Where are volcanoes on earth. Volcano: a famous planet that never existed (8 photos)

Ecology

In 2018, scientists dared to predict the intensification of volcanic activity on the planet, frightening the inhabitants disastrous consequences in the form of global climate change, destruction of cities and loss of life.

Such gloomy forecasts of specialists are not unfounded: for many years now there has been increasing volcanic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where more than three hundred active volcanoes are located.

The behavior of a couple or three of other active volcanoes, which have managed over the past ten to twenty years, is also alarming. spoil the lives of a significant number of people on our planet. But there are about nine hundred active volcanoes only on land.

Volcanoes are an integral part of the Earth that remind us of how destructive nature's fury can be. We bring to your attention a list of the ten most dangerous active volcanoes on our planet today.

active volcanoes

Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii

While the whole world is breathlessly watching how the Kilauea volcano covers the most large island Hawaii, not so far from him peacefully dozing megavolcano mauna loa, whose height is 4169 meters (that is, almost three thousand meters above Kilauea!).

Mauna Loa, whose name translates as " long mountain", is the largest active volcano on planet Earth. In this moment it is a place for pilgrimage for tourists and a platform for the work of representatives of the scientific world.

Education this volcano began about 700,000 years ago, while its activity continues to this day.. The most recent eruption of Mauna Loa occurred in 1984. The underwater part of this volcano is the largest on the planet and is 80 thousand cubic kilometers.

The volcano erupts intense lava flows that threaten not only the huge ecosystem that has settled on its slopes, but also the nearest human settlements. Hawaiians in their mythology identified Mauna Loa as one of the Pele sisters - the goddess of fire, volcanoes and strong winds.

Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Iceland

For some time now, Eyjafjallajökull has become one of the most famous volcanoes on our planet. And this despite the fact that very few people can pronounce his name without hesitation. This volcano with a height of 1666 meters (a mysterious combination of three sixes, isn't it?) is located in the south of Iceland.

It is part of several small glaciers of this island nation. The crater of the volcano itself, whose diameter is from three to four kilometers, was also covered with glaciers. However, the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which began on March 20, 2010, melted its ice.

Despite the fact that Eyjafjallajokull is not the largest volcano in Iceland, its eruption caused trouble throughout Europe. The height reached by volcanic ash was 13 kilometers. And its significant spread led to the suspension of air traffic over the entire Northern Europe.

Almost a month later, volcanic ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano was recorded over a huge part of the territory. Russian Federation. As a result of the last eruption, a new crack was formed on the volcano in the direction from north to south, the length of which was two kilometers.

Mount Vesuvius, Italy

Speaking of the most dangerous active volcanoes on the planet, it would be unforgivable frivolity not to mention the Italian Vesuvius. This volcano the last eruption of which was recorded in 1944, is the most famous in the world because of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum wiped off the face of the Earth in 79 AD.

The location of this volcano, the only one active on the territory of continental Europe, makes it one of the most dangerous in the world. The reason is the proximity of densely populated regions. Suffice it to say that only fifteen kilometers from Vesuvius is Naples, the agglomeration of which exceeds three million people.

Vesuvius is not distinguished by its outstanding height - it has only 1281 meters above sea level. His fairly frequent activity (one eruption about once every twenty years) due to the relative youth of the volcano - it formed about 25,000 years ago.

We most often recall the tragedy of Pompeii, where about two thousand people were buried during the eruption. At the same time, we forget that during the eruption on July 26, 1805 (far from the most powerful eruption of this volcano!), Vesuvius took the lives of 26 thousand people!

active volcanoes

Volcano Nyiragongo, Congo

If we talk about activity, then the Nyiragongo volcano, whose height is 3469 meters, can rightly be considered one of the most active. It is known that 34 eruptions have been recorded since 1882. Some of these eruptions continued for months and even years.

In fact, the "conscience" of Nyiragongo and its neighbor Nyamlagir accounts for forty percent of all eruptions that continue to this day to observe on the African continent. If we talk about the most destructive eruptions of Nyiragongo, then the last one occurred on January 10, 1977.

As a result of that cataclysm, about two thousand people died, and the tragedy occurred literally within the first half hour from the moment the eruption began. Deadliest eruption in Nyiragongo in this century happened in 2002, when 45 people died under lava flows.

Nyiragongo is also known for having the most big lake molten lava, whose diameter is two kilometers. The temperature of the lava is 1200 degrees Celsius. The lake of fire itself, which is visible even from space, resembles in size the red cyclopean eye, or, if you like, the eye of Sauron.

