Where are the active volcanoes on the outline map? Volcano with the strongest eruption in history. Earth's Greatest Active Volcanic Mountains

They destroyed cities and even entire states. Today, Earth's volcanoes have not become calmer. Nevertheless, both in the distant past and today, they attract thousands of researchers and scientists from all over the world. The desire to know and understand what happens to a fire-breathing mountain during an eruption, how this process occurs, what precedes it, makes scientists climb dangerous slopes, approaching craters where the elements are raging.

Today, volcanologists have united in international organization(IAVCEI). She carefully monitors likely eruptions that could pose a threat to human life. To date, there is a list where there is the name of volcanoes, their location and the likelihood of the next eruption. This helps to prevent loss of life, evacuate people from the danger zone if necessary, and take emergency measures.

Etna (Italy)

We decided to start our review with this mountain not by chance. Mount Etna, the photo of which you see below in the article, is active, active, one of the largest and most dangerous on Earth. It is located in the east of Sicily, not far from Catania and Messina.

Its activity is explained by its location at the junction of the Eurasian and African. Other active mountains of the country are located at this break - Vesuvius, Stromboli, Vulcano. Scientists say that in ancient times (15-35 thousand years ago), Mount Etna, whose photos are often printed in special publications, was distinguished by explosive eruptions that left vast layers of lava. In the 21st century, Etna erupted more than 10 times, fortunately, without human casualties.

It is difficult to determine the exact height of this mountain, since its upper point changes due to frequent eruptions. They usually happen after a few months. Etna occupies huge area(1250 sq. km). After lateral eruptions, Etna had 400 craters. On average, every three to four months, the volcano ejects lava. It is potentially dangerous in the event of a powerful eruption. Thanks to the latest scientific developments, scientists hope to determine the increased activity of the mountain in time.

Sakurajima (Japan)

Experts consider Earth's volcanoes active if they have been active in the last 3000 years. This japanese volcano active continuously since 1955. It belongs to the first category. In other words, an eruption can start at any time. A not very strong lava ejection was noted in February 2009. Anxiety accompanies the inhabitants of Kagoshima City almost constantly. Teachings, equipped shelters have firmly entered their everyday life.

Researchers have installed webcams over the crater, so Sakurajima is under constant surveillance. I must say that volcanoes on the islands can change the terrain. This happened in Japan, when in 1924 there was a strong eruption of Sakurajima. Powerful tremors warned the city of danger, most of the residents managed to leave their homes and evacuate.

After that, the volcano, bearing the name Sakurajima (which means "sakura island"), can no longer be called an island. A huge amount of lava formed an isthmus that connected the mountain with the island of Kyushu. And a year after the eruption, lava slowly flowed out of the crater. The bottom of the bay has risen in the center of the Aira caldera, located eight kilometers from Sakurajima.

Aso (Japan)

This popular tourist facility for extreme lovers, it is actually a dangerous volcano, which in 2011 threw out a large amount of lava and ash, covering an area of ​​​​100 kilometers. Since that moment, more than 2,500 powerful tremors have been registered. This suggests that at any moment he can destroy the nearby village.

Vesuvius (Italy)

Wherever there are volcanoes - on the continents or on the islands, they are equally dangerous. Vesuvius is very powerful, and therefore very dangerous. It is one of the three active scientists have information about 80 major eruptions of this mountain. The worst thing happened in 1979. Then the cities of Pompeii, Stabia, Herculaneum were completely destroyed.

One of the last powerful eruptions was noted in 1944. The height of this mountain is 1281 m, the diameter of the crater is 750 m.

Colima (Mexico)

Many of us still remember the name of volcanoes (at least some of them) from the school curriculum, we learn about others from newspapers, and only specialists are aware of others. Colima is perhaps the most dangerous and powerful in the world. It last erupted in June 2005. Then a column of ash thrown out of the crater rose to a great height (more than 5 km). To local authorities had to evacuate the inhabitants of nearby villages.

This fire-breathing mountain consists of 2 conical peaks. Nevado de Colima is the highest of them. Its height is 4,625 m. It is considered extinct, and the other peak is an active volcano. It is called Volcán de Fuego de Colima - "Fire Volcano". Its height is 3,846 m. ​​The locals called it the Mexican Vesuvius.

It has erupted more than 40 times since 1576. And today it is extremely dangerous not only for residents of nearby cities, but for the whole of Mexico.

Galeras (Colombia)

Often the name of volcanoes is directly related to the area on which the mountain is located. But the name Galeras has nothing to do with the nearby town of Pasto.

