Extinct volcanoes.

In early times for humanity, volcanoes were considered a punishment from God. Today, we already know a volcano is part of nature, and an active volcano can become a natural disaster. All volcanoes are divided into three types: active, dormant and inactive. We bring you the Top 10 most active volcanoes in the world.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Merapi

Volcano Merapi, which means "Mountain of Fire" in Indonesian. The volcano is located in Indonesia and is one of the hundred most dangerous volcanoes in the world. The age of the volcano is approximately 120 thousand years, the height of the volcano is 2914 meters. The volcano is active, with strong eruptions every seven years. The last major eruption occurred in 2012, and although the maximum number of people was evacuated, 353 people died as a result of this eruption.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Eyjafjallajökull

The volcano with the most unusual, not pronounced and not memorable name - Eyjafjallajökull, is located in Iceland. It is believed that only 0.005% of the population of our planet can phonetically correctly pronounce the name of the volcano, the Russian name does not fully correspond to the Icelandic pronunciation. We all remember the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010, when due to a huge ash cloud, which raised to a height of six kilometers, all air flights in the area were terminated.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Yellowstone caldera

The Yellowstone Caldera is located near, Yellowstone National Park, USA. It is one of the oldest volcanoes in the world. Its last eruptions were so serious that after 650 thousand years after it, the consequences are visible. The structure of volcanoes suggests that there is a likelihood of a volcanic eruption. Scientists, of course, give a small probability of such an eruption, but its consequences are difficult to imagine.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Nyiragongo

Nyiragongo volcano is located in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Everything would be fine if the lava of this volcano was not so liquid and fluid. Lava contains very little quartz, which makes it so dangerous. During an eruption, the speed of propagation of lava reaches 100 kilometers per hour. Of all the observed eruptions throughout Africa, the share of Nyiragongo volcano accounted for 40% of the eruptions.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Mauna loa

The Mauna Loa volcano is located on the island of Hawaii. It is considered one of the largest volcanoes in the world. Scientists estimate the volcano's volume is about 17,000 cubic kilometers of magma. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 1984 and lasted nine days.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Ulavun

Volcano Ulavun is located in Papaya New Guinea. For the first time, the activity of the volcano was noted in the 18th century. The last major volcanic eruption occurred in 1980. The distribution of magma during this eruption was 22 sq. kilometers. The last recorded eruption of the volcano occurred in 2007.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Tal

Volcano Tal is an extremely active volcano in the Philippines. If we talk about the time when the volcanoes began to follow and track their activity, then since 1572, Tal erupted more than thirty times. In 1911, the most powerful eruption of the 20th century occurred. The eruption of the Tal volcano in 1911 claimed the lives of more than a thousand people and within a radius of 10 km ..

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Galeras

Volcano Galeras is located in Colombia, the height of the volcano is 4200 meters above sea level. Scientists discovered this volcano in December 1580 and since that time, scientists and experts have been studying it, many of them died. It is believed that the chemical composition of the volcano's magma is very dangerous, as well as extremely high temperatures.

The most active volcanoes in the world. Top 10. Santa maria

The volcano Santa Maria is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The volcano Santa Maria is located in Guatemala. The height of the volcano is over 3500 meters above sea level. The last, and the first, in the 20th century, the eruption of the Santa Maria volcano occurred in 1902. This eruption severely damaged one side of the volcano. The eruption itself caused serious damage and resulted in large casualties. More than six thousand people died, the column of ash rose to a height of twenty-eight kilometers.

Despite their lethality, various volcanoes have long attracted people to them. Previously, people were attracted by fertile soils, enriched with minerals and trace elements due to the activity of volcanoes, now tourists are attracted by the beauty and majesty of these natural sites.

Where are the largest volcanoes on the world map?

Most of today's active volcanoes are located in Pacific volcanic ring- the area in which the largest number of eruptions and 90% of earthquakes occur on our planet.

