The world's largest volcano. The largest volcanoes in the world

Active and extinct volcanoes have always attracted people. People settled on the volcanic slopes to engage in agriculture, because the volcanic soil is very fertile.

Today, majestic geological formations attract crowds of tourists who want to admire their beauty.

Thirsty for extreme sports, even the most dangerous natural objects - active volcanoes - do not stop.

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List of active volcanoes in the world

Today we will look at where there are active volcanoes in the world. Most of them are located along the coast. This zone is called the Pacific Ring of Fire. The second most volcanic zone is the Mediterranean belt.

In total, there are about 900 active volcanoes on land.

About 60 geological formations of the earth explode every year. Consider the most dangerous of the active, as well as a few impressive, but dormant.

Merapi, Indonesia

Merapi is the most impressive, nicknamed the "Mountain of Fire". It is located on about. Java, reaches a height of 2914 m. Large-scale emissions are carried out every 7 years, and small ones twice a year. Smoke constantly comes out of its crater. One of the most significant tragedies associated with activity broke out in 1006. Then a ferocious element destroyed the Javanese-Indian state of Mataram.

In 1673, another powerful eruption broke out, as a result of which the towns and villages located at the foot were destroyed. In 1930, volcanic eruptions killed 1,300 people.

The last release of Merapi occurred in 2010, when 350,000 people needed to be evacuated. Some of them decided to return and died in the lava flow. 353 people suffered then.

In that last catastrophe, Fire Mountain threw out a mixture of ash and gas at a speed of 100 km / h, while the temperature reached 1000 ° C.

Sakurajima, Japan

Sakurajima is located on about. Kyushu. Once the mountain stood separately, but in one of the eruptions, with the help of lava, it joined the Osumi Peninsula. It rises to a height of 1117 m. It consists of three peaks, the highest of which is the northern one.

The activity of Sakurajima increases every year, and until 1946 there were only 6 releases. It has been erupting continuously since 1955.

Note: one of the largest disasters occurred in 1914, when the elements claimed the lives of 35 people. In 2013, 1097 emissions of insignificant force were recorded, and in 2014 - 471.

Aso, Japan

Aso is another volcanic giant about. Kyushu. Its height is 1592 m. This is a caldera, in the middle of which there are 17 cones. The most active of them is Nakadake.

Aso last erupted lava in 2011. Since then, there have been about 2500 aftershocks. In 2016, the ejection process was accompanied by an earthquake.

It is worth noting: despite the danger associated with the extreme activity of Aso, about 50 thousand people live in the caldera, and the crater itself has become a popular object of active tourism. In winter, skiing is possible on the slopes of Aso.

Nyiragongo, Republic of the Congo

Nyiragongo belongs to the Virunga mountain system, is the most active in Africa. The height is 3470 m. In its crater there is a huge bubbling lava lake, the largest in the world. During an eruption, lava flows out almost completely, destroying everything around in a matter of hours. After that, it fills the crater again. Due to the military situation in the Republic of the Congo, the crater has not yet been sufficiently explored.

Since the end of the 19th century alone, 34 eruptions of the formidable Nyiragongo have been noted. Its lava is very liquid because it does not contain enough silicates. For this reason, it spreads rapidly, reaching a speed of 100 km / h. This feature makes Nyiragongo one of the most dangerous on the planet. In 1977, a huge mass of lava hit the nearby town. The cause was the rupture of the crater wall. The disaster claimed the lives of several hundred people.

In 2002, another large-scale eruption occurred, then 400 thousand people were evacuated, 147 of whom died. Despite the fact that this Nyiragongo is considered the most dangerous in the world, about half a million people live in nearby settlements.

Galeras, Colombia

It rises above the Colombian town of Pasto, with about 500 thousand inhabitants. Galeras reaches a height of 4276 m. In recent years, Galeras has been constantly active, throwing out volcanic ash.

One of the largest eruptions was recorded in 1993. The element led to the death of 6 volcanologists and 3 tourists in the crater. The disaster came unexpectedly, after a long lull.

One of the recent eruptions occurred in August 2010. Colombian authorities periodically evacuate local residents as Galeras is active.

Colima, Mexico

Spread Colima on the Pacific coast. Consists of 2 peaks, one of which is extinct. In 2016, Colima became active, releasing a column of ash.

