Names of volcanoes. Volcano Krakatau. Indonesia. Famous extinct giants

IN Ancient Rome the name Vulcan was worn by a mighty god, the patron of fire and blacksmithing. We call volcanoes geological formations on the surface of the land or on the ocean floor, through which lava comes to the surface from the deep interior of the earth.

Often accompanied by earthquakes and tsunamis, major volcanic eruptions have had a significant impact on human history.

Geographic feature. Significance of volcanoes

During a volcanic eruption, magma comes to the surface through cracks in the earth's crust, forming lava, volcanic gases, ash, volcanic rocks, and pyroclastic flows. Despite the danger posed to man by these mighty natural objects, it was thanks to the study of magma, lava and other products of volcanic activity that we managed to gain knowledge about the structure, composition and properties of the lithosphere.

It is believed that thanks to volcanic eruptions, proteinaceous forms of life could appear on our planet: eruptions released carbon dioxide and other gases necessary for the formation of the atmosphere. And volcanic ash, settling, became an excellent fertilizer for plants due to the potassium, magnesium and phosphorus contained in it.

The role of volcanoes in regulating the climate on Earth is invaluably important: during the eruption, our planet “lets off steam” and cools, which largely saves us from the consequences of global warming.

Characteristics of volcanoes

Volcanoes differ from other mountains not only in composition, but also in strict external outlines. From the craters at the top of the volcanoes, deep narrow ravines formed by streams of water stretch down. There are also whole volcanic mountains, formed by several nearby volcanoes and products of their eruptions.

However, a volcano is not always a mountain breathing fire and heat. Even active volcanoes can look like straight cracks on the surface of the planet. There are especially many such "flat" volcanoes in Iceland (the most famous of them, Eldgja, has a length of 30 km).

Types of volcanoes

Depending on the degree of volcanic activity, there are: current, conditionally active And dormant ("sleeping") volcanoes. The division of volcanoes according to activity is very conditional. There are cases when volcanoes, considered extinct, began to show seismic activity and even erupt.

Depending on the shape of volcanoes, there are:

• Stratovolcanoes- classic "fire mountains" or volcanoes central type cone-shaped with a crater at the top.
• Volcanic crevices or fissures- Faults in the earth's crust through which lava comes to the surface.
• calderas- depressions, volcanic cauldrons formed as a result of the failure of a volcanic peak.
• Shield- are called so because of the high fluidity of the lava, which, flowing for many kilometers in wide streams, forms a kind of shield.
• lava domes - formed by the accumulation of viscous lava above the vent.
• Cinder or tephra cones- have the shape of a truncated cone, consist of loose materials (ash, volcanic stones, boulders, etc.).
• complex volcanoes.

In addition to terrestrial lava volcanoes, there are underwater And mud(spewing liquid mud, not magma) Underwater volcanoes are more active than terrestrial ones, through them 75% of the lava erupted from the bowels of the Earth is ejected.

Types of volcanic eruptions

Depending on the viscosity of the lavas, the composition and amount of eruption products, 4 main types of volcanic eruptions are distinguished.

Effusive or Hawaiian type- relatively quiet eruption of lava formed in craters. The gases released during the eruption form lava fountains from drops, filaments and lumps of liquid lava.

Extrusion or dome type- accompanied by the release of gases in large quantities, leading to explosions and emissions of black clouds from ash and lava debris.

Mixed or strombolian type- abundant lava output, accompanied by small explosions with ejection of pieces of slag and volcanic bombs.

hydroexplosive type- characteristic of underwater volcanoes in shallow water, accompanied by big amount steam released when magma comes into contact with water.

The largest volcanoes in the world

The highest volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado located on the border between Chile and Argentina. Its height is 6891 m, the volcano is considered extinct. Among the active fiery mountains» the highest is Llullaillaco- volcano of the Chilean-Argentine Andes with a height of 6,723 m.