The second most powerful seismic zone is the Mediterranean fold belt, stretching from the Indonesian islands to.

Strongest eruption in history

The most destructive eruption in its consequences is considered to be the catastrophe that occurred in 1883 during the explosion. volcano Krakatoa located in. During this cataclysm, more than 36 thousand people died, more than 165 cities and villages were completely destroyed, ash was emitted to a height of 70 kilometers.

The force of the explosion during the eruption exceeded the force of the explosion of a nuclear bomb over Hiroshima by 10 thousand times. Most of the deaths are the result of huge tsunami caused by the eruption. The island on which Krakatoa was located was almost completely destroyed during the disaster. The sound from the explosion spread to a distance of 5 thousand kilometers from the epicenter of the disaster.

Earth's greatest active volcanic mountains

The largest active volcanoes in the world in terms of volume:

  • Mauna loa, Hawaii, with a volume of 80 thousand cubic kilometers;
  • Kilimanjaro(Tanzania), which is considered dormant but has the potential to start activity, has a volume of 4,800 cubic kilometers;
  • Sierra Negra volcano located in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) has a volume of 580 cubic kilometers.

Which country has the largest lava source?

In terms of its size, there is no equal to the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa, which has a volume of 80 thousand cubic kilometers. The title of the highest is contested by 2 volcanoes from South America:

  1. Llullaillaco located on the border of Argentina and Chile with a height of over 6 thousand meters;
  2. Cotopaxi located in Ecuador with a height of 5897 meters.

Description with titles

There are from 1000 to 1500 active volcanoes on our planet. Many of them are located near densely populated areas and pose a threat to human life. The most dangerous volcanoes, which are under special supervision, are included in List of Volcanoes of the UN Decade.

Merapi

Merapi, which translated from Indonesian means "Mountain of fire", recognized as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Asia. It is located in the south of the island of Java in Indonesia, and its peak rises to a height of 3 thousand meters.

Significant eruptions of Merapi occur with a frequency of about 7 years; during its history, Merapi has repeatedly caused the death of many people. In 1930, 1400 people became victims of the eruption, and in 2010 more than 350 thousand people had to be evacuated, 353 inhabitants of the island were killed.

Near Merapi is located Yogyakarta city, in the agglomeration of which more than 2 million people live. For its activity and danger to the lives of people, Merapi is included in the list of the Volcanoes of the Decade.

Sakurajima

Sakurazdima volcano (Japan) is located on Kyushu island, its summit rises to a height of 1110 meters. The first eruption recorded by the chronicles took place in 963, and the most powerful one dates back to 1914, but thanks to the tremors preceding it, most of the local residents managed to evacuate, “only” 35 people died.

Since the middle of the 20th century, the volcano has been constantly active. Every year happen thousands of small explosions and ash emissions.

In 2013, there was a large ash ejection, reaching an altitude of 4000 meters.

Sakurajima is also on the Volcanoes of the Decade.

Aso

Volcano Aso is also located on Kyushu island in Japan. The highest point of Aso is located at an altitude of 1592 meters. During the observation of the volcano, there were about 165 large and medium eruptions, many of which resulted in human casualties.

The last time people died as a result of volcanic eruptions was in 1979, when 3 people died and 11 were injured. But Aso is dangerous not only for its eruptions, poisonous vapors of volcanic gas regularly poison tourists who are trying to conquer Aso. The last such incident occurred in 1997, when two climbers were killed.

The last eruption of Aso was noted in 2011; ash was emitted to a height of up to 2 kilometers.

Nyiragongo

Nyiragongo is in the territory DR Congo in the Virunga mountain system (Africa). In the crater of the volcano is the world's largest lava lake, the depth of which can reach 3 kilometers. In 1977, a rupture of the crater wall occurred, as a result of which there was a large runoff of lava into the surrounding area, as a result 70 people died.