Taal Volcano, Philippines

Taal Volcano, whose height is only some 311 meters, is located on the island of Luzon, only 50 kilometers from more than one and a half million city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. In fact, it is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet.

Despite its size, Taal sent many thousands of people to the next world. It is known that this volcano has erupted at least thirty times since 1572. It was thanks to his activity that the third largest lake in the Philippines was formed, the greatest depth of which is 172 meters. It is also called Taal.

One of the strongest eruptions of Taal, as a result of which all living things died within a few minutes at a distance of up to ten kilometers from the volcano, occurred on January 30, 1911. Then masses of superheated steam and hot ash killed 1335 people. It is noteworthy that the volcano did not throw out lava.

A huge cloud of ash, according to sources of those years, was visible at a distance of more than four hundred kilometers. The last powerful eruption of Taal was also recorded in the last century. It happened in 1965, taking the lives of more than two hundred people.

Mount Merapi, Indonesia

Some volcanoes destroy settlements and villages, like Nyamlagira and Taal. Others, like Vesuvius, entire cities. It is known about the volcano Merapi that he destroyed the whole Javanese-Indian kingdom located in what is now Indonesia. It happened in 1006.

The highest point of Merapi is 2968 meters. "Mountain of fire" (namely, this is how the name of this volcano is translated) does not skimp on deadly eruptions. And this is not surprising, since Merapi is the youngest volcano from the group of its many "relatives" located in the south of the island of Java.

In the first half of the last century, there were 13 eruptions of the "mountain of fire". It is known, for example, that in 1930, 1,300 people died due to the activity of this volcano. And now in 1974 Merapi wipes two villages off the face of the earth, and just a year later - another village, causing huge damage to the infrastructure of the region. Then 29 people died.

The last powerful eruption of Merapi in 2010 forced more than 350,000 people to leave the nearby region. local residents. Some of them, however, dared to go back, for which many of them paid with their lives - the volcano sent 353 people to the next world.

The most dangerous volcanoes

Volcano Galeras, Colombia

In Colombia, not far from the border with the Republic of Ecuador, is the majestic volcano Galeras. The height of this giant is 4276 meters. The depth of the crater (about 80 meters) and its diameter (320 meters) turn this volcano into a kind of cannon that has fired more than once.

The Galeras volcano continues to operate, which can be seen from numerous small eruptions. There were not many really strong eruptions on Galeras. According to scientists, over the past seven thousand years, there have been about six major bursts of its activity.

Galeras is very popular place for tourists in South America, who also come to admire the beauties located at the foot of the mountain national reserve covering an area of ​​several thousand hectares.

Galeras constantly keeps in suspense almost half a million people living near the volcano, which, according to experts, has been active for at least a million years. Because of small eruptions, people often die there, and because of the threat of large authorities, many thousands of residents are periodically evacuated.

Volcano Sakurajima, Japan

The active Japanese volcano Sakurajima was once an independent island. However, after the 1914 eruption, it became part of the Osumi Peninsula, connecting with it through frozen lava flows.

Sakurajima has been incessantly active since 1955, posing a serious threat to the city of Kagoshima with a population of over six hundred thousand people. However, this did not prevent (but rather helped) the residents of the city to benefit from such a dangerous neighborhood, making the volcano a tourist attraction.

A ferry runs regularly to Mount Sakurajima, and from the city itself to the volcano, whose height is 1117 meters, opens bewitchingly beautiful view . Given the constant small eruptions of the volcano, it is not surprising that the inhabitants are used to it. For example, in 2014 alone, there were 471 eruptions!

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.

So compound 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. Last eruption 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 several 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.

In the territory 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

highest volcano on the territory of Indonesia (its height reaches 3 km 800 meters) and the most high point 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.

It 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

In the territory 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. Stay close to it natural phenomenon dangerous, because the 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 was watching powerful eruption Kilauea 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.

Humanity's interest in the most amazing and exotic corners of our planet Earth is fully justified and has recently flared up with renewed vigor, given the unique opportunity to travel around the world, visiting the most closed and hard-to-reach places.

Thinking about the topic of the southernmost active volcano on Earth, most people who are not savvy in this matter for some reason have associations with the Sicilian Etna or, in extreme cases, with some sleeping vent in sultry Ethiopia. In fact, these assumptions have absolutely nothing to do with reality, and the southernmost active volcano is Erebus, located in distant Antarctica, which in its height is second only to the active Sidley volcano, located nearby on the same continent. For the first time this volcano was discovered back in 1841, after which in 1908 its summit was conquered by one of the scientific expeditions, the purpose of which was a detailed study of the entire South Pole).

