The most gigantic volcano in the world. The largest volcano in the world. Extinct and dormant volcanoes

The map of volcanoes shows the most dangerous volcanoes of the Earth, which are currently being closely monitored. The following is a description of them with a forecast of possible activity and its consequences. Additionally, volcanoes are marked with a red ring, the eruption of which can have catastrophic consequences for the whole world.

Vesuvius (Italy)

The proximity to Naples (15 km) makes this volcano deadly for more than three million Italians. He begins his sad glory from the year 79, when the cities of Herculaneum, Stabiae and Pompeii were destroyed during the eruption. Eruptions alternate with fairly long periods of calm. During the XVII - XX centuries. Vesuvius erupted with a period of 30-60 years. Last eruption was recorded in 1944. Scientists are unanimous in their opinion that the “killer of Pompeii” will wake up one day, only the timing and strength of the eruption remain unclear. But it does not seem to bother the frivolous Neapolitans at all.

Galeras (Colombia)

Located near the city of Pasto. The most active volcano in the region. Its activity began about 5 thousand years ago and does not subside to this day. Dangerous eruptions were noted in 2008, 2009, 2010, and each time thousands of people living nearby had to be evacuated.

Galunggung (Indonesia)

Located on the western tip of the island of Java. Its eruptions are characterized by high power. In 1822, he claimed the lives of 4,000 people, and in 1982 forced the country's authorities to evacuate about 35,000 inhabitants. Last erupted in 1990. Included in the list of the most dangerous volcanoes planets.

Yellowstone Volcano (USA)

It is located in the state of Wyoming, and, fortunately, it is calm today. It has been active several times over the past 2 million years, and its last eruption was over half a million years ago. The next eruption is expected not earlier than in several tens of thousands of years. This volcano is so huge that if it awakens, the United States will be almost completely destroyed, and the Earth will be covered with an impenetrable curtain of volcanic ash for a long time.

Katla (Iceland)

Located in the very south of Iceland. Over the past thousand years, according to various sources, it erupted from 14 to 16 times and caused significant melting of glaciers, which led to the flooding of nearby settlements. It is located near the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which recently erupted and blocked air traffic in Europe. Experts believe that the eruptions of the latter are the starting mechanism for the awakening of the Katla volcano, the destructive potential of which is much greater. The findings are also supported by the fact that Lately in the depths of the volcano, the level of magma rose noticeably. In this regard, an eruption is expected, in terms of power many times greater than the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. If it happens, the consequences can be catastrophic for the entire planet - in addition to the formation of a huge cloud of volcanic ash, there will be melting of glaciers and extensive flooding.

Colima (Mexico)

Located in the state of Jalisco in western Mexico. Last major eruption accompanied by evacuation local population recorded in 2005. In recent years, the activity of the Colima volcano has been increasing. It is also called the "Mexican Vesuvius".

Koryakskaya Sopka (Russian Federation)

Located 35 km. North of the city Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. There were powerful eruptions before our era, as well as in 1895 and 1956. May pose a threat to the population of Kamchatka. It belongs to the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and is under the close supervision of specialists.

Cumbre Vieja (Canary Islands)

Located on the island of Palma, which is part of canary islands. As a result of numerous volcanic eruptions, the coast of the island has undergone significant erosion. One of the slopes of Cumbre Vieja is unstable and may collapse as a result of a powerful eruption or a series of small eruptions. The fall of a rock weighing 500 billion tons into the ocean will lead to the formation of a tsunami that will destroy almost the entire east coast of the United States and cause intractable damage to countries Caribbean. Fortunately, the volcano has not yet shown alarming activity, and the danger of a supertsunami is still hypothetical.

Mauna Loa (USA)

Located on the island of Hawaii. It is the largest volcano on the planet in terms of volume (80,000 cubic kilometers). The nearby Kilaue volcano is considered one of the most beautiful volcanoes on the ground.