The largest (among terrestrial) in terms of area is a volcano mauna loa on the island of Hawaii (height - 4,169 m, volume - 75,000 km 3). mauna loa also one of the most powerful active volcanoes world: since its “awakening” in 1843, the volcano has erupted 33 times. The largest volcano on the planet is a huge volcanic massif Tamu(area 260,000 km 2), located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

But the most strong eruption for the entire historical period produced a "low" Krakatoa(813 m) in 1883 on Malay Archipelago in Indonesia. Vesuvius(1281) - one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, the only active volcano in continental Europe - is located in southern Italy near Naples. Exactly Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii in 79.

In Africa, the highest volcano is Kilimanjaro (5895), and in Russia - a two-peak stratovolcano Elbrus (North Caucasus) (5642 m - western peak, 5621 m - eastern).

Volcanoes- geological formations on the surface of the earth's crust, through which magma appears. The name comes from the Roman god of fire - Vulcan. Today there are more than 1000 active volcanoes on the planet. Next, we will introduce you to the classification of volcanoes, tell you where most of them are located and which are considered the highest and most famous.

Volcanoes: interesting facts

There is a large classification of volcanoes. So everything volcanoes of the world are divided into 3 types:
By appearance (thyroid, stratovolcanoes, cinder cones, domes);
By location (podlenikovye, terrestrial, underwater);
By activity (extinct, dormant, active).

Each volcano consists of the following parts:
Main crater;
Side crater;
Vent.


Some volcanoes do not erupt lava. There are also mud volcanoes, geysers also belong to post-volcanic formations.

Where are the volcanoes of the world

Most of the volcanoes are located in the Andes, Indonesia, Iceland, Hawaii and Kamchatka. However, they are not located randomly, but in strictly defined zones:
Most of the volcanoes are located in a zone called the Pacific Ring of Fire: in the Andes, Cordillera, Kamchatka, as well as in the Philippines and New Zealand. Nearly all are located here. active volcanoes terrestrial world - 328 out of 540.
Another location zone is the Mediterranean fold belt, which includes the Mediterranean Sea (Santorini, Etna, Vesuvius) and stretches to Indonesia, where almost all the powerful eruptions of the world took place: Tambora in 1815 and Krakatoa in 1883.
Mid-Atlantic Ridge, forming entire volcanic islands. Vivid examples: Canary Islands, Iceland.

Active volcanoes of the world

Most of the active volcanoes are located in the above zones. Volcanoes often erupt in Iceland, periodically reminds of itself the highest volcano in Europe - Etna. Others that are particularly well known are:
Popocatepetl, located near Mexico City;
Vesuvius;
Mauna Loa;
Nyiragongo (DR Congo), famous for its huge lake boiling lava located in the crater.

Extinct volcanoes of the world

Volcanoes often complete active eruptions. Some of them are considered extinct, others are considered dormant. Extinct volcanoes of the world are located throughout the planet, including in the Andes, where the highest volcano in the world is located - (6893 meters), as well as Mount volcanic origin Aconcagua (the main peak of South America).

Often extinct volcanoes used as observatories, for example, Mauna Kea in the Hawaiian Islands, in the crater of which 13 telescopes are installed. By the way, it is Mauna Kea that is recognized as the highest volcano in general, if we consider the underwater part, then its height is 10,205 meters.

The most famous volcanoes in the world

Everyone heard stories about terrible eruptions that destroyed entire cities and destroyed islands. Here we will talk about:
Vesuvius, this small volcano in Italy (1281 m) destroyed the city of Pompeii. This moment is even captured in Bryullov's painting The Last Day of Pompeii.
Etna is the highest volcano in Europe that erupts periodically. Last eruption took place in May 2015.
Krakatau is a volcano in Indonesia that erupted in 1883 with the explosion of 10,000 atomic bombs. Now in its place rises a new volcano - Anak-Krakatau.
Tambor. In 1815 the most powerful eruption of our time, which resulted in a volcanic winter (the pollution of the atmosphere with ash), and 1816 became a year without a summer.
Santorini, which destroyed the Minoan civilization and destroyed an entire island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Mont Pele on Martinique, which destroyed the port of Saint-Pierre in a matter of minutes. 36,000 people died
The Yellowstone Caldera is a potential supervolcano whose eruption could change the map of the world.
Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa.