Remarkably, since 1972 it has been established that the formation began to “wake up” and today Erebus is one of the most active volcanoes in our multifaceted and amazing planet. Among other things, brave scientists managed to establish the fact that in the depths of its active crater there is a unique lava lake of its kind. The location of the volcano itself suggests constant powerful emissions of gas from deep faults in the earth's crust, on which it actually formed. At the same time, it should be noted that these processes, although they are absolutely natural, are by no means safe for planet Earth as a whole.

The fact is that gases constantly ejected from the bowels, among which such elements as hydrogen and methane should be singled out as a special niche, tend to reach the protective layer of the planet's air shell - ozone, thereby contributing to its destruction as much as possible. Surprisingly, its most deplorable state (meaning the thickness of the ozone coating) is observed not over the noisiest megacities with huge industrial production and strings of machines that "smoke the sky" with their exhaust gases, but over Ross (the territory of the island and the waters of the sea of ​​the same name with it) . It is in this place that the peak of the Erebus that woke up in 1972 and its three companions is located, which, however, are recognized as extinct, which means that they have irrevocably ceased their own activities. At the same time, it is Erebus that leads in height, the value of which reaches more than three thousand meters, in contrast to the three neighboring "dead" volcanoes, although it is inferior to Sidley, located on Mary Byrd Land.

It is quite possible that it was this scale and grandeur that was the main reason for the tragedy that occurred in 1979, when a New Zealand airline crashed on the slope of Erebus, killing all passengers and crew on board.

Every student knows that Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun in our solar system. Nevertheless, for several decades in the 19th century, many of the world's leading scientists had good reason to believe that the planet, called Vulcan, was somewhere inside the orbit of Mercury. The famous French mathematician first suggested the existence of this phantom planet in 1859, and it remained one of the most wanted celestial objects until Albert Einstein's theory of relativity finally debunked the mystery in 1915.

In 1859, the French scientist Urbain-Jean-Joseph Le Verrier began working on one of the most puzzling problems in astronomy: the orbit of Mercury. For years, astronomers have noted that this small planet in the solar system seems to follow its own course as it orbits the sun. In particular, its perihelion—the point at which the planet is closest to the Sun—shifts slightly on each orbit. According to Sir Isaac Newton's law of gravity, such a discrepancy can be easily explained by the presence of other celestial objects. However, even after Le Verrier calculated the gravitational pull of Venus, Earth, Mars and Jupiter, his predictions of Mercury's orbit were always slightly inaccurate. The planet never ended up where it should have been.

Le Verrier hypothesis

After Le Verrier carefully checked and recalculated, he proposed a groundbreaking hypothesis: some other object, unknown and invisible, is exerting a gravitational pull on the orbit of Mercury. This planet, or a group of small planets circling in close proximity to the orbit of Mercury, is capable of producing an anomalous effect, which is felt by the last planet. Le Verrier suggested that the glare of the sun prevented identification of this object in the past. However, he argued that it could be easily detected under the right conditions.

Dear Astronomer

The scientific community welcomed Le Verrier's theory, and for good reason, since he already had experience in searching for new planets. Thirteen years earlier, he had made a similar prediction in an attempt to explain the gravitational fluctuations in the orbit of the planet Uranus. As astronomers scanned the sky, they discovered the previously unknown planet Neptune. The discovery provided Le Verrier with international scientific fame and secured admission to the French Legion of Honor and the post of head of the Paris Observatory. His intelligence has been described as "virtually superhuman".

"Discovery" of a new planet

Armed with a fresh prediction from the discoverer of Neptune, astronomers immediately began hunting for the new planet. But it turned out that the breakthrough came a few months earlier, and was made by an amateur named Edmond Modest Lescarbol. A physician by profession, Leskarbol was also a keen astrologer who built his own makeshift observatory in the countryside. Looking through his telescope on March 26, 1859, he saw a small black dot - possibly a planet - drifting across the surface of the Sun. At that time, the doctor did not tell anyone about his discovery, but after reading the notes on the hypothetical planet Le Verrier sent him a letter with a full report.

Upon receiving the letter, Le Verrier went to meet with Lescarbole to examine his equipment and notes. After this meeting, he was even more convinced that there was another planet closer to the Sun than Mercury. Le Verrier announced the discovery in early 1860. Obeying the tradition of naming planets mythical gods, he gave her the name Vulcan, after the Roman god of blacksmithing.