The last time he reminded of himself was on January 19, 2017. At the time of the disaster, a cloud of ash and smoke rose 2 km.

Vesuvius, Italy

Vesuvius is the most famous volcanic giant in continental Europe. It is located in Italy, 15 km from.

Vesuvius has 3 cones. Strong eruptions alternate with periods of low-power activity. Throws out a huge amount of ash and gases. In 79, Vesuvius shook all of Italy, destroying the cities of Pompeii and Stabia. They were covered with a thick layer of ash, reaching up to 8 m. The city of Herculaneum was flooded with mud flows, as mud rains accompanied the eruption.

In 1631, an eruption was noted that claimed the lives of 4,000 people. It turned out to be weaker than in 79, but the slopes of Vesuvius have since been inhabited by more people, which led to such victims. The volcano after this event became lower by 168 m. The eruption of 1805 destroyed almost the entire Naples and claimed the lives of 26 thousand people.

The last time Vesuvius erupted lava flows in 1944, leveling the cities of San Sebastiano and Massa. The number of victims was 27 people. After that, the volcano subsided. A volcano observatory was built here to track its activities.

Etna, Italy

Etna is the highest volcano in Europe. It is located in the northern hemisphere in the east of Sicily. Its height changes after each eruption, now it is 3429 m above sea level.

Etna has, according to various estimates, 200-400 side craters. Every 3 months, one of them erupts. Quite often, this leads to the destruction of villages, spread out nearby.

Despite the dangers, the Sicilians densely populate the slopes of Etna. It even created a national park.

Popocatepetl, Mexico

The second highest peak in Mexico, its name means "smoking hill". It is located 70 km from Mexico City. The height of the mountain is 5500 meters.

Over 500 years, Popocatepetl has erupted lava over 15 times, the last time it happened in 2015.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Russia

This is the highest peak of Kamchatka. Its height ranges from 4750-4850 m above sea level. The slopes are covered with lateral craters, of which there are more than 80.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka reminds of itself every 3 years, each of its activity lasts several months and is sometimes accompanied by ashfalls. The most active year was 2016, when the volcano exploded 55 times.

The most destructive was the catastrophe of 1938, when Klyuchevskaya Sopka was active for 13 months.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

Mauna Loa can be found in the central part of the island of Hawaii. It rises to 4169 m above sea level. Mauna Loa is of the Hawaiian type.

Its characteristic feature is the outpouring of lava, passing without explosions and ash emissions. Lava erupts through the central vent, cracks and fractures.

Cotopaxi, Ecuador

Cotopaxi belongs to the Andes mountain system. This is the second highest peak, rising to 5911 m.

The first eruption was recorded in 1534. The eruption had the most devastating consequences in 1768. Then the ejection of lava and sulfur was accompanied by an earthquake. The disaster destroyed the city of Latacunga with its surroundings. The eruption was so strong that traces of it were found in the Amazon basin.

Iceland

There are about three dozen volcanoes on the island of Iceland. Among them there are long-extinct ones, but there are also active ones.

This island is the only one in the world where so many geological formations are located. Icelandic territory is a real volcanic plateau.

Extinct and dormant volcanoes

Volcanoes that have lost their activity are extinct and dormant. It is safe to visit them, so these sites are more popular among travelers. On the map, such geological formations are marked with black asterisks, in contrast to active ones, marked with red asterisks.

What is the difference between an extinct and dormant volcano? Extinct ones do not show active activity for at least 1 million years. Presumably, their magma has already cooled down and will not be able to explode. True, volcanologists do not exclude that a new volcano may form in their place.

Aconcagua, Argentina

Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Andes. It rises to 6960.8 m. The mountain was formed at the junction of the Nazca and South American lithospheric plates. Today the slopes of the mountain are covered with glaciers.

Aconcagua is of interest to climbers as the highest peak in South America, as well as the highest extinct volcano.

Kilimanjaro, Africa

If someone is asked to name the highest mountain in Africa, he will name the most famous mountain on the African continent. It consists of 3 peaks, the highest of them is Kibo (5,891.8 m).

Kilimanjaro is considered dormant, now only gases and sulfur come out of its crater. It is expected to be active when the mountain collapses, leading to a massive eruption. Scientists consider the peak of Kibo to be the most formidable.

Yellowstone, USA

Yellowstone is located on the territory of the national park of the same name. The top belongs to the supervolcanoes, of which there are 20 on Earth. Yellowstone is extremely dangerous because it erupts with incredible force, and can affect the planet's climate.