During observations of Nyiragongo since 1882, it was recorded 34 major volcanic eruptions... A feature of the eruptions of Nyiragongo is the extremely fast flow of lava, reaching a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. During a major eruption in 2002, 400,000 residents of the city of Goma, located near the volcano, were evacuated. Nevertheless, 147 of them died as a result of this cataclysm, and the city itself received significant damage.

All these factors make Nyiragongo one of the the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet, for which he was rightly included in the list of the Volcanoes of the Decade.

Galeras

Volcano Galeras is located in Colombia near the town of Pasto, which has a population of over 400 thousand people. Its height is over 4200 meters. Because of its danger, Galeras was included in the list of the Decade Volcanoes that pose the greatest threat in the foreseeable future.

It is believed that over the past 7000 years, Galeras has experienced at least 6 major eruptions, in 1993 the last of them was recorded.

Mauna loa

The Mauna Loa volcano is located on Hawaiian Islands belonging to the United States of America. This giant volcano covers more than half of Hawaii's area, with a peak height of 4169 meters above sea level, but most of the volcano is located under water. Together with the underwater part, its height from the base to the top reaches 9170 meters, which exceeds the height of Everest.

The eruptions of Mauna Loa occur according to the so-called Hawaiian type with the outpouring of lava, but without explosions and large ash emissions. Observations of the volcano have been conducted only since 1832, but during this time, 39 major eruptions of Mauna Loa have been recorded. This volcano was included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade due to the huge lava flows accompanying the eruption and the densely populated area in its immediate vicinity.

The top of the volcano and its slopes are included in the list UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Colima

The most active volcano in Central America is located in the state of Jalisco. Thanks to her activity, Colima received the nickname "Little Vesuvius", its height exceeds 3800 meters.

Over the past 450 years, more than 40 large and medium volcanic eruptions have been recorded, the last of which occurred on September 12, 2016. More than 400 thousand people live near Colima, which makes it the most dangerous volcano in America... For this reason, the volcano was listed as a Volcano of the Decade.

Vesuvius

The most famous volcano in the world is located on the Apennine Peninsula in. The lonely peak of Vesuvius, 1281 meters high, rises above the vast fields of the Campania province and is part of the Apennine mountain system.

Located just 15 kilometers from Naples, Vesuvius has repeatedly entered history with its catastrophic eruptions, only large ones were recorded about 80. In 79 AD, the most destructive eruption of Vesuvius during which famous cities died:

  • Pompeii;
  • Oplontis;
  • Herculaneum;
  • Stabia.

It is believed that at least 16 thousand people died during this cataclysm.

In 1944, the last eruption of Vesuvius occurred at the moment, during this natural disaster cities were destroyed Weight and San sebastiano, 27 people became victims. Since then, Vesuvius has not shown strong activity, but the danger of a new eruption always remains. Vesuvius is one of the main attractions of the province of Campania and its visit is included in a sightseeing tour when traveling to Naples.

Etna

Another famous volcano in Italy is located in the east of the island of Sicily and is highest volcano, rising to a height of 2329 meters. Eruptions of Etna are observed several times a year. Several large eruptions of this volcano have been recorded in history, leading to devastating consequences:

  1. Destroyed in 122 AD Catania city;
  2. In 1169, during a large-scale eruption, Etna died 15 thousand people;
  3. In 1669 Catania suffered again, houses were destroyed 27 thousand people;
  4. In 1928, the ancient Mascali city.

Despite the danger of the volcano, the inhabitants of the island continue to settle on its slopes. The reason for this is fertile soil enriched with minerals and trace elements contained in cooled lava flows and ash.

Etna is one of the main natural attractions of Sicily; tourists from all over the world come to see the volcano and climb to its top.

Popocatepetl

Volcano Popocatepetl, or El Popo, as the locals affectionately call it, is located in Mexico, 70 kilometers from the capital of this country, Mexico City. The height of the volcano is almost 5500 meters. Over the past 500 years, Popocatepetl has erupted more than 15 times, with the last occurring as recently as 2015. An extinct volcano is located near Popocatepetl Istaxihuatl.