It's huge and powerful volcano. Its height reaches 4276 meters. The diameter of the base is more than 20 kilometers, and the crater is 320 meters. It is located in Colombia (South America).

At the foot of this giant mountain is small town Pasto. In August 2010, its inhabitants had to be urgently evacuated due to the strongest eruption. The region has declared a state of emergency of the highest degree. More than 400 police officers were sent to the district to provide assistance to the townspeople.

Scientists say that over the past 7 thousand years, the volcano has woken up at least 6 times. And all the eruptions were very powerful. When conducting research work in 1993, six geologists died in the crater. At this time, another eruption began. In 2006, residents of the surrounding villages were evacuated due to the threat of a strong lava ejection.

Volcano Elbrus

On the border of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria is the highest point in Europe and, of course, Russia - Elbrus. WITH northern part Greater Caucasus it is connected by the Lateral Range. The Elbrus Volcano consists of two peaks that are approximately the same height. Its eastern part reaches 5621 m, and the western part - 5642 m.

It is a cone-shaped stratovolcano. Its layers are formed by flows of tufa, lava, and ash. The last eruptions of Elbrus were recorded 2500 years ago. Over time, it took on its current form. Few volcanoes on Earth can boast such a beautiful, "classic" cone shape. As a rule, craters quickly collapse under the influence of erosion. The beauty of Elbrus is protected by its mantle of ice and snow. It does not descend even in summer, for which the volcano was nicknamed Little Antarctica.

Despite the fact that he reminded of himself for a long time, experts who observe his current state and degree of activity do not consider him extinct. They call the mountain "sleeping". The volcano is behaving actively (fortunately, not yet destructively). Hot masses are still stored in its depths. They "warm up" known sources. Their temperature reaches +52 °С and +60 ºС. Seep through the cracks to the surface

Today Elbrus is a unique natural area, a valuable scientific base. In Soviet times, scientific research was carried out here, and now there is a geophysical laboratory, the highest in Europe.

Popocatepetl (Mexico)

This is the country's most located 50 kilometers from the capital - Mexico City. A city of twenty million is always prepared for an emergency evacuation. In addition, there are also two major cities- Tlaxcala de Jicotencatl and Puebla. This restless volcano also makes their inhabitants nervous. Emissions of sulfur, gas, stones and dust occur almost every month. In the last decade alone, the volcano has erupted three times.

Mauna Loa Volcano (USA, Hawaii)

This is the largest "fiery mountain" of the Earth in terms of volume. Together with the underwater part, it is 80,000 cubic meters. km! The southeastern slope and summit are part of the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.

There is a volcanological station on Mauna Loa. Research and ongoing observations have been carried out since 1912. There are also solar and atmospheric observatories.

Last eruption noted in 1984. The height of the mountain above sea level is 4,169 meters.

Nyiragongo (Congo)

As already noted, the name of volcanoes may not always be known to ordinary citizens living on another continent. That doesn't make the mountain any less dangerous. Its activities are monitored by specialists and promptly report on an increase in activity.

Next on our list is the active volcano Nyiragongo, which is 3,469 meters high. It is located in the central part of the African continent, in the Virunga mountains. The volcano is considered the most dangerous in Africa. Partially, it connects with the more ancient mountains of Shaheru and Baratu. It is surrounded by hundreds of smoldering small volcanic cones. 40% of all observed eruptions on the continent occur here.

Mount Rainier (USA)

Our overview list is completed by a stratovolcano located in Pierce County (Washington), 87 km south of Seattle.

Rainier is part of the Volcanic Arc. Its height is 4392 meters. Its summit is made up of two volcanic craters.

We have presented you the most famous volcanoes. Their list, of course, is incomplete, because, according to scientists, only active mountains there are more than 600. In addition, every year 1-2 new volcanoes appear on Earth.

An ordinary person does not see much difference between "extinct" and "sleeping" volcanoes. In fact, the differences are very significant, because a conditionally “sleeping” volcanic formation can suddenly wake up, and then it will not seem enough to anyone.

Another thing is that they are completely safe, which they actively use. travel companies and lovers active rest. What are the main features of extinct volcanoes?

The Physics of a Volcano Eruption - How It Becomes Extinct

The eruption occurs due to the presence in the magma not only of water vapor, but also of various gases: hydrogen chloride and fluoride, sulfur oxides and, methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide etc.

In a "sleeping" volcano, the concentration of gases dissolved in magma corresponds to the level of pressure under which the magma is at a certain depth. Thus, a state of equilibrium is maintained.