Yellowstone has erupted three times. The last eruption took place 640 thousand years ago, at the same time a caldera cavity was formed.

At this volcano, lava accumulates in a special reservoir, where it melts the surrounding rocks, becoming thicker. This reservoir is very close to the surface, which worries volcanologists.

The eruption is stopped by water flows that cool the magma bubble and break out in the form of geysers. Since there is still a lot of energy left inside the bubble, it is expected to burst out in the near future.

The US authorities are taking all measures to prevent the eruption of Yellowstone, because it can kill 87 thousand people. One of the projects is the installation of a geothermal station, but this will require drilling wells that can provoke a catastrophe not only in the country, but on the entire planet.

Elbrus, Russia

The Caucasian peak is attractive for climbers today. Its height is 5621 m. This is a dormant formation in which volcanic processes occur. The last eruption took place presumably 1.7 thousand years ago, 500 years ago it released a column of ash.

The activity of Elbrus is evidenced by geothermal springs located nearby. Scientists disagree on when to expect the next eruption, but it is known for sure that it will lead to the convergence of the mudflow.

Big and Small Ararat, Turkey

Big Ararat (5165 m) is located on the Armenian Highlands, 11 km from it is Small Ararat (3927 m).

The eruptions of Greater Ararat have always been accompanied by destruction. The last tragedy broke out in 1840 and was accompanied by a strong earthquake. Then 10,000 people died.

Kazbek, Georgia

Kazbek is located in Georgia. The locals call it Mkinvartsveri, which translates as "ice mountain". The height of the giant is 5033.8 m.

Kazbek is not active today, but it is classified as potentially dangerous. It last erupted in 650 BC.

The mountain has very steep slopes, mudflow landslides are possible.

Conclusion

Volcanoes are among the most attractive tourist sites. Today, they are no longer so dangerous, since volcanologists can predict their activity. Research is being conducted on the use of the energy of geological formations for the benefit of mankind.

In an effort to go to the top of a volcano, especially an active one, it is necessary to collect information about its condition, listen to the forecasts of seismologists, since tragic incidents among tourists often occur.

We bring to your attention an interesting video about the active volcanoes of the world:

Today there are more than 600 active volcanoes on the globe. They are concentrated mainly at the junctions of 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 Pacific coast, a volcano exploded. From a 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 the fiery mountain sacred and treated it with reverence. 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 Cotopaxi National Park.

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 to have guests.

From above you can see the area. The foothills of the mountain are covered with coniferous forest, which is home to many different 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.

During the day, you can climb to the snow line on your own, but higher - only accompanied by a 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 the North Star and the constellation of the Southern Cross at the same time.

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 generally 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:

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 an 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 pinpoint the exact height of this mountain, as its top point changes due to frequent eruptions. They usually happen after a few months. Etna occupies a 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 has been 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 site for extreme sports is actually a dangerous volcano, which in 2011 threw out a large amount of lava and ash that covered 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). Local authorities had to evacuate residents 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 is a 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 the small town of 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. During 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. It is connected with the northern part of the Greater Caucasus 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, two more large cities are located here - Tlaxcala de Hicotencatl 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.

The last eruption was 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, there are more than 600 active mountains alone. In addition, 1-2 new volcanoes appear on Earth every year.

Volcanoes, for all their danger, are one of the most beautiful and majestic wonders of nature. Active volcanoes look especially beautiful at night. But this beauty brings death to everything around. Lava, volcanic bombs, pyroclastic flows, consisting of hot volcanic gases, ash and stones, can wipe out even large cities from the face of the earth. Mankind managed to be convinced of the incredible power of volcanoes during the infamous eruption of Vesuvius, which killed the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae. And there are many such examples in history.

The largest volcanoes in the world - let's talk today about these dangerous, but beautiful giants. Our list includes volcanoes of varying degrees of activity - from conditionally dormant to active. The main selection criterion was their size.

Height 5230 meters

Opens the rating of the largest volcanoes on Earth active stratovolcanolocated in Ecuador. Its height is 5230 meters. The top of the volcano consists of three craters with a diameter of 50 to 100 meters. Sangai is one of the youngest and most restless volcanoes in South America. Its first eruption occurred in 1628. The last one took place in 2007. Now the volcanic activity of the giant from the Equator is estimated as moderate. Tourists who have visited the Sangay National Park, on the territory of which the volcano is located, can climb to its peak.