Volcanoes in our mind represent the boiling of emotions. They are huge and unpredictable, and their action is destructive. In general, a volcano of passions. In fact, how big are they? And do they all continuously boil and smoke, throwing out red-hot lava? For the inhabitants of which regions do they pose a danger? How big is it? When in last time the largest volcano in the world erupted? What is the name and where is it located? Does activity depend on size?

Volcanoes of the planet

Actually most of volcanoes located in the southern latitudes. Conventionally, the volcanic belts of the earth are divided into three groups: Pacific, Mediterranean-Indonesian and Atlantic. The most active zones are located along these lines, in each of which there are volcanoes - large, relatively small and gigantic. Map Latin America literally strewn with them, especially in the middle part, from Mexico in the north to Ecuador in the south. There are many of them in the countries of Central Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Eritrea). Southeast Asia is also rich in these wonders of nature, as is island states(Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Fiji Islands), whose names please the ears of exotic lovers. Nevertheless, there are volcanoes in other places, for example, in Kamchatka, in Japan, and also in Alaska, New Zealand and other regions with a cold and temperate climate.

In Europe, Vesuvius and Etna became notorious, causing the death, complete or partial, of entire cities (sometimes to the delight of modern archaeologists). Despite the tragedies, people continue to settle near the towering masses with smoking craters, tourists go to them, rightfully considering them to be real sights. Their sizes range from 350 meters (Taal, Philippines) to almost seven kilometers Ojos del Salado (border of Chile and Argentina). But height is not the main criterion for determining the largest volcano in the world. In America, they believe that he is in the state of Wyoming. And this opinion has serious grounds. The Yellowstone Volcano is considered the largest on the planet in terms of the area occupied on the map. But the criteria for sizing are ambiguous. For example, there are volcanoes much higher.

Old and young volcanoes

To assess the degree of danger of the proximity to the volcano, you need to understand what it is. After all, it's not just high mountain so called. So, volcanoes are located in those places on the earth's surface where the movement of the upper solid layer occurs. The interior of the Earth is filled with boiling magma, it seethes and sometimes asks to come out. In those places where it comes closest to the upper hardened edge, a volcano can arise under certain conditions. This process is long, sometimes taking millions of years, but it does not stop even for a moment. In this case, the age of the volcano does not really matter. For a long time extinct crater suddenly wake up. It is not always known when the previous eruption occurred. It is believed, however, that young volcanoes are the most active. Eruptions often occur quite unexpectedly.

What is inside?

Both the largest volcano in the world and the relatively small one have a similar internal structure. The mass of previously ejected petrified lava rises above the surface and presses on a layer of granite, basalt and other stone deposits, provoking the release of magma through the main trunk and its side branches. The eruption does not last long (sometimes several hours), then a precarious equilibrium sets in, sometimes leading to the freezing of the surface of the crater, in which a lake often appears. This parity of internal pressure and external conditions can be violated at any moment. And then the sky will darken from the ashes, so much carbon monoxide and other ozone-depleting compounds will rise into the air that all prohibitions on the use of freon in cans will seem completely inappropriate and useless. And all this happens, even if it is not the largest volcano in the world that erupts, but rather a medium or very “small” one.

But it's all on the earth's surface. And under the water passes its own volcanic life. And if "land" volcanoes emit substances harmful to the ozone layer into the atmosphere, then their underwater counterparts, on the contrary, help to restore it. This happens because by their activity they contribute to the vital activity of phytoplankton, which in turn produces oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. Due to the iron emitted by underwater volcanoes, the microelement supply of the food chain of a number of living microorganisms occurs.