A trip to these volcanoes is an integral part of the excursion program when visiting Mexico City.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

The highest volcano in Eurasia is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula and is considered the most famous of the many volcanoes in Kamchatka. The highest point outside the Caucasus Mountains reaches an altitude of 4750 meters. It is the most active volcano in Eurasia, on average, its eruptions occur almost annually... The last significant eruption took place in 2013, the height of the ash ejection was 10-12 kilometers. The eruption was accompanied by mud streams and ash falls.

Cotopaxi

The active volcano Cotopaxi is located in South America on the territory of the state Ecuador as part of the Andes mountain system. The height of the Cotopaxi summit is 5897 meters. In the entire history of observations, 86 eruptions were recorded, the largest one leading to the complete destruction of the city of Latacunga in 1786. The last activity of Cotopaxi was noticed in 1942, after which the volcano is still dormant.

Famous extinct giants

In addition to active volcanoes, there are many extinct volcanoes on our planet that do not exhibit volcanic activity.

Supreme

The highest extinct volcano on the planet, Aconcagua, is located in Argentina and is part of the Andes mountain range. Aconcagua is not only the tallest extinct volcano in the world, but also the highest peak in America, the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The height of Aconcagua exceeds 6950 meters.

Sleeping giants

Many extinct volcanoes are now considered just mountains, although some of them can potentially "wake up" and begin to show activity. Such volcanoes, which may become active in the future, are called "Sleeping".

  • Famous Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (Africa) it is a dormant volcano that is not active. Scientists believe that one day Kilimanjaro may wake up, then this potential volcano will become one of the highest in the world, because the height of Kilimanjaro is 5895 meters above sea level.
  • Colossal supervolcano Yellowstone was considered extinct, but scientists have found that it shows little activity, so now Yellowstone is classified as a dormant volcano. The last time the giant erupted was almost a million years ago.

    It is believed that if Yellowstone wakes up, a potential eruption will become one of the largest catastrophes in the history of the Earth, every third inhabitant of the planet will die, and several US states will be completely destroyed.

    Eruption of yellowstone will provoke many earthquakes, giant tsunami waves and eruptions of other volcanoes, which will affect almost every inhabitant of the planet. The ash ejected by the volcano will cover the earth's surface from the sun for a year and a half, and volcanic winter will come throughout the planet.

    However, not all scientists believe that the consequences of this cataclysm will be so serious. In any case, the eruption of this volcano remains one of the main potential threats to humans.

  • The largest extinct volcano in Russia - 5642 meters. It is located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Belongs to the list of the highest peaks in the six parts of the world. Scientists consider the activity of the volcano not so much complete as fading.
  • The largest volcano of our time cannot be visited and is very difficult to see, since it is under water. Array Tamu is located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and is located approximately 1,600 kilometers east of the Japanese Islands. Its dimensions are 650 by 450 kilometers; in terms of its scale, the massif is one of the largest not only on Earth, but also in the entire solar system. The last volcanic eruption occurred 140 million years ago.
  • Dormant volcanoes Big and Small Ararat are now located on the territory and belong to the category of volcanoes that do not show volcanic activity. The summit of Mount Big Ararat, reaching 5165 meters, is the highest point in Turkey.
  • One of the highest peaks of the Caucasus, Mount Kazbek is also an extinct volcano. Kazbek is located on the border with Russia, the highest point of the mountain is located at an altitude of more than 5 kilometers. During research in one of the caves of Kazbek, volcanic ash was found from an eruption that supposedly occurred 40 thousand years ago.