Merapi (Indonesia)

The biggest active volcano in Indonesia and one of the youngest in Java. It erupts about twice a year, and once every seven years the eruption is quite strong. It is a great danger to nearby settlements. In 1673 he destroyed several cities, in 1930 he caused the death of 1300 people, in 1974-75. destroyed three villages.

Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia)

Located in the departments of Tolima and Caldas. The largest active volcano in the Andes. Remains active for about two million years. In 1985, its eruption caused the death of more than 20,000 people. The upcoming eruption was announced in advance, but no one heeded the warning due to several false alarms the previous day.

Niragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Located in the Virunga mountains on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The most active and dangerous volcano in Africa. Although Niragongo is currently relatively calm, his awakening could be disastrous. Its potential is enormous, and in the event of an eruption under the shadow of volcanic ash, not only Africa, but also Europe and partly Asia can be for a long time.

Pinatubo (Philippines)

Located on the island of Luzon, almost 100 km. From Manila. Until 1991, it was considered extinct. Its awakening was unexpected and swift - during the eruption in 1991. It was destroyed military base US Air Force and killed about 1,000 people. The main danger of this volcano is a large-scale emission of volcanic ash. In a matter of days, the 1991 eruption released about 10 cubic kilometers into the atmosphere rocks. Then, for several months, the Earth's stratosphere was filled with sulfuric acid aerosol, which led to the formation of an ozone hole over Antarctica. giant size and a temperature drop of 0.5 degrees Celsius.

Popocatepetl (Mexico)

Located near Mexico City. For the entire time of the presence of Europeans in America, he showed a rather weak activity, but in recent years he has become more active. Represents a huge potential danger due to the proximity of a twenty-million metropolis.

Rainier (USA)

It is located 85 kilometers southeast of the city of Seattle. The last eruption was a century and a half ago, but recently the volcano has become more active. In the event of an eruption, the lives of about 200,000 people will be at risk.

Sakurajima (Japan)

Located in Kagoshima Prefecture on the island (originally) Sakurajima. As a result of the 1914 eruption, the strait was filled with lava, and Sakurajima became a peninsula. The location near the city of Kagoshima with almost a million inhabitants makes this volcano one of the most dangerous on the planet. Probably for the same reason it is called "Eastern Vesuvius". Monitoring it and predicting its activity is one of the main tasks of Japanese geologists.

Santa Maria (Guatemala)

Located near the city of Quetzaltenango. young and big volcano which has been growing in activity in recent years. A strong eruption happened in 1902, and caused the death of 6,000 people. The roar of the explosion was heard at a distance of 800 km.

Tambora (Indonesia)

Located on the island of Sumbawa. Known for the fact that its eruption in the spring of 1815 was the largest in the last few thousand years, both in terms of the number of erupted rocks and the number of victims. As a result of the eruption, 140 billion tons of solid substances were thrown into the atmosphere, and 10,000 people died immediately. The total number of deaths over time reached the mark of 100,000. In fact, this volcano destroyed the developed and ancient culture Tambora that existed on the island. The ejected ash plunged an area of ​​more than 500 km into complete darkness for three days. from the site of the eruption. But the consequences extended much further. In Europe and America in 1816, an extremely low temperature, and the snow melted only in summer, which is why the year was called "the year without summer." Naturally, this led to crop failures and numerous starvation deaths around the world.

Ulavun (Papua New Guinea)

Located in the eastern part of the island of New Britain. Ranked among the most active volcanoes Papua New Guinea, is one of the most frequently erupted, which, in fact, is remarkable. Known as an active volcano since 1700. In 1937, during the eruption, it practically covered the capital of the country, located at a distance of more than 100 km, with ashes.

Unzen (Japan)

Located on the Shimabara Peninsula in southwestern Kyushu. Currently, it is weakly active and belongs to the most dangerous, rather because of its history. Its eruption in 1792 is among the most destructive eruptions in the world. The 23 m high tsunami generated by him claimed the lives of about 15,000 people.

