located near the volcano, were evacuated. Nevertheless, 147 of them died as a result of this cataclysm, and the city itself received significant damage.

All these factors make Nyiragongo one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, for which he was rightly included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade.

Galeras

Galeras volcano is located in Colombia near the city of Pasto, whose population is more than 400 thousand people. Its height exceeds 4200 meters. Due to its danger, Galeras has been included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade that pose the greatest threat in the foreseeable future.

It is believed that over the past 7000 years, Galeras has experienced at least 6 major eruptions, in 1993 the last of them was recorded.

mauna loa

Mauna Loa Volcano is located on Hawaiian Islands owned by the United States of America. This giant volcano occupies more than half of the area of ​​Hawaii, the height of the peak is 4169 meters above sea level, but most of the volcano is located under water. Together with the underwater part, its height from the base to the top reaches 9170 meters, which exceeds the height of Everest.

Mauna Loa eruptions occur along the so-called Hawaiian type with an outpouring of lava, but without explosions and large ash emissions. Observations of the volcano have been conducted only since 1832, but during this time 39 major eruptions of Mauna Loa were recorded. This volcano was included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade due to the huge lava flows that accompany the eruption and the densely populated area in its immediate vicinity.

The top of the volcano and its slopes are included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

Colima

The most active volcano in Central America is located in the state of Jalisco. Due to its activity, Colima received the nickname "little Vesuvius", its height exceeds 3800 meters.

Over the past 450 years, more than 40 large and medium-sized volcanic eruptions have been recorded, the last of which occurred on September 12, 2016. More than 400 thousand people live near Colima, which makes it America's most dangerous volcano. For this reason, the volcano was included in the Volcanoes of the Decade list.

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Vesuvius

Most famous volcano the world is located on the Apennine Peninsula in. The lone peak of Vesuvius, 1281 meters high, rises above the spacious fields of the province of Campania and is part of the Apennine mountain system.

Located just 15 kilometers from Naples, Vesuvius has repeatedly gone down in history with its catastrophic eruptions, about 80 large ones alone were recorded. In 79 AD, the most destructive eruption of Vesuvius, during which famous cities were killed:

• Pompeii;
• Oplontis;
• Herculaneum;
• Stabiae.

It is believed that at least 16,000 people died during this cataclysm.

In 1944, the last this moment the eruption of Vesuvius, cities were destroyed during this natural disaster Weight And San Sebastiano, 27 people became victims. Since then, Vesuvius has not shown much activity, but the danger of a new eruption always remains. Vesuvius is one of the main attractions of the province of Campania and its visit is included in sightseeing tour when traveling to Naples.

Etna

Another famous volcano in Italy is located in the east of the island of Sicily and is highest volcano, rising to a height of 2329 meters. Etna eruptions are observed several times a year. History has recorded several major eruptions of this volcano, which led to devastating consequences:

1. Destroyed in 122 AD city ​​of Catania;
2. In 1169, Etna died during a massive eruption. 15 thousand people;
3. In 1669, Catania suffered again, houses were destroyed 27 thousand people;
4. In 1928, the ancient Mascali city.

Despite the danger of the volcano, the inhabitants of the island continue to settle on its slopes. The reason for this is fertile soil, enriched with minerals and trace elements contained in the cooled lava flows and ash.

Etna is one of the main natural attractions of Sicily. Tourists from all over the Earth come to see the volcano and climb to its top.

popocatepetl

Volcano Popocatepetl, or El Popo as it is affectionately called locals, is located in Mexico, 70 kilometers from the capital of this country, the city of Mexico City. The height of the volcano is almost 5500 meters. Over the past 500 years, Popocatepetl has erupted more than 15 times, with the latest occurring as recently as 2015. An extinct volcano is located near Popocatepetl Istaxihuatl.