Watch a video about these and other volcanoes in the world:

In ancient times, people thought that a volcanic eruption was sent to them as a punishment from the Gods, but today, we know that in fact it is tectonic plates moving and releasing hot magma from the bowels of the earth's crust. The classification of the world's most dangerous volcanoes is the subject of much debate. Nothing and no one can predict the date of a volcanic eruption, it only happens when Mother Nature wishes it. Listed below are some of the most dangerous active volcanoes in the world that are found near large settlements.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Mauna Loa is considered the largest volcano on Earth in terms of volume and area of ​​coverage. It is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the US state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The volcano originated about 700,000 years ago.
The last eruption of Mauna Loa took place from March 24 to April 15, 1984. Due to the danger emanating from it for nearby settlements, Mauna Loa is under constant supervision of the Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory.

Taal, Philippines


Taal Volcano is located on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. It is located about 50 km. (31 miles) from the capital, Manila. It is considered one of the smallest active volcanoes on the planet.
The Taal volcano has erupted approximately 30 times since 1572. One of the most destructive eruptions occurred on January 30, 1911, which claimed 1335 lives. The last eruption was recorded in 1965, then about 200 people died.
Recently, on June 8, 2010, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology announced that the volcano was undergoing a magmatic invasion that could eventually erupt.

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea


Ulavun is one of the most active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea and one of the most dangerous. This is the highest point (2334 m) of the Bismarck archipelago.
The first recorded eruption was recorded in 1700. The next eruption was in 1915, when a small settlement of Toriu, located 50 km from the volcano, was covered with a 10-centimeter layer of ash. The last few years have seen constant activity, with frequent small explosions. On February 14-15, 2010, ash was ejected from the volcano's crater, reaching an altitude of 3.7 km. In total, 22 eruptions of this volcano have been recorded.

Nyiragongo, DR Congo


Nyiragongo is a volcano in Africa, one of eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. It is located near the city of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its crater is 2 km wide and 250 meters deep. Sometimes a lake of lava forms in the crater.
Since 1882, it has erupted at least 34 times, including when one eruption lasted for many years continuously. The last devastating eruption of Nyiragongo occurred on January 17, 2002, when lava flowed down the slope and covered about 40% of the city of Goma. After this eruption, 120,000 people were left homeless.

Merapi, Indonesia


Merapi translates as "mountain of fire". It is located on the island of Java, not far from the city of Yogyakarta. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548.
The most destructive eruption took place in 1673, then, several cities and a very large number of villages that were located at the foot of the volcano were destroyed.
Typically, small eruptions occur every two to three years, and larger ones every 10-15 years or so. Its volcanic activity in 1006 is said to have destroyed the Javanese-Indian kingdom of Mataram. The last eruption took place in 2010, then 350,000 people were evacuated, but not without casualties - 353 people died.

Galeras, Colombia


Galeras has been considered an active volcano for at least a million years. It is located in southern Colombia, near the border with Ecuador, near the town of Pasto. Its height is 4276 meters. It is currently the most active volcano in Colombia.
On January 14, 1993, an expedition to the mouth of the volcano took place, which ended in a disaster as a result of an unexpected eruption, six scientists and three tourists died.
Galeras since 2000 have unexpectedly erupted almost every year. The last volcanic eruption was recorded on January 3, 2010, when about 9,000 people were evacuated.

Sakurajima, Japan


Sakurajima is an active composite volcano located on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu Island in the Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima. It is often called Eastern Vesuvius. It erupts almost constantly, releasing large volumes of volcanic ash into the environment, up to several kilometers in height. Sakurajima is very dangerous due to its location, it is located just a few kilometers from the city of Kagoshima, with 700 thousand inhabitants.
Since 1955, 7,300 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption took place on August 18, 2013.

Popocatepetl, Mexico


Popocatepetl is an active volcano, the second highest (5426 m) in Mexico after Orizaba Peak. The name translates as "Smoking Hill". It is located at a distance of 40 kilometers from the city of Puebla (inhabited by approximately 1,538,000 people).
The volcano has erupted more than 20 times since 1519. The last major eruption occurred in 2000, fortunately, scientists were able to warn in time the Mexican government, which was evacuating, the population.