Underwater seismic and volcanic activity lead to a change in the topography of the ocean floor, up to the appearance or disappearance of islands, and sometimes even causes the appearance of giant tsunami waves. But underwater volcanoes worries people to a lesser extent than those that can be seen with one's own eyes, making the way to the nearest national park or making a tourist voyage.

yellowstone miracle

The USA is a young country, its history is not calculated in many centuries, and even more so in millennia, as in many European or Asian countries. The more Americans love and appreciate everything that can be proud of in their homeland. If there is something very special in the country (better than in the whole world), then the guides do not forget to remind tourists about this, and numerous avenues vied with each other to point to such an attraction. This is what the United States authorities have really succeeded in, so it is in respect for nature. There are wonderful national parks all over the country. They began to be created back in the 19th century, many presidents paid great attention to them, and F. D. Roosevelt believed that they, like nothing else, convey the essence of the whole country.

Any resident of Wyoming knows where the largest volcano is located. "In America, of course!" he says confidently. Moreover, in Yellowstone national park, from which the process of creating reserves in the United States began in 1872. And this reserve is named after the volcano. It is really huge, but somehow flattened. Even having arrived here, not everyone will immediately understand that they are in the crater itself. The area occupied by the largest volcano in the world (and this is four thousand square kilometers) is twenty times the size of the US capital, the city of Washington. The height of the crater, in fact, is also by no means small, more than three kilometers, but, given such a vast base, it is somehow lost in the general landscape of the National Park.

Yellowstone is the largest volcano in the world. The US is very proud of it. It would take at least an hour to cross its extinct crater alone by car. Its dimensions are 72 kilometers long and 55 kilometers wide.

It is the area occupied by Yellowstone that gives grounds for its title. Looking at its cartographic plan, it is easy to conclude that although it is not the highest, it is still the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume. What is the name of his Ecuadorian competitor, who has risen to almost seven kilometers in height? More on this later. In the meantime, you can speculate about the potential danger posed by Yellowstone.

One of the threats to the US

Modern geodetic science allows us to assume with a high degree of certainty that it erupted infrequently, only a hundred times in its entire life. And its age is quite respectable, seventeen million years. The last time he showed his temper about 6400 centuries ago. A simple arithmetic calculation leads to the frightening thought that an eruption may soon begin again. And every year the probability of this event increases more and more. The data obtained using the means of objective control is alarming, since the beginning of the new millennium, the internal activity of the mountain has been growing. Inside a gigantic flattened cone with a collapsed center-crater, lava is noisy, and louder and louder. This hum scares not only the inhabitants of Wyoming and neighboring states. Pessimists argue that no thermonuclear war can be compared in terms of consequences with the destruction that the largest volcano in the world can cause. In the United States, life will become impossible, and not in some figurative, political or economic sense, but in the most literal, physical sense, and throughout the country. If you imagine that the largest volcano in the world woke up, there is something to be horrified. sunlight ceases to flow, the ashes raised into the air will close the luminary. The greenhouse effect will lead to sharp decline temperature. The overall picture is reminiscent of a futuristic horror film in which the consequences of a nuclear war are plotted.

However, not all scientists are so pessimistic. In fact, no one knows exactly how events will develop in the event of a new eruption, and how serious the catastrophe will be if the largest volcano in the world begins to erupt. On the other hand, if something like this does happen, then no security measures will be effective. Evacuate to safe place the entire population of the United States (and it is possible that Canada and Mexico will also suffer) is simply impossible. So you should not be afraid in any case, what to be, that cannot be avoided.

In general, all these fears are reminiscent of the concern of a listener of a lecture on the future of the universe, who was very frightened when he heard that in a hundred million years the Sun would go out and life on Earth would end, but calmed down, realizing that the speaker misspoke. It turns out that there is still a hundred billion years ahead, not a hundred million. Quite another matter!