A trip to these volcanoes is an essential part of excursion program when visiting Mexico City.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

The highest volcano in Eurasia is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula and is considered the most famous of the many volcanoes in Kamchatka. Highest point outside Caucasus mountains reaches a height of 4750 meters. It is the most active volcano in Eurasia, on average its eruptions occur almost every year. The last significant eruption occurred in 2013, the height of the ash emission was 10-12 kilometers. The eruption was accompanied by mud flows and ashfall.

Cotopaxi

The active volcano Cotopaxi is located in South America on the territory of the state Ecuador in the Andean mountain system. The height of the top of Cotopaxi is 5897 meters. Over the entire history of observations, 86 eruptions have been recorded, the largest of which led to the complete destruction of the city of Latacunga in 1786. The last activity of Cotopaxi was seen in 1942, after which the volcano is still dormant.

Famous extinct giants

In addition to active volcanoes, there are many extinct volcanoes on our planet that do not show volcanic activity.

Supreme

The tallest extinct volcano in the world aconcagua, is located in Argentina and is part of the Andes mountain system. Aconcagua is not only the highest extinct volcano in the world, but also the highest peak in America, Western and Southern hemispheres. The height of Aconcagua exceeds 6950 meters.

sleeping giants

Many extinct volcanoes are now considered just mountains, although some of them could potentially “wake up” and begin to show activity. Such volcanoes, which may become active in the future, are called "asleep".

• famous Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (Africa) is a dormant volcano that does not show active activity. Scientists believe that one day Kilimanjaro may wake up, then this potential volcano will become one of the highest in the world, because the height of Kilimanjaro is 5895 meters above sea level.

colossal supervolcano yellowstone considered extinct, but scientists have found that there is little activity in it, so now Yellowstone is categorized as dormant volcanoes. The last time the giant erupted almost a million years ago.

It is believed that if Yellowstone wakes up, the potential eruption will become one of the largest disasters in the history of the Earth, every third inhabitant of the planet will die, and several US states will be completely destroyed.

Yellowstone eruption will provoke many earthquakes, giant tsunami waves and eruptions of other volcanoes, which will affect almost every inhabitant of the planet. The ash thrown out by the volcano will cover the surface of the earth from the sun for a year and a half, and a volcanic winter will come throughout the planet.

However, not all scientists believe that the consequences of this cataclysm will be so serious. In any case, the eruption of this volcano remains one of the main potential threats to humans.

• The largest extinct volcano in Russia - - 5642 meters. It is located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Related to the list the highest peaks six parts of the world. Scientists consider the activity of the volcano not so much completed as fading.
• Most large volcano modern times cannot be visited and is very hard to see as it is under water. array Tamu located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and is located about 1600 kilometers east of Japanese islands. Its dimensions are 650 by 450 kilometers; in terms of its scale, the array is one of the largest not only on Earth, but in the entire solar system. The last volcanic eruption occurred 140 million years ago.
• dormant volcanoes Big and Small Ararat are now located on the territory and belong to the category of volcanoes that do not show volcanic activity. The top of Mount Ararat, reaching 5165 meters, is the highest point Turkey.
• One of the highest peaks of the Caucasus, Mount Kazbek is also an extinct volcano. Kazbek is located on the border with Russia, the highest point of the mountain is located at an altitude of more than 5 kilometers. During research, volcanic ash from an eruption that allegedly occurred 40 thousand years ago was found in one of the caves of Kazbek.

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Watch a video about these and other volcanoes in the world:

Volcanoes are shrouded in mystery, in ancient times they were associated with mythology, with gods and goddesses who controlled their fiery power. For millennia, volcanoes have created new lands, destroyed cities, and changed the face of our planet.

Thousands of travelers and holidaymakers were forced to cancel their travel plans in 2010 following the eruption of an Icelandic volcano. Huge volcanic ash clouds closed air space a large part of continental Europe, which made serious adjustments to the flight schedule.

But there are some enthusiasts for whom volcanoes and travel are always a combination. They love adventure and will do anything to get to the next active volcano to photograph the fiery lava flows and stay surrounded by danger for a while.

Although there are thousands of volcanoes on Earth, only about 500 of them are active at the moment. And at the moment, approximately 500 million people live in close proximity to active volcanoes.