Vesuvius, Italy


Mount Vesuvius is located in southern Italy, near Naples. It is the only active volcano in continental Europe. Vesuvius is the most famous of all volcanoes, for its eruption in 79 AD, which led to the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Oplontis and the Villa Stabius. Vesuvius has erupted many times, but luckily the last eruption was recorded in 1944.
It is the most populous volcanic region in the world.

Yellowstone Caldera, USA


This volcano is the most dangerous in the world, as it is an active supervolcano, which is capable of erupting more than 1000 cubic kilometers of emissions, which is thousands of times more than any eruption known in history. The eruptions of such volcanoes usually cover huge areas and can become one of the reasons for the “end of the world”.
The probability of a giant eruption in the modern period is estimated by scientists at 0.00014%.
In the disaster movie 2012, a giant eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera was reproduced using special effects.

Volcanoes are shrouded in mystery, in ancient times they were associated with mythology, with gods and goddesses who controlled their fiery power. Over the millennia, volcanoes have created new lands, destroyed cities and reshaped the face of our planet.

Thousands of travelers and vacationers were forced to cancel their plans in 2010 following the eruption of an Icelandic volcano. Huge volcanic ash clouds have covered the airspace of much of continental Europe, which has brought major adjustments to flight schedules.

But there are those enthusiasts for whom volcanoes and travel are always a combination. They love adventure and will do everything to get to the next active volcano, to photograph fiery lava flows and to remain surrounded by danger for a while.

Although there are thousands of volcanoes on Earth, only about 500 of them are active at the moment. And at the moment, about 500 million people live in the immediate vicinity of active volcanoes.

1. Kilauea volcano ( Kilauea volcano), Hawaii

The volcano is located in the southeastern part of the Big Island. The first recorded eruption was in 1790. The current eruption began in 1983 and is still ongoing. The volcano is located on the territory. Here you can see dramatic landscapes of burning lava flows flowing directly into the sea.

Mount Etna is located on an island in. It is the largest active volcano in Europe and was formed around 1500 BC. NS. and has erupted about 200 times since then. Small eruptions occur regularly. Throughout its history, the volcano has killed thousands of people, but that does not stop Italians. The volcanic soil is excellent for the cultivation of olives and grapes, which is why they are re-settling on the slopes of Etna.

The Piton de la Fournaise shield volcano is located in the Indian Ocean on the eastern side of Reunion Island and is the main attraction of the island. The volcano has been active for over 530 thousand years. Since the 17th century, there have been over 150 eruptions, the last of which was recorded in December 2010.

The volcanic island of Stromboli is part of the Aeolian Islands located off the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ancient Greeks considered these places to be the home of the god of the winds, Aeola. The island was formed as a result of volcanic activity on the seabed millions of years ago. For the past several thousand years, the Stromboli volcano has been erupting almost continuously.

Yasru volcano is located on the island of Tanna, located in the southern part of the New Hebrides archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Pacific Volcanic Ring of Fire. It has been continuously erupting for more than 800 recent years with a frequency of several times an hour. Yasru volcano is a popular tourist destination, and at night it looks like a fantastic fireworks display.

The volcano is located on the former island of the same name in Kagoshima Prefecture. The top of the mountain is divided into three peaks, the southern peak of Minamidake is active. The most powerful eruption took place in 1914, when the island of Sakurajima joined the mainland and became a peninsula. Since 1955, the volcano has been erupting almost continuously.

7. Volcano Santa Maria ( Santa maria volcano), Guatemala

A large active stratovolcano located on the Pacific coast rises to an impressive height of 3,772 meters. The activity began about 30 thousand years ago. For millennia until the 20th century, eruptions were small and frequent. In 1902, a powerful volcanic explosion occurred, destroying part of the mountain and causing serious damage to southwestern Guatemala.