Etna (Italy)

Located on the eastern tip of the island of Sicily. The most active and highest volcano in Europe. regurgitates not a large number of lava about four times a year and, on average, completely destroys one or more nearby settlements once every one and a half centuries. Danger is a tendency local residents settle close to Etna due to the extreme fertility of the soil formed as a result of constant eruptions. Numerous lovers of high yields run the risk of suddenly dying one day.

To date, there are several hundred active volcanoes on our planet, among all this diversity there are both the most powerful and largest, and the highest. Each of the volcanoes has one important characteristic that unites them all - they have great potential and power. Volcanoes majestically rise above the ground from a few hundred to several thousand meters above the ground.

In addition, volcanoes have two unpleasant characteristics - they are very dangerous and unpredictable.

THE LARGEST VOLCANOES

Probably, we can safely say that the most massive among its relatives in the whole world is located in Hawaii and has the name Mauna Loa. Indeed, he can be called a real giant, and he takes huge area on Hawaiian Islands. Firstly, this volcano can frighten anyone with its gigantic size, and secondly, today it is the most active volcano in the world. The first recorded eruption of Mauna Loa occurred in 1843, since then 43 such eruptions have been counted.

The last time a rather powerful eruption occurred in the twentieth century, namely: in 1984. It was then that a huge amount of lava poured out of the mouth of the volcano, it covered an area of ​​​​more than 12 thousand hectares of land. Also, the frozen lava significantly increased the area of ​​the island itself. Mauna Loa rises above the ocean level by 4170 meters, and do not forget that the volcano goes under water for a similar distance. Therefore, if we combine the height above the level and the depth below the sea level, it turns out that this particular volcano is the highest, and also that this is the most big mountain on the planet. According to such a total indicator, Mauna Loa even surpasses the famous Jomalungma.

Among a large number of scientists, there is an opinion that Llullaillaco should be considered the most massive volcano on Earth, and we are talking about volcanoes that are currently active. This volcano is located in the Andes, and more specifically, among the Argentine and Chilean Andes. Lullaillaco has a height of 6723 meters, the last time he woke up in 1877, but this eruption was remembered by all the locals.

Llullaillaco volcano

But in the scientific community there is disagreement about which of the volcanoes should be called the largest. For example, some believe that the highest and largest volcano is located in South America, near the equator. This refers to the actually huge volcano and it is called Cotopaxi, whose height is 5879 meters. Despite being lower in height than Llullaillaco, the Cotopaxi volcano has more rich story eruptions, the last time it happened in 1942.

Cotopaxi volcano

And if Cotopaxi cannot be called the most big volcano on Earth, then the epithet "the most beautiful" he definitely deserves. Judge for yourself - at the foot of just an abundance of green vegetation tropical jungle, and the top of the volcano is covered with a white snow cap. Of course, like the whole family of volcanoes, Cotopaxi is also quite dangerous, since during the entire observation period it woke up more than a dozen times and spewed out a huge amount of lava from its mouth. In one of these eruptions, the city of Latacunga was completely destroyed.

THE HIGHEST VOLCANO

If we talk about such a characteristic as height, then the highest of all volcanoes on Earth is Ojos del Salado. This volcano is located between two states - Chile and Argentina. Translated from Spanish it translates as "salty tears". The height of this volcano is 6890 meters above sea level, while the highest peak is located on Chilean territory. This cannot but please the citizens of Chile, moreover, they are proud of having such a high volcano in their country.

Various scientists conducted a large number of expeditions to this volcano, conducted a lot of research there, and in the end they came to the unanimous opinion that Ojos del Salado did not erupt even once. More specifically, we are talking about the last two million years. Despite the fact that the volcano is in a dormant state, most recently, in 1993, it released a large amount of sulfur and water vapor into the atmosphere. Therefore, it is not only the highest volcano on the planet, but also the calmest to date.

