The most dangerous active volcanoes. Volcanoes - how are they formed, why do they erupt and how are they dangerous and useful? Active volcano in the world

In the past, people thought that volcanic eruptions were the punishment of the gods. Today we understand that this is not the case. Volcanic eruptions occur due to the excessive accumulation of very hot magma, which makes its way to the earth's surface through holes in the earth's crust, that is, through the craters of volcanoes. When this magma reaches the surface, the consequences are catastrophic.
We have collected especially for your attention ten of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, which can erupt at any time and create devastation around in a matter of hours.

The ten most dangerous volcanoes in the world

10. Taal Volcano, Philippines

This volcanic cinder cone is located on Luzon Island, in Lake Taal. It is located just 31 kilometers from the city of Manila, which has a population of approximately 1.6 million. Scientists believe that this volcano has erupted about 33 times. And it is reliably known that in 157 magma burned down the population who lived near an active volcano. It is also worth considering that the volcano requires study due to the high danger to humans and the environment.

9 Ulavun volcano, Papua New Guinea

Also, the locals also call this volcano "Father". Ulawun is a symmetrical volcano located on the island of New Britain. Its height reaches about 2334 meters, which is why it is one of not only the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, but also the highest.

Ulavun is an active volcano. Since the 1700s, 22 eruptions have been recorded. Locals regularly watch tiny explosions occurring in the volcano's crater, splashing out lava and ash.

8. Nyiragongo volcano, Democratic Republic of the Congo

It is considered to be the most active volcano on the African continent. Nyiragongo Volcano is famous for its lava lakes, which mostly appear in the crater. This volcano is an active threat to people living in its vicinity.

One of the last violent eruptions in 1977 killed several hundred people. The number of victims could have been much higher if people had not evacuated on time. The lava erupted by the volcano destroyed almost all the residential buildings located at the foot of Nyiragongo.

7. Volcano Merapi, Indonesia

Locals call this volcano "Burning Fire". It is also considered one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world. Scientists claim that previously the activity of this volcano continued for more than 10,000 years in a row.

About 1,300 people died in the last major eruption of Mount Merapi in 1930. Since then, the government of the city of Yogyakarta, which is located on the slope of the volcano, has developed a special plan for the evacuation of citizens.

6. Volcano Galeras, Colombia

This volcano is located in the southern part of Colombia. Galeras has been active for about 1 million years. On its slope is a city of 450,000 inhabitants called Pasto.

In modern times, the volcano became active in 1978, but then it showed little activity. Then another ten years later, another eruption occurred. But, the worst thing is that since 2000, Galeras began to erupt regularly, albeit with little force.

5. Sakurajima volcano, Japan

It is a composite volcano located in Japan. Previously, Sakurajima was located on a separate island. He has a very high level of activity.

Every year, scientists record small eruptions from the crater of this volcano, in which ash is thrown into the atmosphere and scattered around all the surroundings. In the event of a more serious eruption, then a large number of residents of the nearby city of Kagoshima will be in mortal danger.

4. Popocatepetl volcano, Mexico

The peak of this volcano is covered with a glacier. Popocatepetl is located just 35 miles from Mexico City. Also within the radius of damage from a possible eruption there are many people living in this area. Since 1519 Popocatepetl has erupted over 20 times.

The last time it erupted was in 2000. Then it was possible to evacuate people in time and save thousands of lives that one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world could take.

3. Yellowstone Caldera, USA

Tourists from all over the world are drawn to the bubbling springs in Yellowstone National Park. The beauty of this park is breathtaking and inspires an incense for visitors. However, underneath this beauty lies a dangerous volcano that will burn to destroy the entire western United States.

The Yellowstone Caldera is truly enormous. People have never witnessed its eruption, but scientists managed to find out that the last eruption of this volcano occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago. Experts suggest that the volume of "splashed" lava to the surface of that time period was 25 thousand times more than the eruption of St. Helens in 1980.

2. Vesuvius volcano, Italy

Probably the most famous volcano in the world. It is located in the Campania region, Italy. The last eruption of Vesuvius took place in 1944, but fortunately there were no serious consequences. About three million people live in the immediate vicinity of the volcano's slope. The houses of these people are located 5 kilometers from Vesuvius. Therefore, it is also considered the most densely populated volcanic region in the entire world.

Vesuvius is the only volcano on the European continent that has been active in the last century. Its most famous eruption occurred in 79 AD, which resulted in the burial of the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under lava.

1. Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii

Mauna - Lao - the most dangerous volcano in the world and the biggest. It last erupted in 1984. Lava caused serious damage to the surrounding area. Nevertheless, there is very good news - the erupting Mauna-Lao lava is spreading very slowly over the vicinity, which gives additional time for evacuation.

Mauna Laon also poses another devastating environmental threat in the form of landslides. Although this is a very rare process, it is really worth fearing.

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Ecology

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

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

Alarming behavior and a couple of other active volcanoes that have managed over the past ten to twenty years spoil the lives of a significant number of people on our planet. But there are about nine hundred active volcanoes on land alone.

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

Active volcanoes

Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii

While the whole world gazes at how the Kilauea volcano covers the largest island in Hawaii with waves of hot lava, it is peacefully dozing not so far from it. megavolcano mauna loa, whose height is 4169 meters (that is, almost three thousand meters higher than Kilauea!).

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

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

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

Eyjafjallajökull volcano, Iceland

For some time now Eyjafjallajökull has become one of the most famous volcanoes on our planet. And this despite the fact that very few can pronounce its name without hesitation... This volcano is 1,666 meters high (a mysterious combination of three sixes, isn't it?) Located in the south of Iceland.

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

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

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

Mount Vesuvius, Italy

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

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

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

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

Active volcanoes

Nyiragongo volcano, Congo

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

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

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

Nyiragongo is also famous for having the largest lake of molten lava in its main crater, with a diameter of two kilometers. The lava temperature is 1200 degrees Celsius. The lake of fire itself, which can be seen even from space, resembles in size a red cyclopean eye, or, if you prefer, the eye of Sauron.

Taal volcano, Philippines

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

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

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

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

Volcano Merapi, Indonesia

Some volcanoes destroy settlements and villages, like Nyamlagira and Taal. Others, like Vesuvius, whole cities. It is known about the Merapi volcano that he destroyed the whole Javanese-Indian kingdom, which was located on the territory of modern Indonesia. It happened in the 1006th year.

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

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

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

The most dangerous volcanoes

Volcano Galeras, Colombia

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

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

Galeras is a very popular destination for tourists in South America, who also come to admire the beauty of the mountain located at the foot of the mountain. national reserve, the area of ​​which is several thousand hectares.

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

Sakurajima volcano, Japan

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

Sakurajima has been incessantly active since 1955, posing a serious threat to the city of Kagoshima, which has a population of over 600,000. However, this did not prevent (but rather helped) the residents of the city to benefit from such a dangerous neighborhood, making the volcano a tourist attraction.

There is a regular ferry to Mount Sakurajima, and from the city itself to the volcano, whose height is 1117 meters, a breathtakingly beautiful view opens up... Considering the volcanic continual small eruptions, it's no wonder residents are used to it. For example, in 2014 alone, there were 471 eruptions!

Volcanoes- These are geological formations on the surface of the earth's crust or the crust of another planet, where magma comes to the surface, forming lava, volcanic gases, rocks (volcanic bombs) and pyroclastic flows.

The word "volcano" comes from ancient Roman mythology and comes from the name of the ancient Roman fire god Vulcan.

The science that studies volcanoes is volcanology, geomorphology.

Volcanoes are classified by shape (thyroid, stratovolcano, cinder cones, domed), activity (active, dormant, extinct), location (terrestrial, underwater, subglacial), etc.

Volcanic activity

Volcanoes are divided, depending on the degree of volcanic activity, into active, dormant, extinct and dormant. An active volcano is considered to be a volcano that erupted in a historical period of time or in the Holocene. The concept of active is rather imprecise, since a volcano with active fumaroles is considered by some scientists to be active, and some to extinct. Inactive volcanoes are considered dormant, on which eruptions are possible, and extinct - on which they are unlikely.

At the same time, among volcanologists there is no consensus on how to define an active volcano. The period of activity of a volcano can last from several months to several million years. Many volcanoes exhibited volcanic activity several tens of thousands of years ago, but are currently not considered active.

Astrophysicists, historically, believe that volcanic activity, caused, in turn, by the tidal effects of other celestial bodies, can contribute to the emergence of life. In particular, it was volcanoes that contributed to the formation of the earth's atmosphere and hydrosphere, emitting significant amounts of carbon dioxide and water vapor. Scientists also note that too active volcanism, such as on Jupiter's moon Io, can make the planet's surface uninhabitable. At the same time, weak tectonic activity leads to the disappearance of carbon dioxide and sterilization of the planet. “These two cases represent the potential boundaries of planetary habitability and exist along with the traditional parameters of the zones of life for systems of low-mass main sequence stars,” the scientists write.