Despite the enormous threat to national security, any American student knows which is the largest volcano in the world and where it is located. And he is very proud that Yellowstone is an American landmark.

Other Greatest Volcanoes in the World, Active and Dormant

Despite its huge size, Yellowstone cannot boast of worldwide fame. It is known in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the inhabitants of the Old World, visiting America, are more often interested in other wonders, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood and the skyscrapers of New York, Dallas or San Francisco. Not every tourist will remember where the largest volcano in the world is located. Photos of Fujiyama, Vesuvius, Popocatepetl and other eternal masses are replicated in tourist brochures much more widely. These volcanoes have become a kind of visiting cards of the countries in which they are located, and often even cultural and national symbols. They compose songs, write poems about them, since ancient times they have become inanimate (and sometimes living) characters of folk sagas, legends and traditions. Perhaps, in addition to deep folklore roots, the fact that from time to time, unlike Yellowstone, they smoke, make noise and show other signs of “aliveness”, usually unpleasant, contributed to the popularity of these natural attractions. So where are the largest active volcanoes in the world and what is the secret of their popularity?

Calm Vesuvius

You can start from any part the globe. For example, from the old woman of Europe. Vesuvius is not the largest volcano. Its height would not make much impression on America, it is almost three times lower than Yellowstone. But this does not prevent him, decorating the Neapolitan landscape, from being considered the highest in Europe. It was Vesuvius that destroyed ancient city Pompeii. In previous centuries, the volcano erupted at different intervals, but quite often according to volcanic concepts. Sometimes a century and a half passed between revivals, and sometimes only fifty years. In 1631, four thousand Neapolitans became victims of the elements, and the crater, as a result of the rapid outflow of red-hot magma, fell by almost 170 meters.

The last eruption happened during World War II, in 1944. Then the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano became victims of destruction not related to the actions of the Allied bomber aircraft. A column of ash and smoke rose to a nine-kilometer height, showing mankind the full power of nature, in comparison with which the explosions of all bombs pale, at least as of 1944. In 1945, people used weapons commensurate with the forces of the earth's interior. It was in Japan.

Fujiyama: extinguished fire deity

Volcanoes are beautiful. Their silhouettes evoke poetic emotions, they make you think about the frailty of human life, eternity and many other philosophical issues that people rarely address in everyday life. Of course, people as prone to contemplation as the Japanese could not help but succumb to the charm of such a majestic spectacle as Mount Fuji. But in addition to purely aesthetic pleasure, the islanders also showed a completely practical mindset, using the image of the sacred mountain for commercial purposes. Perhaps the same fate awaits other big volcanoes peace. Photo, video and other products of the Japanese corporation Fuji are widely known all over the world.

Fujiyama itself is considered an extinct volcano, the last time she spewed lava and ash back in 1707. This symbol of Japan is really very beautiful, both Japanese and foreigners go to admire it. Artists often depict the snow-capped peak of a volcano in combination with cherry blossoms, one more " calling card" Countries rising sun. Mount Fuji is 3,776 meters high.

Volcanoes of Ecuador and the largest active volcano in the world

There are more than six hundred active volcanoes on our planet. They are located on lines along which tectonic plates press each other with their edges. It is on these frontiers that revolutionary changes in the relief take place. mountain ranges. An example is the Andes. Here, according to Ecuador, is the largest active volcano in the world, it is called Cotopaxi. Its height exceeds 5911 meters. This, of course, is a lot, but the reasons for such a high title of this volcano remain a mystery. The fact is that its neighbors in the Andes - Lullaillaco and Ojos del Salado - are higher than it (6739 and 6887, respectively). This discrepancy can only be explained by commercial considerations. It’s just that a developed system has been created around Cotopaxi tourism infrastructure, which prompts visiting guests to inspire that they have visited the largest volcano in America, this time in Latin. To see Ojos del Salado, you need to make a long and difficult journey.

Volcano in the country - happiness or sorrow?