THE BIGGEST VOLCANO ERUPTION

The most powerful volcanic eruption, documented information about which has survived to this day, is an eruption near the capital of Indonesia - the proud Jakarta. All the fear and power of the volcano, its inhabitants felt on themselves. Tragic events took place back in 1883, just then, on May 20, a local volcano called Krakatau woke up. At first, the eruption was manifested by strong tremors, the earth literally shook. It should be noted that Krakatoa itself is located at a distance of 50 kilometers from Jakarta. Actually, for three months, tremors of various strengths occurred from time to time, but the worst began on August 27, on that day Krakatau woke up for real.

It began with the terrible force of the explosion, it was even heard by those who were 5 thousand kilometers from the volcano. Further, a huge cloud of ash rose into the sky, and the volcano threw it to a height of 30 kilometers. If we talk about the gas-ash column, then it flew all the way to the mesosphere. Then a deafening explosion sounded, today it corresponds to a force of 6 points. settling long time ash covered almost the entire territory of Indonesia. A terrible explosion provoked a devastating tsunami, from the impact of which 37,000 people died in one day. Some eyewitnesses claimed that in some areas the wave reached a height of 30 meters.

As a result, the volcanic eruption completely destroyed 165 towns and cities. Huge clouds of volcanic ash settled over the entire territory of the Earth for several more years and influenced the climate throughout the planet for two years.

Ojos del Salado is the highest volcano on the planet. It is located in the Chilean Andes in South America, on the border of Argentina and Chile, but it belongs to Argentine territory. Its height reaches 6893 meters. This is the second highest peak of the South American continent. Not far from the volcano lies the Atacama Desert. The volcano has not erupted during the entire period of observation of it and is considered extinct.

In the Western Cordillera of the Andes, the world's highest active volcano, Llullaillaco, is located. Altitude its equal to 6739 meters. The top of the volcano is covered with ice. snow line western slope Llullaillaco has highest position on the ground - more than 6.5 thousand meters. In 1877, the last volcanic eruption took place. IN given time it is in the solfataric stage.

In Chile, on the edge of the Atacama Desert, is the active volcano San Pedro. Its height is 6145 meters, its shape is a stratovolcano. It is located in the Antofagasta region of the province of El Loa and is adjacent to the Sero Parini volcano. From mountain ranges Central Andes San Pedro is separated by a huge saddle. The last volcanic eruption was recorded on December 2, 1960.

Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in Ecuador (5911 meters) and the second highest peak in the country. It is located in the Cordillera Oriental in South America. The volcano is included in the list of the highest active volcanoes in the world. It has a huge crater measuring 550x800 meters and a depth of 450 meters. Cotopaxi has erupted about 50 times since 1738. The last eruption dates back to 1940.

In the northeast of Tanzania, rising above the Masai plateau, is the active volcano Kilimanjaro. It reaches 5895 meters and is considered the highest point in Africa. Exploring Kilimanjaro, in 2003, scientists found that only 400 meters away from the rim of the molten lava crater Kibo - main summit volcano. There are fears that a major eruption is approaching.

The El Misti stratovolcano is located in Peru in South America. Its height is 5822 meters. IN winter time the top of the volcano is covered with snow. 17 kilometers west of El Misti is the city of Arequipa with a million inhabitants. Most of the buildings in it are built from deposits of pyroclastic flows of the volcano, thanks to which Arequipa is also called the "white city".

most high peak Mexico is Orizaba. Her middle name is Sitlaltepetl, which translates as "star mountain". It is the third highest point on the list. North America. Its peak is located at an altitude of 5636 meters, and its excess is 4922 meters. Orizaba erupted 7 times between 1537 and 1687, but the volcano is now considered dormant.

Elbrus is in the north Caucasus mountains and is the most high point Russia. The stratovolcano is a saddle-shaped cone with two peaks located at a distance of 3000 meters from each other. The heights of the western and eastern peaks are 5642 and 5621 meters, respectively. The saddle separating the peaks is 5300 meters high. The date of the last eruption is approximately 50 AD.