Failed observation attempts

The discovery of Vulcan was a big step forward for science. Lekarbol was accepted into the Legion of Honor, and Le Verrier was once again called a genius. There was only one problem: the new planet was frustratingly difficult to spot. Scattered information about the observation of the Volcano poured from all over the globe, but most of them were from amateur astronomers. Le Verrier still required independent confirmation from a respected professional. Hoping to get this confirmation, Le Verrier's supporters calculated that the planet would be visible in late March/early April 1860. The astronomers adjusted their telescopes, but when the appointed time came, Vulcan did not appear. Many soon began to wonder if this planet really existed.

Volcano Hunt

Over the next few years, the volcano became the subject of an international manhunt. Many observations were made during the 1860s, but for every astronomer who claimed to have seen the planet, there were many who tried and found nothing. The ranks of skeptics continued to grow until 1871, when a team of English astronomers failed to detect the planet for the third year in a row. The question of Vulcan has remained open since 1859, as author Thomas Levenson wrote in his book The Hunt for Volcano. Random observations and seemingly consistent calculations fueled this interest.

In 1876, Vulcan's fate seemed to be sealed. A qualified astronomer reported that he was watching the transit of a planet near the Sun, and the newspapers received a new flurry of reports from amateurs. Enthusiasm was so high that the New York Times even ran an article arguing that "the existence of Vulcan can no longer be denied or ignored." According to the article, the Earth should henceforth be called the fourth planet from the Sun, and public school kids who study the old-fashioned order of the planets should make sure to memorize Vulcan and its place in the solar system.

Fall from Olympus

Le Verrier died in 1877, but Vulcan's most eventful period was yet to come. Only a year later, on July 29, 1878, there was a total solar eclipse that could be observed in Russia and North America. Such an event was very convenient for observing Vulcan, and so legions of astronomers set up their telescopes and cameras in the hope of seeing it. Most gave up fairly quickly, but two respected astronomers, James Craig Watson and Lewis Swift, claimed to have spotted the planet. The newspapers again began to trumpet the existence of Vulcan, but this triumph was short-lived. Critics said that scientists actually saw two well-known stars, and most of the scientific community dismissed these observations as erroneous.

After Watson and Swift's observations were criticized, the scientific community's faith in Vulcan all but disappeared. This planet has become the astronomical equivalent of the myth of Eldorado, which most scientists have abandoned, although some still continued to search for it. However, if Vulcan does not exist, scientists have again begun to wonder what is causing the shift in Mercury's orbit.

Issue resolution

The final answer to this question finally came in 1915 when Einstein threw the science bomb that became his general theory of relativity. Unlike Newton's theories of gravity, which could only explain Mercury's orbit by the existence of an unknown planet, general relativity states that a supermassive object - in this case the Sun - is capable of bending space and time and changing the path of light. Shortly before the release of his theory, Einstein applied it to Mercury and found that it perfectly explained the discrepancy in its orbit. Thus, Mercury is not attracted by any object, and it is about moving through a distorted time space.

As a result of Einstein's breakthrough, Vulcan was forever thrown out of the astronomical sky. Astronomers erased the planet from their charts, and the news of past sightings was attributed to the appearance of unidentified stars or sunspots. The volcano at the same time became one of the most famous dead ends in scientific history, but his "death" did not put an end to the hunt for new worlds within the solar system. In 1930, after a long search, the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered. Meanwhile in last years scientists have found ample evidence that the hypothetical "ninth planet" may be somewhere on the outer edge of the solar system.

Volcanic eruptions are dangerous primarily due to their direct impact - the release of tons of burning lava, under which entire cities can die. But, in addition to this, such side factors as the suffocating effect of volcanic gases, the threat of tsunamis, isolation from sunlight, distortion of the terrain and local climatic changes are also dangerous.

Merapi, Indonesia

Merapi is one of the most major volcanoes on the islands of Indonesia. He is one of the most active: large eruptions occur once every seven to eight years, and small ones - once every two years. At the same time, smoke from the top of the volcano appears almost daily, preventing the locals from forgetting about the threat. Merapi is also famous for the fact that in 1006 the whole medieval Javanese-Indian state of Mataram was seriously affected by his activities. The special danger of the volcano is that it is located near the large Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, which is home to about 400 thousand people.

Sakurajima, Japan

Sakurajima has been in constant volcanic activity since 1955, with the last eruption occurring in early 2009. Until 1914, the volcano was located on a separate island of the same name, but frozen lava flows connected the island with the Osumi Peninsula. Residents of Kagoshima City have become accustomed to the erratic behavior of the volcano and are constantly ready to take refuge in shelters.