Types of volcanic structures

In general, volcanoes are divided into linear and central, but this division is arbitrary, since most volcanoes are confined to linear tectonic faults (faults) in the earth's crust.

Linear volcanoes, or fissure-type volcanoes, have extended supply channels associated with a deep crustal fracture. As a rule, basaltic liquid magma is poured out of such cracks, which, spreading out to the sides, forms large lava sheets. Along the cracks, gently sloping spray shafts, wide flat cones, and lava fields appear. If the magma is more acidic (higher silica content in the melt), linear extrusion rolls and masses are formed. When explosive eruptions occur, explosive ditches tens of kilometers long can occur.

The shapes of central volcanoes depend on the composition and viscosity of the magma. Hot and easily mobile basaltic magmas create vast and flat shield volcanoes (Mauna Loa, Hawaiian Islands). If a volcano periodically erupts either lava or pyroclastic material, a cone-shaped layered structure, a stratovolcano, appears. The slopes of such a volcano are usually covered with deep radial ravines - barrancos. Volcanoes of the central type can be purely lava, or formed only by volcanic products - volcanic slags, tuffs, etc. formations, or be mixed - stratovolcanoes.

Distinguish between monogenic and polygenic volcanoes. The first arose as a result of a single eruption, the second - multiple eruptions. Viscous, acidic in composition, low-temperature magma, squeezing out from the vent, forms extrusive domes (Montagne-Pele needle, 1902).

In addition to calderas, there are also large negative landforms associated with subsidence under the influence of the weight of erupted volcanic material and a pressure deficit at depth that arose during the unloading of the magma chamber. Such structures are called volcanotectonic depressions, depressions. Volcanotectonic depressions are very widespread and often accompany the formation of thick ignimbrite strata - felsic volcanic rocks of different genesis. They are lava or formed by sintered or welded tuffs. They are characterized by lenticular segregations of volcanic glass, pumice, lava, called fyamme, and a tuff or tof-like structure of the groundmass. As a rule, large volumes of ignimbrites are associated with shallow magma chambers formed due to melting and replacement of host rocks. Negative landforms associated with volcanoes of the central type are represented by calderas - large round-shaped dips, several kilometers in diameter.

Classification of volcanoes by shape

The shape of the volcano depends on the composition of the lava it erupts; five types of volcanoes are usually considered:

• Shield volcanoes, or "shield volcanoes". Formed as a result of multiple ejections of liquid lava. This form is characteristic of volcanoes erupting low-viscosity basaltic lava: it flows for a long time both from the central vent and from the side craters of the volcano. The lava spreads evenly over many kilometers; a wide “shield” with gentle edges is gradually formed from these layers. An example is the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, where lava flows directly into the ocean; its height from the foot on the ocean floor is about ten kilometers (while the underwater base of the volcano is 120 km long and 50 km wide).
• Slag cones. During the eruption of such volcanoes, large fragments of porous slags are piled up around the crater in layers in the form of a cone, and small fragments form sloping slopes at the foot; with each eruption, the volcano becomes higher and higher. This is the most common type of volcano on land. They are no more than a few hundred meters high. An example is the Plosky Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka, which exploded in December 2012.
• Stratovolcanoes, or "layered volcanoes". Periodically they erupt lava (viscous and thick, rapidly solidifying) and pyroclastic matter - a mixture of hot gas, ash and hot stones; as a result, deposits on their cone (sharp, with concave slopes) alternate. The lava of such volcanoes also flows from cracks, solidifying on the slopes in the form of ribbed corridors that serve as a support for the volcano. Examples - Etna, Vesuvius, Fujiyama.
• Dome volcanoes. Formed when viscous granite magma, rising from the bowels of the volcano, cannot drain along the slopes and solidifies at the top, forming a dome. It clogs its mouth, like a cork, which is eventually knocked out by the gases accumulated under the dome. Such a dome is now being formed over the crater of Mount St. Helens in the northwestern United States, formed during the 1980 eruption.
• Complex (mixed, compound) volcanoes.

Eruption

Volcanic eruptions are geological emergencies that can lead to natural disasters. The eruption process can last from several hours to many years. Among the various classifications, there are general types of eruptions:

• Hawaiian type - outbursts of liquid basaltic lava, lava lakes are often formed, should resemble scorching clouds or incandescent avalanches.
• Hydroexplosive type - eruptions occurring in the shallow conditions of the oceans and seas are characterized by the formation of a large amount of steam arising from the contact of hot magma and sea water.