The active volcano Popocatepetl rises above the Mexican Highlands. Its name in Nahuatl means "smoking hill". This is the second highest stratovolcano in Mexico, its peak reaches 5455 meters. Not far from it is dormant volcano Istaxihuatl. Popocatepetl last erupted in 2011. Northwest of the volcano is the city of Mexico City with a population of 20 million.

Closes the list of the most high volcanoes"Sangai". The active volcano Sangay is located in Ecuador, on the eastern side of the equatorial Andes. Its height is 5230 meters. This stratovolcano has three craters. According to scientists, Sangai was formed approximately 14,000 years ago. In 1628, an eruption was first recorded. Since 1934, the volcano has been actively erupting, the last time - in 2007.

Today on the globe There are over 600 active volcanoes. They are concentrated mainly at the junctions tectonic plates. The Andes can boast (or cry) about the largest number of "working" volcanoes. It is here that the highest active volcano in the world, called Cotopaxi, is located.

About 70 thousand years ago in South America, 80 km from the equator and 150 km from the coast Pacific Ocean the volcano exploded. From huge mountain there was a funnel with a diameter of several tens of kilometers with an almost flat bottom and sheer walls. It seemed that everything was over. But a few years later, a new crater formed in the center of the funnel-caldera. With each new eruption, lava and ash were layered on top of each other, forming an even cone. The mountain grew and for many centuries became one of the highest. The wind from the ocean brought moisture to it, settling on the top in a white cap of ice and snow. It sparkled in the rays of the sun and was visible for many kilometers.

The people of one of the tribes who saw the mountain gave it a name in their own language: Sparkling Mountain. Or maybe the volcano got this name not because of the snow, but because of the column of fire escaping from the crater during the eruption, illuminating the top, or smoke. One of the translations of the name is Smoking Mountain. In the language of another tribe, the name of the mountain was translated into Russian as “Neck of the Moon” or “Throne of the Moon”. Be that as it may, those tribes do not exist, and the highest active volcano in the world bears the name they invented - Cotopaxi.

For many years, only the surrounding tribes knew about the volcano. They considered fiery mountain sacred and treated with respect. Years passed, the volcano seemed to subside. Only old people remembered eruptions. But one day, around 1530, the priests watching the mountain noticed that the snow cap began to melt and by 1534 it had completely disappeared. What happened was interpreted as a terrible omen. At the same time, strange armed people appeared in the vicinity, speaking in an incomprehensible language. They demanded something incomprehensible, and killed those who could not give it to them, that is, everyone. The warriors of the tribe entered into battle with them and, in the heat of battle, did not notice the eruption that had begun. When the danger was discovered, all that remained was to run. The tribal leaders and priests interpreted what happened as the wrath of the gods. So the territory near Cotopaxi submitted to the Spaniards, and the volcano became known in Europe.

Note! The first attempt to explore Cotopaxi was made in 1802, but the expeditions led by the German geographer Alexander von Humboldt and the Frenchman Aimé Bonpland failed to climb the mountain. The summit was conquered by Humboldt's compatriot, geologist Wilhelm Reiss on November 28, 1872.

Travel to the volcano

Cotopaxi with a height of about 5900 m is clearly visible from Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

From the city along a fertile valley of volcanoes, formed by two parallel chains of mountains, the Pan-American Highway leads to it. An inconspicuous turn to the left, another ten kilometers, and the entrance to the national park Cotopaxi.

The entrance fee is 2 dollars from "ours" and 10 from "strangers". Up to a height of 4500 m can be reached by car, further - on foot. Shelter where climbers gather located at an altitude of 4800 m.

Guests meet manual fox. He feeds on the remnants of food and therefore is happy with the guests.

From above you can see the area. The foot of the mountain is covered coniferous forest, in which there is a multitude of all kinds of animals and birds.