However, due to earthquakes that shift parts of the crust, a decrease in pressure may occur, for example, in the area of ​​a magma chamber. The state of equilibrium is disturbed and the gases immediately increase in volume due to the transition to the gaseous state.

The foaming magma begins to move upward, which leads to an even greater drop in pressure, and hence to an acceleration of the process of outgassing from the magma.

Accordingly, the probability of his awakening tends to zero.

List of famous extinct volcanoes in the world

Volcanoes that do not pose any threat are located on all seven continents: in the North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Antarctica and Australia.

To date, there are over two hundred extinct volcanoes in the world. The most characteristic representatives of this type are presented below.

Rocky

This extinct volcano is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the very center of the Sredinny Range. The highest point of the volcano is at around 1759 meters above sea level.

According to geologists, last time Stony was active about two and a half million years ago. The volcano was formed by lava flows and pyroclastic rocks. The volcanic form in the form of a gentle cone does not end with a crater destroyed by erosion, but with a steep peak.

Arayat

Located in Luzon largest island Philippines. The highest point is 1025 meters.

The last eruption occurred, most likely, about 10 thousand years ago. Despite the erosion that hit the northern and western parts of the crater, it still remained on top.

Damavand

It is located in the Iranian province of Mazendiran and is the most highest point mountain system Elburs (5620 meters above sea level). The last eruption was recorded around 5350 BC.

Damavend has the shape of a gentle cone and rises above Elburz for one and a half kilometers. The volcanic cone was formed by andesitic lava, but there are also glaciers on the slopes.

Sajama (Sajama)

Located in Bolivia Central Andes. The highest point above sea level is 6542 meters. Sajama is part of the National Park of the same name, located near the Chilean border.

Exact date last activity is not known for certain, but many scientists insist on the epoch of the Quaternary Holocene, i.e. about 12 thousand years ago.

Sajama is a classic cone-shaped stratovolcano, composed of hardened lava and its debris. At an altitude of more than 6000 meters, it is covered with never-melting snow and ice.

Aconcagua

It is considered the highest extinct volcano located all in the same Andes, but already on Argentinean territory. The peak is located at around 6961 meters above sea level.

Aconcagua, he is considered not only the champion among his fellows, but also the highest point of the southern and western hemispheres. For these merits, he even got into the list of the most high peaks six parts of the world "Seven Peaks".

Aconcagua is also one of the oldest volcanic formations on the planet.

The exact date is unknown, but many scientists conclude that it arose about 150 million years ago.

Excursions to extinct volcanoes

The traditional excursion lasts 1-2 days and involves either climbing to the peaks by helicopters or hiking.

Some volcanoes are even equipped with special areas where tourists can stop and enjoy the natural views from high altitudes.

Extinct volcanoes are not only a living reminder of the great power of nature.

Thanks to them a large number anywhere in the world, anyone can organize an appropriate tour and get an unforgettable experience.

In ancient times, volcanoes were the tools of the gods. Today they pose a serious threat to settlements and entire countries. Not a single armament of the world has been given such power on our planet - to conquer and pacify a raging volcano.

Now means mass media, cinema and some writers fantasize about future events famous park, the location of which is known to almost everyone who is interested modern geography It's about a national park in Wyoming. Undoubtedly, the most famous supervolcano in world history of the last two years is Yellowstone.

What is a volcano

For many decades, literature, especially in fantasy stories, attributed magical properties to a mountain that is capable of spewing fire. Most famous novel, which described an active volcano - "The Lord of the Rings" (there it was called "lonely mountain"). The professor was right about this phenomenon.

No one can look at mountain ranges up to several hundred meters high, without respect for the abilities of our planet to create such magnificent and dangerous natural objects. There is a special charm in these giants, which can also be called magic.

So, if we discard the fantasies of writers and the folklore of ancestors, then everything will become easier. From point of view geographical definition: a volcano (vulkan) is a break in the crust of any planetary mass, in our case the Earth, due to which volcanic ash and gas accumulated under pressure, together with magma, breaks out of the magma chamber, which is located under a solid surface. At this moment, an explosion occurs.

Causes

From the very first moments, the Earth was a volcanic field, on which trees, oceans, fields and rivers later appeared. Therefore, volcanism accompanies modern life.

How do they arise? On the Earth main reason education is the earth's crust. The fact is that above the earth's core is the liquid part of the planet (magma), which is always moving. It is thanks to this phenomenon that there is a magnetic field on the surface - a natural protection from solar radiation.