Height 5,455 meters

On the 9th place among the largest volcanoes in the world -. It is located in the Mexican Highlands. The height of the volcano is 5455 meters. Even in a calm state, the volcano is constantly shrouded in a cloud of gases and ash. Its danger lies in the fact that there are densely populated areas around the volcano, and Mexico City is located 60 kilometers from it. The last eruption of the giant happened quite recently - on March 27, 2016, it threw out a kilometer column of ash. The next day, Popocatepetl calmed down. In the event of a strong eruption of the Mexican giant, it will threaten the safety of several million people.

Height 5642 meters

There are large volcanoes in Europe as well. In the North Caucasus, there is a stratovolcano, whose height is 5642 meters. This is the highest peak in Russia. Elbrus is one of the seven highest mountain peaks on the planet. Regarding the activity of the giant, the opinion of scientists differs. Some consider it an extinct volcano, while others consider it to be fading. Sometimes Elbrus becomes the center of small earthquakes. In some places on its surface, sulfurous gases come out of cracks. Scientists who believe that Elbrus may wake up in the future are of the opinion that the nature of its eruption will be explosive.

Altitude 5,675 meters

Seventh place in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is occupied by the highest peak in Mexico. The height of the volcano is 5675 meters. It last erupted in 1687. Now Orizaba is considered a dormant volcano. From its top, stunning panoramic views open up. In order to protect the volcano, a reserve was created.

Height 5,822 meters

On the 6th place in the list of the largest volcanoes is located in the south of Peru. Its height is 5822 meters. Misty is an active volcano. It last erupted in 1985. In January 2016, an increase in fumarolic activity was observed on the volcano - steam and gas holes appeared. This is one of the signs of an impending eruption. In 1998, six Inca mummies were found near the inner crater of the volcano.

An interesting fact is that many buildings in the city of Arequipa, located 17 kilometers from the volcano, are built from white deposits of Misti pyroclastic flows. Therefore, Arequipa is called the "White City".

Altitude 5,895 meters

The fifth place among the largest volcanoes on the planet is occupied by the highest point of the African continent -. Scientists have concluded that this giant stratovolcano with a height of 5895 meters is potentially active. Now he periodically emits gases and there is a possibility of the collapse of the crater of the volcano, which can provoke its eruption. There is no documentary evidence of the activity of Kilimanjaro, but there are legends of local residents that speak of an eruption that occurred about 200 years ago.

Altitude 5,897 meters

In fourth place in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is the second largest peak of Ecuador. This is an active volcano, whose height is 5897 meters. The first time its activity was recorded in 1534. Since then, the volcano has erupted more than 50 times. The last strong eruption of Kotpahi happened in August 2015.

Height 6 145 meters

Active stratovolcano, located in Chile, ranks 3rd among the largest volcanoes in the world. Its height is 6145 meters. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 1960.

Height 4205 meters

The second place among the largest volcanoes in the world is occupied by a volcano located on the Hawaiian Islands. In terms of volume, it is the largest volcano on Earth, containing over 32 cubic kilometers of magma. A giant was formed more than 700 thousand years ago. Mauna Loa is an active volcano. In 1984, its eruption lasted almost a month and caused great damage to the locals and the area surrounding the volcano.

Height 6,739 meters

In first place among the largest volcanoes in the world is an active starter volcano. It is located on the border of Argentina and Chile. Its height is 6739 meters. The giant's last eruption took place in 1877. Now it is in the solfataric stage - from time to time the volcano releases sulfurous gases and water vapor. In 1952, during the first ascent of Llullaillaco, an ancient Inca sanctuary was found. Later, on the slopes of the volcano, archaeologists discovered three child mummies. Most likely, they were sacrificed.

This is interesting. The Yellowstone caldera, which is approximately 55 km by 72 km in size, is called a supervolcano. It is located in Yellowstone National Park USA. The volcano has not been active for 640 thousand years. Beneath its crater is a magma bubble over 8,000 meters deep. During its existence, the supervolcano erupted three times. Each time, this caused major cataclysms that changed the face of the Earth at the site of the eruption. When the supervolcano wakes up again, it is impossible to predict. Only one thing can be said with certainty - a cataclysm of this magnitude is capable of putting the existence of our civilization on the brink.