Postvolcanic phenomena

After eruptions, when the activity of the volcano either ceases forever, or it "dorms" for thousands of years, processes associated with the cooling of the magma chamber and called postvolcanic processes persist on the volcano itself and its surroundings. These include fumaroles, baths, geysers.

During eruptions, a volcanic structure sometimes collapses with the formation of a caldera - a large depression up to 16 km in diameter and up to 1000 m deep.When magma rises, the external pressure weakens, the gases and liquid products associated with it break out to the surface, and a volcano erupts. If ancient rocks, and not magma, are brought to the surface, and water vapor, formed when groundwater is heated, predominates among the gases, then such an eruption is called phreatic.

Lava that has risen to the earth's surface does not always come out on this surface. It only raises layers of sedimentary rocks and solidifies in the form of a compact body (laccolith), forming a kind of system of low mountains. In Germany, such systems include the Rhön and Eifel regions. On the latter, another post-volcanic phenomenon is observed in the form of lakes filling the craters of former volcanoes that failed to form a characteristic volcanic cone (the so-called maars).

Heat sources

One of the unsolved problems of manifestation of volcanic activity is the determination of the heat source required for local melting of the basalt layer or mantle. Such melting should be narrowly localized, since the passage of seismic waves indicates that the crust and upper mantle are usually in a solid state. Moreover, the thermal energy must be sufficient to melt huge volumes of solid material. For example, in the USA in the Columbia River Basin (states of Washington and Oregon) the volume of basalts is more than 820 thousand km³; similar large basalt strata are found in Argentina (Patagonia), India (Deccan plateau) and South Africa (Big Karoo Upland). There are currently three hypotheses. Some geologists believe that melting is due to local high concentrations of radioactive elements, but such concentrations in nature seem unlikely; others suggest that tectonic faults in the form of shears and faults are accompanied by the release of thermal energy. There is another point of view, according to which the upper mantle is in a solid state under high pressure conditions, and when the pressure drops due to cracking, it melts and liquid lava flows out along the cracks.

Areas of volcanic activity

The main areas of volcanic activity are South America, Central America, Java, Melanesia, the Japanese Islands, the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, the northwestern United States, Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, the Aleutian Islands, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean.

Mud volcanoes

Mud volcanoes are small volcanoes through which not magma comes to the surface, but liquid mud and gases from the earth's crust. Mud volcanoes are much smaller in size than ordinary ones. Mud tends to come to the surface cold, but the gases emitted by mud volcanoes often contain methane and can ignite during an eruption, creating a picture that looks like a miniature eruption of an ordinary volcano.

In our country, mud volcanoes are most common on the Taman Peninsula; they are also found in Siberia, near the Caspian Sea and in Kamchatka. On the territory of other CIS countries, most of all mud volcanoes are in Azerbaijan; they are found in Georgia and the Crimea.

Volcanoes on other planets

Volcanoes in culture

• Karl Bryullov's painting "The Last Day of Pompeii";
• Movies "Volcano", "Dante's Peak" and a scene from the movie "2012".
• The volcano near the Eyjafjallajökull glacier in Iceland, during its eruption, became the hero of a huge number of humorous programs, TV news plots, reports and folk art discussing world events.

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

Merapi, Indonesia

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

Sakurajima, Japan

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

Aso volcano, Japan

The last time the volcanic activity of the volcano was recorded quite recently, in 2011. Then the ash cloud spread over an area of ​​more than 100 km. From that time to the present, about 2500 tremors have been recorded, which indicates the activity of the volcano and its readiness to erupt. Despite the direct danger, about 50 thousand people live in its immediate vicinity, and the crater is a popular tourist attraction for daredevils. In winter, the slopes are covered with snow and in the valley there is skiing and sledding.

Popocatepetl, Mexico

One of the largest volcanoes in Mexico is literally fifty kilometers away. It is a city with a population of 20 million people who are in constant readiness for evacuation. In addition to Mexico City, large cities such as Puebla and Tlaxcala de Jikotencatl are located nearby. Popocatepetl also gives them a reason to get nervous: emissions of gas, sulfur, dust and stones occur literally every month. Over the past decades, the volcano has erupted in 2000, 2005 and 2012. Many climbers strive to climb its summit. Popocatepetl is famous for the fact that in 1955 he was conquered by Ernesto Che Guevara.