However, the earth's surface itself, although solid, is not solid, but is divided into seventeen large tectonic plates. When moving, they converge and diverge, it is because of the movement at the points of contact of the plates that breaks occur, and volcanoes arise. It is not at all necessary that this happens on the continents; there are similar gaps at the bottom of many oceans.

The structure of the volcano

A similar object forms on the surface as the lava cools. It is impossible to see what is hidden under many tons of rock. However, thanks to volcanologists and scientists, it is possible to imagine how it works.

A drawing of such a representation is seen by schoolchildren high school in the pages of a geographical textbook.

By itself, the device of the "fiery" mountain is simple and in the context it looks like this:

  • crater - top;
  • vent - a cavity inside a mountain, magma rises along it;
  • the magma chamber is a pocket at the base.

Depending on the type and form of formation of the volcano, some element of the structure may be absent. This option is classical, and many volcanoes should be considered in this context.

Types of volcanoes

Classification is applicable in two directions: by type and form. Since the movement of lithospheric plates is different, the rate of cooling of magma also varies.

Let's look at the types first:

  • operating;
  • sleeping;
  • extinct.

Volcanoes come in many forms:

The classification would not be complete if we do not take into account the relief forms of the crater of volcanoes:

  • caldera;
  • volcanic plugs;
  • lava plateau;
  • tuff cones.

Eruption

As ancient as the planet itself, a force that can rewrite the history of an entire country is an eruption. There are several factors that make such an event on earth the deadliest for the inhabitants of some cities. It is better not to get into a situation when a volcano erupts.

On average, 50 to 60 eruptions occur on the planet in one year. At the time of writing, about 20 ruptures are flooding the neighborhood with lava.

Perhaps the algorithm of actions is changing, but it depends on the accompanying weather conditions.

In any case, the eruption occurs in four stages:

  1. Silence. Large eruptions show that, until the moment of the first explosion, it is usually quiet. Nothing indicates the coming danger. A series of small shocks can only be measured by instruments.
  2. Ejection of lava and pyroclastite. A deadly mixture of gas and ash at a temperature of 100 degrees (reaches 800) Celsius is capable of destroying all life within a radius of hundreds of kilometers. An example is the eruption of Mount Helena in May of the eighties of the last century. Lava, the temperature of which can reach one and a half thousand degrees during the eruption, killed all life at a distance of six hundred kilometers.
  3. Lahar. If you are not lucky, then it may rain at the site of the eruption, as it was in the Philippines. In such situations, a continuous stream is formed, 20% consisting of water, the remaining 80% - rock, ash and pumice.
  4. "Concrete". The conditional name is the hardening of magma and ash that fell under the rain stream. Such a mixture destroyed more than one city.

The eruption is an extremely dangerous phenomenon, for half a century it has killed more than twenty scientists and several hundred civilians. Right now (as of this writing), the Hawaiian Kilauea continues to destroy the island.

The largest volcano in the world

Mauna Loa is the most high volcano on the ground. It is located on the island of the same name (Hawaii) and rises 9 thousand meters from the ocean floor.

His last awakening took place in the 84th year of the last century. However, in 2004 he showed the first signs of awakening.

If there is the largest, then there is also the smallest?

Yes, it is located in Mexico in the town of Pueblo and is called Catscomate, its height is only 13 meters.

active volcanoes

If you open a world map, then with a sufficient level of knowledge, you can find about 600 active volcanoes. Approximately four hundred of them are found in the "ring of fire" of the Pacific Ocean.

Eruption of the Guatemalan volcano Fuego

Perhaps someone will be interested list of active volcanoes:

  • in the territory of Guatemala - Fuego;
  • in the Hawaiian Islands - Kilauea;
  • within the borders of Iceland - Lakagigar;
  • on canary islands– La Palma;
  • in the Hawaiian Islands - Loihi;
  • on the Antarctic island - Erebus;
  • Greek Nisyros;
  • the Italian volcano Etna;
  • on Caribbean island Montserrat - Soufrière Hills;
  • Italian mountain in the Tyrrhenian Sea - Stromboli;
  • and the most eminent Italian - Mount Vesuvius.

Extinct volcanoes of the world

Volcanologists sometimes cannot say for sure whether natural object dormant or dormant. In most cases, the zero activity of a particular mountain does not guarantee safety. More than once, the giants who had fallen asleep for many years suddenly showed signs of activation. This was the case with the volcano near the city of Manila, but there are many similar examples.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Below are just some of the extinct volcanoes known to our scientists:

  • Kilimanjaro (Tanzania);
  • Mt Warning (in Australia);
  • Chaine des Puys (in France);
  • Elbrus (Russia).