Aso Volcano, Japan

The last time the volcanic activity of the volcano was recorded quite recently, in 2011. Then the ash cloud spread over a territory of more than 100 km. From that time to the present, about 2,500 tremors have been recorded, which indicates the activity of the volcano and its readiness for an eruption. Despite the direct danger, about 50 thousand people live in the immediate vicinity of it, and the crater is a popular tourist attraction for daredevils. In winter, the slopes are covered with snow and people go skiing and tobogganing in the valley.

Popocatepetl, Mexico

One of the largest volcanoes in Mexico is located literally fifty kilometers from. This is a city with a population of 20 million people who are in constant readiness for evacuation. In addition to Mexico City, there are such big cities like Puebla and Tlaxcala de Jicotencatl. Popocatepetl also gives them a reason to be nervous: emissions of gas, sulfur, dust and stones occur literally every month. Over the past decades, the volcano has erupted in 2000, 2005 and 2012. Many climbers strive to climb to its summit. Popocatepetl is famous for being conquered by Ernesto Che Guevara in 1955.

Etna, Italy

This Sicilian volcano is interesting in that it has not only one main wide crater, but also many small craters on the slopes. Etna is in constant activity, and small eruptions occur at intervals of several months. This does not prevent the Sicilians from densely populating the slopes of the volcano, since the presence of minerals and trace elements makes the soil very fertile. The last major eruption was in May 2011, and small ash and dust emissions were in April 2013. By the way, Etna is the most big volcano c: it is two and a half times larger than Vesuvius.

Vesuvius, Italy

Vesuvius is one of three active volcanoes in Italy along with Etna and Stromboli. They are even jokingly called the "hot Italian family." In 79, the eruption of Vesuvius destroyed the city of Pompeii with all the inhabitants who were buried under layers of lava, pumice and mud. During one of the last strong eruptions, which occurred in 1944, about 60 people died and the nearby cities of San Sebastiano and Massa were almost completely destroyed. According to scientists, Vesuvius destroyed nearby cities about 80 times! By the way, this volcano has set many records. Firstly, this is the only active volcano in the mainland, secondly, it is the most studied and predictable, and thirdly, the territory of the volcano is a nature reserve and a national park where excursions are held. You can only go up on foot, as the lift and funicular have not yet been restored.

Colima, Mexico

The volcanic mountain consists of two peaks: the already extinct Nevado de Colima, which is covered with snow most of the time, and the active volcano Colima. Colima is particularly active: since 1576, it has erupted more than 40 times. A strong eruption happened in the summer of 2005, when the authorities had to evacuate people from nearby villages. Then a column of ash was thrown to a height of about 5 km, spreading a cloud of smoke and dust behind it. Now the volcano is fraught with danger not only for local residents, but for the whole country.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

Scientists have been observing the volcano since 1912 - there is a volcanological station on its slopes, as well as solar and atmospheric observatories. The height of the volcano reaches 4169 m. The last strong eruption of Mauna Loa destroyed several villages in 1950. Until 2002, the seismic activity of the volcano was low, until its increase was recorded, which indicates the possibility of eruptions in the near future.

Galeras, Colombia

The Galeras volcano is very powerful: its diameter at the base exceeds 20 km, and the width of the crater is about 320 m. The volcano is very dangerous - every few years, due to its activity, the population of the nearby town of Pasto has to be evacuated. The last such evacuation took place in 2010, when about 9 thousand people found themselves in shelters due to the threat of a strong eruption. Thus, the restless Galeras keeps the locals in constant tension.

Nyiragongo, Republic of the Congo

Volcano Nyiragongo is considered the most dangerous in all: it accounts for about half of all cases of volcanic activity recorded on the continent. There have been 34 eruptions since 1882. Lava Nyiragongo has a special chemical composition, so it is unusually liquid and fluid. The speed of erupting lava can reach 100 km/h. There is a lava lake in the main crater of the volcano, the temperature of which heats up to 982 Cº, and bursts reach a height of 7 to 30 m. The last largest eruption occurred in 2002, when 147 people died, 14 thousand buildings were destroyed, and 350 thousand people left homeless.

It is worth noting that scientists have been studying the activity of volcanoes for many years and modern technology recognizes the beginning of their seismic activity. Many volcanoes are equipped with webcams, with the help of which you can follow what is happening in real time. People living nearby are already accustomed to this behavior of volcanoes and know what to do when an eruption begins, and emergency services have the means to evacuate local residents. So every year the probability of victims from volcanic eruptions becomes less and less.