Etna, Italy

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

Vesuvius, Italy

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

Colima, Mexico

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

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

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

Galeras, Colombia

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

Nyiragongo, Republic of the Congo

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

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

In ancient times, volcanoes were the instrument of the gods. Nowadays, they pose a serious danger to settlements and entire countries. Not a single weapon in the world has been given such power on our planet - to conquer and pacify a raging volcano.

Now the media, cinema and some writers fantasize about the future events of the famous park, the location of which is known to almost everyone who is interested in modern geography - we are talking about a national park in Wyoming. Undoubtedly, the most famous supervolcano in world history of the past two years is Yellowstone.

What is a volcano

For many decades, literature, especially in fantasy stories, has attributed magical properties to grief that is capable of spewing fire. The most famous novel describing an active volcano is "The Lord of the Rings" (where he was called "the lonely mountain"). The professor was right about a similar phenomenon.

None of the people can look at mountain ranges up to several hundred meters high without respect for the ability of our planet to create such magnificent and dangerous natural objects. There is a special charm in these giants, which can be called magic.

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

Causes of occurrence

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

How do they arise? On the planet earth, the main cause of formation 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 they move, they converge and diverge, it is because of the movement at the places of contact of the plates that ruptures occur, and volcanoes arise. It is not at all necessary that this happens on the continents, at the bottom of many oceans there are similar breaks too.

Volcano structure

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

A drawing of a similar representation is seen by high school students on the pages of a geographical textbook.

The device of the "fiery" mountain itself is simple and in section it looks like this:

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

Depending on the type and form of the formation of the volcano, some structural element may be absent. This option is classic, and many volcanoes should be viewed precisely in this context.

Types of volcanoes

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

First, let's take a look at the types:

• acting;
• sleeping;
• extinct.

Volcanoes come in different shapes:

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

• calderas;
• 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 most deadly for the inhabitants of some cities. Better not to get into a situation where a volcano is erupting.

On average, there are from 50 to 60 eruptions on the planet in one year. At the time of this writing, about 20 ruptures are pouring lava into the neighborhood.

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 first explosion, it is usually quiet. Nothing will indicate the impending danger. A series of small shocks can only be measured by instruments.
2. Lava ejection 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. The lava, the temperature of which can reach 1,500 degrees during the eruption, killed all living things at a distance of six hundred kilometers.
3. Lahar. If you are unlucky, it may rain at the eruption site, as it did in the Philippines. In such situations, a continuous stream of 20% water is formed, the remaining 80% is rock, ash and pumice.
4. "Concrete". The provisional name for the solidification of magma and ash caught in a rain stream. This mixture has destroyed more than one city.

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

The largest volcano in the world

Mauna Loa is the tallest volcano on earth. It is located on the island of the same name (Hawaii) and rises 9 thousand meters from the bottom of the ocean.

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

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

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

Active volcanoes

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

The eruption of the Guatemalan volcano Fuego

Perhaps someone will be interested in list of active volcanoes:

• in Guatemala - Fuego;
• in the Hawaiian Islands - Kilauea;
• within the Icelandic border - Lakagigar;
• in the Canary Islands - La Palma;
• in the Hawaiian Islands - Loihi;
• on the Antarctic island - Erebus;
• Greek Nisyros;
• the Italian volcano Etna;
• on the Caribbean island of Montserrat - Soufrière Hills;
• Italian mountain in the Tyrrhenian Sea - Stromboli;
• and the most famous Italian - Mount Vesuvius.

Extinct volcanoes of the world

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

Volcano 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

The eruption of even a small volcano looks impressive, one has only to imagine what a monstrous power lurks there, in the depths of the mountain. However, there is clear evidence used by volcanologists.

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

The most powerful explosion can follow from an 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 these:

1. Indonesian supervolcano of Sumatra-Toba island.
2. Taupo, which is located in New Zealand.
3. Serra Galan in the Andean 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 eruption of Pinatubo in 91 years (20th century), which lasted more than a year and reduced the temperature of the earth 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 Novarupta volcano became more active, reaching a level of six on the VEI scale;
• the most dangerous is Kilauea, which has been erupting for thirty years since 1983. Currently active. Killed more than 100 people, over a thousand more remain under threat (2018);
• the deepest eruption to date has occurred at a depth of 1200 meters - Mount West Mata, near Fiji, the Lau River basin;
• the temperature in the pyroclastic flow can be more than 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 from 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 on earth

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

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

Conclusion

Humanity should respect nature and remember that it has more than one and a half thousand volcanoes in service. And let as few people as possible witness such a powerful phenomenon as an eruption.