The most dangerous volcanoes in the world

Eruption even small volcano looks impressive, one has only to imagine what a monstrous force lurks there, in the depths of the mountain. However, there are clear data that volcanologists use.

Through long observations, a special classification of potentially dangerous volcanic mountains was created. The indicator determines the impact of the eruption on the surrounding areas.

Most powerful explosion may result from the eruption of a mountain of colossal proportions. Volcanologists call this kind of "fiery" mountains a supervolcano. On the scale of activity, such formations should occupy a level not lower than the eighth.

Taupo volcano in New Zealand

There are four of them in total:

  1. Indonesian supervolcano of Sumatra-Toba island.
  2. Taupo is located in New Zealand.
  3. Serra Galan in the Andes mountains.
  4. Yellowstone in the North American park of the same name in Wyoming.

We have collected the most interesting facts:

  • the largest (in terms of duration) is the Pinatubo eruption of 91 years (20th century), which lasted more than a year and lowered the earth's temperature by half a degree (Celsius);
  • the mountain described above threw 5 km 3 of ash to a height of thirty-five kilometers;
  • the largest explosion occurred in Alaska (1912), when the Novarupta volcano became more active, reaching a level of six points on the VEI scale;
  • the most dangerous is Kilauea, which has been erupting for thirty years since 1983. Active on this moment. Killed more than 100 people, more than a thousand remain under threat (2018);
  • the deepest eruption to date occurred at a depth of 1200 meters - Mount West Mata, near the island of Fiji, the basin of the Lau River;
  • the temperature in the pyroclastic flow can be over 500 degrees Celsius;
  • the last supervolcano erupted on the planet about 74,000 years ago (Indonesia). Therefore, it can be said that not a single person has yet experienced such a catastrophe;
  • Klyuchevsky on the Kamchatka Peninsula is considered the largest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere;
  • ash and gases erupted by volcanoes can color sunsets;
  • the volcano with the coldest lava (500 degrees) is called Ol Doinyo Langai and is located in Tanzania.

How many volcanoes are on earth

There are not too many breaks in the earth's crust in Russia. From the school geography course it is known about the Klyuchevskoy volcano.

In addition to him, beautiful planet there are about six hundred active, as well as a thousand extinct and dormant. It is difficult to establish the exact number, but their number does not exceed two thousand.

Conclusion

Mankind should respect nature and remember that it is armed with more than one and a half thousand volcanoes. And let as much as possible less people will witness such a powerful phenomenon as an eruption.

A volcano is a geological formation that is located on cracks in the earth's crust. Through it, volcanic rocks, lava, ash, steam and poisonous gases come to the surface. Scientists are sure that every year 3 new volcanoes appear on our planet. Their total number is huge. More than 600 of them are active active volcanoes. They are located in different parts of the world and pose a serious danger to all living things.

Active volcanoes in Russia

Not all fire-breathing mountains are on land. Often they are located under water. This does not prevent their eruption at all. Fortunately, the most dangerous volcanoes are far beyond the borders of our country, however, we also have such dangerous hills. In this article, we will introduce you to the lava-spewing mountains located in our country and abroad, which can be dangerous for people's lives.

Klyuchevskiy Volcano

It is located on the Bering Sea. This is the largest volcano in Russia. This is a whole complex consisting of 12 cones. The height of the volcano is 4750 meters. It has a crater with a diameter of more than half a kilometer. A mountain of perfect cone shape. Active volcanoes constantly emit acrid smoke, which can be seen above the Klyuchevskoy crater. Sometimes you can see bursts of lava. Volcanologists believe that it appeared more than 5,000 years ago. It has come to life more than 50 times over the past three centuries. Most powerful eruptions belong to the 19th century.

Volcano Tolbachik

The Klyuchevskaya group includes several volcanoes. One of them is Tolbachik. Its height is 3682 meters. Experts attribute it to the Hawaiian type of volcanoes. It has two cones - Sharp and Flat. Its diameter is about 2 kilometers. The last eruption was in 1976. It is considered the highest in Eurasia.

Ichinskaya Sopka

There are also active volcanoes in Russia in Kamchatka. In the center of the peninsula is Ichinskaya Sopka. This volcano has three cones, they are covered with glaciers, except for one, which is active. Its height reaches 3621 meters.