Above, the forest gives way to tundra with mosses, lichens and heather valleys. Relief becomes visible. The undulating surface is cut by cracks left by mudflows and rivers flowing down the mountain. Some recesses filled with water. Numerous birds and amphibians live on the formed lakes. Stones and boulders brought by mudflows are scattered everywhere. Volcanic ash covering the ground is of two colors: almost black and red-pink.

In the mountain shelter, groups are formed to climb to the top, they take everyone, even beginners.

In the daytime, you can climb to the snow line on your own, but higher - only accompanied local guide. Equipment is issued on the spot. The ascent starts at night and lasts 7-8 hours. Dawn overtakes travelers on the edge of the crater, it is double.

The outer funnel is more ancient and rectangular, approximately 500x800 m, while the inner one is new and almost perfectly round. From the top there is an unparalleled view of the surrounding landscape.

Note! The top of Cotopaxi is one of the few places on Earth where you can see both polar star, and the constellation Southern Cross.

The cold wind does not allow to linger at the top. On the descent in daylight, cracks between the flows of solidified lava are clearly visible, through which bridges of packed snow are “thrown”.

dangerous neighborhood

The Cotopaxi volcano is the most visited mountain in Ecuador. It seems that people have firmly settled down at its foot and on the slopes, but the columns of steam and sulfur oxide escaping from the vent remind what, or with whom, they are dealing.

Note! Over the past 250 years, the volcano has erupted 50 times. The most powerful ejection occurred on April 4, 1768. Then the lava reached the coast of the ocean, and in Quito, because of the ash, the day turned into night. At the foot of the mountain itself, it was light from the fire escaping from the crater. The explosion of the volcano in 1746 was heard 800 kilometers away, in Bolivia. In the twentieth century, he woke up the most in 1904, 1942 and 1976.

Now Cotopaxi is sleeping, but the danger of a new eruption remains. Mudflows and lahars are the main threat. These are streams of water flowing from the mountain along cracks and riverbeds and sweeping away everything in its path. In 1887, such a mudflow washed away a village located 240 km from the volcano. Lahars, a mixture of water and ash with the properties of liquid concrete, have repeatedly flooded the city of Latacunga, located 40 km from Cotopaxi. The proximity to the capital of two million, which is 60 km in a straight line, makes the volcano one of the most dangerous in the world.

However, who is higher?

Cotopaxi is considered the highest active volcano on the planet. But not everyone agrees with this. In the Andes, there are two of his "colleagues" higher: Lullaillaco with a height of 6739 meters and Ojos del Salado, its height is 6887 meters. This is the highest of all existing volcanoes active and extinct. They argue about whether they are sleeping or extinguished. Llullaillaco last erupted in 1877. It is said that a column of steam was recently seen over it. Ojos del Salado was active about 1300 years ago, but steam and sulfur emissions have also been recorded at a later time.

Whether they are active or already extinguished, no one can accurately answer this question. So only a new eruption of one of the volcanoes will put an end to the discussion: which of the active volcanoes on earth is the highest.

Video

Timelapse of the night sky over Cotopaxi volcano:

Aerial shot of Cotopaxi and Antizan:

Most of the volcanoes on our planet are located in the "ring of fire", which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. And in total there are about 1.5 thousand volcanoes on Earth, of which 540 are active.

Here is a list of the most dangerous ones.

1. Nyiragongo, height 3470 m, Democratic Republic Congo

This is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Africa. Since 1882, 34 eruptions have been recorded here. The main crater is 250 meters deep and 2 km wide, and contains a lake of actively bubbling lava. This lava is unusually fluid and its flows can reach speeds of 100 km/h. In 2002, the eruption killed 147 people and left 120,000 homeless. The last eruption to date occurred in 2016.