1. Kilauea Volcano ( Kilauea Volcano), Hawaii

The volcano is located in the southeastern part big island. The first recorded eruption was in 1790. The current eruption began in 1983 and is still ongoing. The volcano is located on the territory. Here you can see dramatic landscapes of burning lava flows flowing straight into the sea.

Mount Etna is located on the island in. This is the largest active volcano in Europe, it was formed around 1500 BC. e. and has since erupted about 200 times. Small eruptions occur regularly. Throughout its history, the volcano has killed thousands of people, but this does not stop the Italians. The volcanic soil is excellent for growing olives and grapes, which is why they re-settle on the slopes of Etna.

The shield volcano Piton de la Fournaise is located in Indian Ocean on the east side of Reunion Island, it is the island's main attraction. The volcano has been active for more than 530 thousand years. Since the 17th century, there have been more than 150 eruptions, the last of which was recorded in December 2010.

The volcanic island of Stromboli is part of the Aeolian Islands located off the coast in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ancient Greeks considered these places the home of the god of the winds, Eola. The island was formed as a result of volcanic activity on seabed millions of years ago. For the past few thousand years, the Stromboli volcano has been erupting almost continuously.

The Yasru volcano is located on the island of Tanna, located in the southern part of the New Hebrides archipelago in pacific ocean. Part of the Pacific Volcanic Ring of Fire. More than 800 eruptions continuously recent years at intervals of several times per hour. Volcano Yasru is popular tourist destination, looks like a fantastic fiery firework at night.

The volcano is located on the former island of the same name in Kagoshima Prefecture. The top of the mountain is divided into three peaks, the southern peak of Minamidake is active. Most powerful eruption happened in 1914, then the island of Sakurajima connected with the mainland and became a peninsula. Since 1955, the volcano has been erupting almost continuously.

7. Santa Maria Volcano ( Santa Maria Volcano), Guatemala

A large active stratovolcano, located on the Pacific coast, rises to an impressive height of 3772 meters. Activity began about 30 thousand years ago. For many millennia until the 20th century, eruptions were small and frequent. In 1902, a powerful volcanic explosion occurred that destroyed part of the mountain and caused serious damage to southwestern Guatemala.

The crater of the Chaiten volcano is a caldera with a diameter of 3 km., Inside which there are several volcanic lakes. The volcano is located at an altitude of 1122 meters, 10 km., Northeast of the city of Chaiten, near Corcovado Bay in the south. A strong eruption began in the spring of 2008, and it continues to this day with varying intensity. Prior to this, the volcano had not been active for almost 10,000 years.

Mayon is an active stratovolcano in Albay Province. It is the most active volcano in the Philippine Islands and has erupted more than 50 times over the past 400 years. The first major eruption was recorded in 1616. Mayon has been erupting weakly since January 2011, which could be a sign of a major eruption in the near future. The volcano is known for its nearly perfect cone shape.

It is an active volcano located 48 km from east coast north island in the Gulf of Plenty (Gulf of Plenty). The seamount stretches from the seabed 1600 meters, and the round top of the volcano rises above sea level to a height of 321 meters. Thanks to the opportunity to visit the base of the crater without spending energy on climbing, White Island is very popular with tourists and explorers.

11. Soufriere Hills Volcano ( Soufriere Hills), the island of Montserrat

An active stratovolcano in the Lesser Antilles. For a long time he was dormant. The eruption has been ongoing since 1995 and has already destroyed the city of Plymouth and caused mass evacuations. More than half of the population has left the island.

12. Volcano Popocatepetl ( Popocatepetl), Mexico

Popocatepetl Volcano is the second highest peak in. Popocatepetl is connected to the Istaxiuatl volcano by the Paso de Cortes mountain pass ( Paso de Cortes). Only 40 km. from the volcano is the city of Puebla, history Center which is listed in . The last major eruption was in 1947. Since 1994, the volcano has periodically erupted jets of gas and ash.