There are hundreds of volcanoes on the surface of the Earth. Among them there are the highest volcanoes, the most powerful volcanoes, the largest volcanoes. And they are united by one thing - each rises to tens and hundreds of meters and frightens with its power: it is possible that the volcano will begin to release steam and ash.

Where are the most active volcanoes?

A volcano is called active if it showed signs of activity (for example, emitted gas and steam) in a historical time for a person.

The largest number of active volcanoes is located on the territory of the Malay Archipelago. It is the largest on the planet, located between the continents of Australia and Asia. And in Russia, a large cluster of volcanoes is located in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. About 60 volcanoes erupt every year in this part. But there is evidence of 627 volcanoes that have shown signs of life in the last 10,000 years.

The largest volcano

Hawaiian is not only the largest and most powerful volcano, it is also the most massive. Its volume from the base to the top is 75 thousand cubic kilometers. By the way, there are many legends around Mauna Low. According to one of them, the mistress of the volcanoes Pele was expelled from the house by her older sister, who was the goddess of water and the sea. When Pele tried to build her own house, her sister sent waves to destroy it. As a result, Pele settled on the island and made herself a house called Mauna Low, it was so massive that the waves could not overwhelm it.

Tallest active volcano

However, on the question of which is the highest active volcano in the world, the opinions of scientists differ. Some believe that the highest is Cotopaxi. It is located in the South American Andes, in Ecuador. Its height is less than that of the previous one, only 5,897 meters. But the last major eruption was recorded in 1942. Cotopaxi can rightly be called the most beautiful in Ecuador. This is due to the riot of greenery at the foot and the graceful crater. However, the picture is deceiving. Cotopaxi, like a number of others, are the most dangerous volcanoes. In Ecuador, since 1742, 10 fairly large eruptions have been recorded that destroyed the city of Latacunga (it lies very close to Cotopaxi).

The most famous volcanoes

Vesuvius is located in southern Italy near Naples and is active. True, the volcano is not very large, its height is only 1281 meters. Vesuvius is one of three active volcanoes in the country. And one of the most dangerous in the world. To date, more than 80 eruptions are known to mankind, and the most famous occurred 2 millennia ago - in 79. It was then that the cities of Pompeii, Stabiae, Herculaneum were destroyed. The last eruption was recorded in 1944, the lava destroyed the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano.

The highest volcano in Africa and in general the highest point of the continent is Kilimanjaro. The volcano is located in Tanzania, 300 kilometers south of the equator. One of the peaks of Kilimanjaro - Kibo - reaches 5895 meters. Uhuru Peak is the highest point of the volcano. Scientists suggest that the age of Kilimanjaro is more than a million years. And what is most surprising, although the volcano is located almost on the equator, many glaciers have accumulated on its slopes.

The largest volcanoes can be seen in Asia. Famous Fujiyama is located on the Japanese island of Honshu, which is 150 kilometers from Tokyo. The volcano has an almost perfect conical shape and has been the subject of a cult for local residents since ancient times. The height of the mountain is 3776 meters. Now the volcano is weakly active, the last time experts recorded an eruption in 1707.

The strongest volcanic eruption

On August 27 of the same year, there was a strong volcanic eruption that a person has ever seen. The rumble was heard even 5 thousand kilometers from the epicenter. Ashes rose to a height of up to 30 kilometers. The volcanic structure scattered over a vast territory, within a radius of up to 500 kilometers. The gas-ash column towered 70 kilometers, that is, it rose right into the mesosphere. The ash covered over 4 million square kilometers and occupied a total of 18 cubic kilometers. The strength of the explosion was rated at 6 points. According to experts, this is 200,000 times the force of the explosion that destroyed Hiroshima. The largest volcano in the world Ojos del Salado is considered extinct

The volcano is said to be inactive. This is because not a single case of an eruption has been recorded in the history of mankind. However, sometimes Ojos del Salado reminds of itself. For example, in 1993, the release of water vapor and sulfur was noticed.

By the way, as the editors of the site managed to find out, some geographers have already reclassified the volcano into an active one. Thus, displacing Llullaillaco from the first place in the list of the highest active volcanoes. However, the controversy has not subsided yet.

Also interesting is the fact that the highest mountain in Russia, Elbrus, is also a volcano.
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