2. Taal, height 311 m, Philippines


This is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet. It has erupted 34 times since 1572. Located on the island of Luzon, on Lake Taal. The strongest eruption of this volcano in the 20th century occurred in 1911 - 1335 people died in 10 minutes and in general all living things at a distance of up to 10 km. In 1965, 200 people died. Last eruption - 1977

3. Mauna Loa, height 4169 m, Hawaii (USA)


There are many volcanoes in Hawaii, but this is the largest and most dangerous of all. Since 1832, 39 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption occurred in 1984, the last strong eruption in 1950.

4. Vesuvius, height 1281 m, Italy


One of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world is located just 15 km east of Naples. The most famous historical eruption occurred in 79 AD. As a result of this catastrophe, two cities - Pompeii and Herculaneum - disappeared from the face of the Earth. IN modern history The last eruption of Vesuvius happened in 1944.

5. Merapi, height 2,930 m, Indonesia


This most active active volcano in Indonesia is located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. "Merapi" is translated as "mountain of fire". The volcano is young, so it puffs with enviable regularity. Large eruptions occur on average every 7 years. In 1930, about 1300 people died, in 1974 two villages were destroyed, in 2010 353 people died. Last eruption - 2011

6. St. Helens, height 2,550 m, USA


Located 154 km from Seattle and 85 km from Portland. Most famous eruption of this active volcano occurred in 1980, when 57 people died. The eruption was of a rare type - "directed explosion". The process of the volcanic eruption and the spread of the ash cloud was photographed by photographer Robert Landsburg, who died during this eruption, but kept the film. Last Activity currently recorded in 2008.

7. Etna, height 3,350 m, Italy


Mount Etna is located on east coast Sicily. It is the highest active volcano in Europe. During its existence, it erupted about 200 times. In 1992, one of the most major eruptions, during which the town of Zafferana barely escaped. On December 3, 2015, the central crater of the volcano threw a fountain of lava to a kilometer high. The last eruption is February 27, 2017.

8. Sakurajima, height 1117 m, Japan


The volcano is located on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu Island in the Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima. There is almost always a cloud of smoke above the volcano. The eruptions were recorded on August 18, 2013, in March 2009. The last eruption was recorded on July 26, 2016.

9. Galeras, height 4276 m, Colombia


Over the past 7 thousand years, at least six large eruptions and many small ones have occurred on Galeras. In 1993, during the research work six volcanologists and three tourists died in the crater (then the eruption also began). Latest recorded eruptions: January 2008, February 2009, January and August 2010

10. Popocatepetl, height 5426 m, Mexico


The name translates as "smoking hill". The volcano is located near Mexico City. It has erupted 20 times since 1519. The last eruption was recorded in 2015.

11. Unzen, height 1,500 m, Japan


The volcano is located on the Shimabara Peninsula. The eruption of Mount Unzen in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in human history in terms of the number of human casualties. The eruption caused a tsunami 55 meters high, which killed more than 15 thousand people. And in 1991, 43 people died during the eruption. No eruptions have been observed since 1996.

12. Krakatoa, height 813 m, Indonesia


This active volcano is located between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Before the historic eruption of 1883, the volcano was much higher and was one big Island. However powerful eruption 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Today, Krakatau is still active and small eruptions occur fairly regularly. Last activity - 2014.

13. Santa Maria, height 3,772 m, Guatemala


The first recorded eruption of this volcano occurred in October 1902, before that he "rested" for 500 years. The explosion was heard 800 km away in Costa Rica, and the ash column rose 28 km. About 6 thousand people died. Today the volcano is active. The last eruption was recorded in 2011.

14. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, height 4835 m, Russia


The volcano is located in the east of Kamchatka, 60 km from the coast. It is the largest active volcano in Russia. Over the past 270 years, more than 50 eruptions have been recorded, the last in April 2016.

15. Karymskaya Sopka, height 1468 m, Russia


Also located in Kamchatka. More than 20 eruptions have been recorded since 1852. eruptions recent years: 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 Very restless volcano.