Many countries of the world somehow do without volcanoes. No, and don't. Neighborhood with a fire-breathing mountain always threatens with unpredictable consequences. If the element rages, destruction and casualties are inevitable, and humanity has not yet learned to counter these threats. The most that can be done in this case is to try to leave the dangerous territory in a timely manner. However, since such a natural formation does exist in a number of countries, it should be treated as something useful.

Tens of thousands of tourists, climbers and climbers climb the craters, descend into them, sometimes risking their lives. Such is human nature, although they say that "the smart one will not go uphill."

Eric Peterson, a Swedish climber, died on Batur in Bali. Kamchatka volcano The stone took the lives of three Belarusian travelers. Japanese volcano Ontake, located two hundred kilometers from Tokyo, suddenly woke up, throwing a huge amount of ash into the sky, which led to the death of at least three dozen tourists. And all these tragedies happened literally for Last year. Not the largest volcanoes in the world pose a mortal danger, although they cannot be called small either. The luckiest countries are those in which volcanoes are dormant, and even better if they are completely extinct.

beauty and grandeur big volcano has always attracted people. The power of the acting giant is not exaggerated - ash enveloping for many kilometers and fiery lava, burning everything in its path, are described in many books and shown on TV. The larger and higher the volcano, the more destruction it can bring in the event of an eruption.

IN modern world scientists can predict the activity of an active volcano, thereby avoiding many victims, but the strength and duration of the “fiery breath of nature” is sometimes impossible to calculate. Most Interest humans are called the highest, largest volcanoes created at the junction of tectonic plates. This list includes those who have highest altitude above sea level.

Tungurahua

The height of the giant volcano, located on the territory of Ecuador, is 5023m. above sea level. The name stands for "fire throat". Since 1999, the volcano has become especially active, in connection with which it was decided to evacuate all nearby villages. A major eruption was recorded in 2012 and 2014, which is why local authorities have introduced an orange alert level. Throwing ashes to a height of almost 10 km. fell asleep several large settlements located at a distance of more than 150 km. A small activity of Tungurahua occurs at the present time.

Another giant from Ecuador. In the local dialect, it means "awe-inspiring". This majestic and beautiful volcano has a height of 5230m. According to scientific data, a volcano with three craters, the diameter of which is more than 100 meters, was formed more than 14,000 years ago. The very first major eruption recorded in 1628. Since the 30s of the last century, Sangai has been constantly erupting. The last activity was in 2007. To date, only a few offer to climb to the top of the volcano. travel companies, since the volcano is considered active and erupts from time to time. Nevertheless, there are always those who like to add adrenaline to life. Part of the way is overcome by car, the rest by special mules. The rise takes 2-3 days.

The volcano with a height of 5426m is active. Location - Mexico. uneasy funny name translates as "smoking hill". Around the volcano are densely located villages and cities with a total population of 20 million. Human. The last mention of any activity of the volcano was in 1994. But in 1947, a volcanic eruption threw out so much ash that it covered everything within a radius of 30 km. It is very popular with tourists and lovers of real, virgin nature.

Active volcano with a height of 5822m. located in Peru. The volcano has three huge craters, the diameter of the largest is 130m. Especially strong activity in the 15th century brought a lot of trouble to the nearby city of Arequipa, later called the "white city". Local population call the mountain sacred, the mountain of the gods. In 1998, at the foot of the volcano, archaeologists discovered several Inca mummies and valuable artifacts. Many are associated with the volcano. mystical stories. Periodic explosive eruptions over the past hundred years have not scared away, but rather attracted a lot of tourists. Peak tourist season falls in May-September, when the top of the volcano is not covered with snow. For the most fearless, a descent into one of the craters is provided.

The highest point in Africa (5895m above sea level) belongs to an active volcano. Kilimanjaro is mentioned in many feature films and literature, and is considered one of the most beautiful and popular.