Kronotskaya Sopka

The next lava-spewing mountain is located in the east of Kamchatka. Its height is 3528 meters. It is considered to be one of the most big volcanoes Russia. It erupts quite rarely. At its very top you can see ice, and forests grow at the base. Near the volcano is the famous Valley of Geysers and Lake Kronotskoe.

Koryaksky volcano

Its highest cone reaches a height of 3456 meters. According to its type, it belongs to stratovolcanoes. So far in the valley Koryakskaya Sopka find the remains of lava and loose rocks.

Volcano Shiveluch

In the north of Kamchatka there is another volcano known to specialists. It is called Shiveluch. The mountain has two cones - Old Shiveluch and Young Shiveluch. The last one is still active. Its height is 3283 meters. This large volcano erupts quite often. The last time it happened was in 1964. Volcanologists are sure that the age of this mountain is more than 60 thousand years.

Volcano Avacha

It is located near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Its height is 2741 meters, the diameter of the crater is four hundred meters. The top of Avach is covered with glaciers, dense forests grow at its base. Its last eruption was recorded in 2001.

Volcano Shishel

It is also located in the north of Kamchatka. Shield volcano with a height of 2525 meters. To this day, it is considered active, but the date of the last eruption is not known for certain.

Active volcanoes of the world

These mountains, which spew fire and ash, are dangerous due to their direct impact - the release of thousands of tons of burning lava that can destroy entire cities. Besides, great danger are suffocating volcanic gases, the threat of tsunamis, distortion of the terrain and dramatic climate change.

Merali (Indonesia)

Active volcanoes on the islands of Indonesia are very dangerous. One of them is Merapi. It is the most active: powerful eruptions occur here every six to seven years, and small ones occur almost every year. Smoke over the crater appears almost every day, reminding local residents about an imminent threat.

Merali is famous for the largest eruption that occurred in 1006. The medieval state of Mataram suffered from it. The danger of the volcano lies in the fact that it is located near densely populated city Yogyakarta.

Sakurajima (Japan)

Often readers are interested in the most active volcanoes. It would be more correct to call them the most active. These include Sakurajima, which has been in a state of activity since 1955. The last eruption occurred in early 2009. Until last year (2014), the volcano was located on a separate island of the same name, but the lava flows froze and connected it to the Osumi Peninsula. The people living in Kagoshima City are used to Sakurajima's behavior and are always ready to take shelter.

Cotopaxi (Ecuador)

The highest active volcanoes are in America. The record holder in this is Cotopaxi, located 50 km from the city of Quito. Its height is 5897 m, depth is 450 m, the crater is 550x800 m in size. At an altitude of 4700 m, the mountain is covered with eternal snow.

Etna (Italy)

This volcano is well known. It has not one main crater, but many small ones. Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, which is in constant activity. Its height is 3380 meters, its area is 1250 square kilometers.

Small eruptions occur after a few months. Despite this, the Sicilians densely populate the slopes of the volcano, since these places have very fertile soil (due to the presence of minerals and trace elements). The last eruption occurred in May 2011, with minor emissions of dust and ash in April 2013.

Vesuvius (Italy)

Italy's active volcanoes are two more large mountains except for Etna. Vesuvius and Stromboli.

In 79, the strongest eruption of Vesuvius destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. Their inhabitants were buried under layers of pumice, lava and mud. The strongest eruption happened in 1944. Then 60 people died, and the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano were completely destroyed. Scientists have calculated that Vesuvius destroyed nearby cities 80 times. Many active volcanoes in the world are not as well studied as this one. Due to this, researchers consider it the most predictable.

The territory of the volcano is protected. This national park where tourists from all over the world like to visit.

Colima (Mexico)

The active volcanoes of this country in our article are Nevado de Colima. Most time the mountain is covered with snow. Colima is very active - since 1576 it has erupted 40 times. The strongest eruption occurred in the summer of 2005.

Residents of nearby villages had to be evacuated. A column of ash shot up to a height of 5 km, causing a cloud of dust and smoke behind it.

10 largest and most dangerous volcanoes on Earth.

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.
TO extinct volcanoes include those that have not erupted in the near historical future, but the summit has the shape of a crater, but such volcanoes are unlikely to erupt.

List of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world:

1. (Hawaiian Islands, USA)



Located in the islands of Hawaii, it is one of the five volcanoes that make up the islands of Hawaii. This is the most big 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 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 a separate island in the immediate vicinity of 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. average speed 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 Yellow national park U.S.A.
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.