The Chaiten volcano crater is a caldera 3 km in diameter, within which there are several volcanic lakes. The volcano is located at an altitude of 1122 meters, 10 km., Northeast of the city of Chaiten, near the Corcovado Bay in the south. The violent eruption began in the spring of 2008 and continues to this day with varying intensity. Before that, the volcano was inactive for almost 10,000 years.

Mayon is an active stratovolcano in the Albay na province. It is the most active volcano in the Philippine Islands and has erupted more than 50 times over the past 400 years. The first major eruption was recorded in 1616. Since January 2011, Mayon has erupted mildly, which could be a sign of a massive eruption in the near future. The volcano is known for its almost perfect conical shape.

It is an active volcano located 48 km off the east coast of the North Island in Plenty Bay (Bay of Plenty). The seamount stretches from the seabed of 1600 meters, and the round summit of the volcano rises above sea level to a height of 321 meters. Due to the opportunity to visit the base of the crater without spending energy on the ascent, White Island is very popular with tourists and explorers.

11. Volcano Soufriere Hills ( Soufriere Hills), Montserrat Island

An active stratovolcano in the Lesser Antilles. For a long time he was in a dormant state. Since 1995, the eruption has continued, which has already destroyed the city of Plymouth and caused massive evacuations. More than half of the population left the island.

12. Popocatepetl volcano ( Popocatepetl), Mexico

The Popocatepetl volcano is the second highest peak in c. Popocatepetl is connected with the Istaxihuatl volcano by the Paso de Cortes mountain pass ( Paso de cortes). Just 40 km. from the volcano is the city of Puebla, the historical center of which is listed in. The last major eruption was in 1947. Since 1994, the volcano periodically spews out jets of gas and ash.

Most of the volcanoes of our planet are located in the "ring of fire", which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. 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, 3470 m, Democratic Republic of the Congo

It 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, an eruption killed 147 people and left 120,000 homeless. The last eruption to date occurred in 2016.

2. Taal, height 311 m, Philippines


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

3. Mauna Loa, height 4,169 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 took place in 1984, the last violent eruption in 1950.

4. Vesuvius, height 1 281 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 disaster, 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 active volcano in Indonesia is located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. "Merapi" translates as "mountain of fire". The volcano is young, so it puffs with enviable regularity. Large eruptions occur every 7 years on average. In 1930, about 1,300 people died, in 1974 two villages were destroyed, in 2010 353 people died. The last eruption was in 2011.

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


Located 154 km from Seattle and 85 km from Portland. The most famous eruption of this active volcano occurred in 1980, when 57 people died. The eruption was of a rare type - "directed blast". The process of the volcanic eruption and the spread of the ash cloud was captured by photographer Robert Landsburg, who died in this eruption, but preserved the film. The last activity to date was recorded in 2008.

7. Etna, height 3 350 m, Italy


Mount Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe. Throughout its existence, it has erupted about 200 times. In 1992, one of the largest eruptions was recorded, during which the town of Zafferana barely escaped. On December 3, 2015, the volcano's central crater ejected a kilometer-high lava fountain. The last eruption was on February 27, 2017.

8.Sakurajima, height 1,117 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 over 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 4,276 m, Colombia


Over the past 7 thousand years, at least six large eruptions and many small ones have occurred on Galeras. In 1993, during research work in the crater, six volcanologists and three tourists died (then the eruption also began). Last 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. Since 1519, it has erupted 20 times. 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 the Unzen volcano in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in human history in terms of the number of human victims. The eruption caused a tsunami 55 meters high, which killed more than 15 thousand people. And in 1991, 43 people died during the eruption. There have been no eruptions 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 large island. However, the most powerful eruption in 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Krakatoa is still active today and small eruptions occur fairly regularly. The last activity was 2014.

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


The first recorded eruption of this volcano took place in October 1902, before that it "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 in recent years: 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015. Very turbulent volcano.