There are no officially recorded eruptions of the giant giant, but local residents claim that the volcano behaved quite aggressively 200 years ago. Kilimanjaro is in high demand among tourists, as climbing the mountain is quite simple and does not require special skills. Unfortunately, the famous "snow cap" in Lately melts strongly, over the past 100 glaciers have decreased by 80%, which is certainly alarming.

Volcano with a height of 5911m. included in the list of the largest active volcanoes in the world. Since 1738, the volcano has erupted a little less than 50 times, and the last strong eruption was recorded last year on August 15th. From the archives of descriptions of the Cotopaxi volcano, a devastating eruption of 1768 is mentioned - “in the middle of spring, a huge column of steam and ash rose from the breathing vent of the volcano, and a few days later fiery lava poured. At the same time, a terrible earthquake began. The nearby city of Latacunga was completely destroyed.” Today, Cotopaxi is called the "calling card of Ecuador." To conquer the top of the volcano, hundreds of avid climbers come here. But local authorities do not welcome this, due to the constant melting of glaciers, many accidents have been recorded.

San Pedro

A giant active volcano is located on the edge of the Atacama Desert in Chile. The height of the volcano above sea level is 6145m. The last activity was in 1960. Tourist routes does not have. Every moment can create real danger for residents of nearby villages.

Height - 6310m. The highest point in Ecuador. Today it is considered extinct, but around the 5th-7th century AD it spewed out tons of fiery lava. Absolutely the entire top of the volcano is covered with glaciers. As a result of the impact of global warming, the glacier has greatly decreased in size. In clear weather, the volcano can be seen at a distance of 150 km. Chimborazo is very popular among hikers and climbers. Some of them claim that in some places they hear the seething inside the volcano. You can conquer the peak of Chimborazo at any time of the year, as the air temperature on the slopes remains the same in winter and summer.

Leader among active volcanoes. Height above sea level 6739m. Recorded in 1877, the eruption was the last. The top of the volcano is covered with glaciers, and it is located among the driest desert on earth - Atacama. Unique excavations carried out at the top of the volcano helped to determine that the found corpses of Inca children, buried more than 500 years ago, speak of the sacredness of this mountain. The local Indians called the volcano "deceiver", not trusting its calmness. The snow line of the volcano is at the very high point in the world, overcoming a height of 6.5 tons. meters. The lucky ones who managed to climb to the top of the volcano are given the opportunity to enjoy the enchanting and majestic views of mountain ranges and unique landscapes.

The highest volcano on earth geographically covers both Chile and Argentina. The height of the champion of our rating is 6887m. above sea level. The volcano is also unique in that it is in the crater itself, at an altitude of 6390m. is the most high lake in the world. Over the entire history of observation, there has not been much activity of the volcano, although several emissions of sulfur and water vapor have been recorded in the last century. From Chile, near the volcano is the city of Copiano. The city fully breathes with tourist life, meeting every year a large number of climbers and ordinary travelers. At the foot of the very peak, which can only be reached by the most experienced tourists, traces of the habitation of the Incas were found. This find again reminds of the special attitude of the ancient Indians to the greatness and sacredness of nature.

The record for the most terrible, destructive volcanic eruption belongs to Tambora, located in Indonesia. In 1815 after powerful explosion, the eruption lasted almost two weeks. Within a radius of 500 kilometers, there was pitch darkness for four days due to the ejected ash. More than 70,000 people died in that crash, according to the Indonesian government.

On the territory of our country, the champion in height is a volcano Klyuchevskaya Sopka. Its height is 4835m. above sea level. The last small eruption was recorded in August 2013.

Volcano is a wonder of the world, created by nature itself. You can constantly admire the majestic mountain, with its snow-capped peaks and bottomless craters. The likely danger posed by an active volcano has long been a subject of curiosity and popularity among tourists. But beauty and power natural phenomena should be respected, it was not for nothing that the ancient Indians called the volcanoes the "sacred mountain".