Undoubtedly, the active volcanoes of the world are one of the most fascinating and beautiful and at the same time frightening natural phenomena. These geological formations played one of the key roles in the formation of the Earth. Millennia ago, there were a huge number of them throughout the planet.

Today, there are few volcanoes that are still active. Some of them frighten, delight and at the same time destroy entire settlements. Let's see where the most famous active volcanoes are located.

Llullaillaco

A typical stratovolcano (has a layered, conical shape) with a height of 6739 m. It is located on the border of Chile and Argentina.

Such a complex name can be interpreted in different ways:

• "water that cannot be found, despite a long search";
• "soft mass that becomes hard."

On the side of the Chilean state at the foot of the volcano is national park with the same name - Lullaillaco, so the surroundings of the mountain are very picturesque. During the ascent to the top, tourists meet donkeys, many species of birds and guanacos living in natural conditions.

There are two routes to get to the crater:

• northern - duration 4.6 km, the road is suitable for travel by car;
• southern - duration 5 km.

If you are going on foot, bring special shoes and an ice ax as there are snowy areas along the way.

Interesting fact! During the first ascent in 1952, an ancient Inca repository was discovered on the mountain, and in 1999, the mummies of a girl and a boy were found near the crater. According to scientists, they became ritual victims.

The strongest eruptions were recorded three times - in 1854 and 1866. The last eruption of an active volcano happened in 1877.

San Pedro

The giant with a height of 6145 meters is located in the Andes, in the northern part of Chile near Bolivia on the Western Cordillera. The peak of the volcano rises above the longest body of water in Chile - Loa.

San Pedro is on the list of the highest active volcanoes. For the first time, it was possible to climb to the crater in 1903. Today it is a unique landmark of Chile, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. In the 20th century, the volcano reminded of itself 7 times, in last time in 1960. For more than half a century, San Pedro has been like a bubbling cauldron that could explode at any moment. At the foot there are signs that warn that it is only possible to climb to the crater in a mask that protects against toxic emissions.

Interesting:

• San Pedro is one of the few giant volcanoes that has remained active to this day. Many giants are recognized as extinct.
• San Pedro's neighbor is the San Pablo Volcano. It is located to the east and its height is 6150 m. The two mountains are connected by a high saddle.
• The inhabitants of Chile tell many legends associated with the San Pedro volcano, since each eruption in the past was considered a heavenly sign and had mystical significance.
• For the descendants of migrants from Spain and local indigenous people, the volcano is a source of constant and considerable income.

El Misty

Among all the active volcanoes in the world on the map, this one is rightfully considered the most beautiful. Its summit is sometimes covered with snow. The mountain is located near the city of Arequipa, its height is 5822 meters. The volcano is notable for the fact that on its top there are two craters with diameters of almost 1 km and 550 m.

There are unusual parabolic dunes on the slopes. They appeared as a result of constant winds between El Misti and Mount Cerro Tacune, they stretch for 20 km.

The first active action of the volcano was recorded during the migration of Europeans to Latin America. The strongest, devastating catastrophe occurred in 1438. In the 20th century, the volcano showed activity of varying degrees several times:

• In 1948 for half a year;
• in 1959;
• steam emissions were observed in 1985.

Scientists in Peru concluded a few years ago that the seismic activity of the volcano is gradually increasing. This leads to earthquakes, which are not uncommon in this area. Considering that El Misti is located near a large settlement in Peru, this makes it a rather dangerous active volcano.

popocatepetl

Located in Mexico, the highest point reaches 5500 m above sea level. On the territory of the state, this is the second highest mountain peak.

The Aztecs believed that worshiping the volcano would bring rain, so offerings were regularly brought here.

Popocatepetl is dangerous because many cities are built around it:

• the capitals of the states of Puebla and Tlaxcal;
• the cities of Mexico City and Cholula.

According to scientists, during its history, the volcano erupted more than three dozen times. The last eruption was recorded in May 2013. During the disaster, the airport of the city of Puebla was closed, and the streets were covered with ash. Despite the hidden danger, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the volcano every year. different countries the world to admire the scenery, listen to the legend and enjoy the majesty of the mountain.

Volcano Sangay

Sangai is rightfully included in the top ten active volcanoes, which are the most powerful in the world. The mountain is located in South America, its height is 5230 meters. In translation, the name of the volcano means “awe-inspiring” and this fully reflects its behavior - eruptions are a frequent occurrence here, and sometimes stones weighing 1 ton fall from the sky. On the top of the mountain, covered with eternal snow, there are three craters with a diameter of 50 to 100 meters.

The age of the volcano is about 14 thousand years, the giant has been especially active in recent decades. One of the most destructive activities was recorded in 2006, the eruption lasted more than a year.

The first ascent took almost 1 month, today tourists travel in comfort, by car, people overcome the finish line on mules. The journey takes several days. In general, the journey is assessed as quite difficult, so few dare to climb to the crater. Tourists who have conquered the mountain feel a strong smell of sulfur and are surrounded by smoke. As a reward, an amazing landscape opens up from the top.

The volcano is surrounded by the Sangay National Park, whose area is more than 500 hectares. In 1992, UNESCO listed the park as endangered. However, in 2005 the object was delisted.

Interesting fact! Three of the highest volcanoes in Ecuador are located in the park area - Sangay, Tungurahua and El Altar.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

The volcano is the highest on the territory of the Eurasian continent - 4750 meters, and its age is more than 7 thousand years. Klyuchevskaya Sopka is located in the central part of Kamchatka, there are several other volcanoes nearby. The height of the giant increases after each eruption. There are more than 80 side craters on the slopes, so several lava flows are formed during the eruption.

The volcano is one of the most active in the world and declares itself regularly, approximately once every 3-5 years. The duration of each activity reaches several months. The first happened in 1737. During 2016, the volcano was active 55 times.

The most serious disaster was recorded in 1938, its duration was 13 months. As a result of the cataclysm, a crack 5 km long was formed. In 1945, the eruption was accompanied by a serious rockfall. And in 1974, the active actions of Klyuchevskaya Sopka led to the explosion of the glacier.

During the 1984-1987 eruption, a new peak formed, and ash plumes rose 15 km. In 2002, the volcano became more active, the greatest activity was recorded in 2005 and 2009. By 2010, the height of the mountain exceeded 5 km. In the spring of 2016, another eruption took place for several weeks, accompanied by earthquakes, lava flows and ash emissions to a height of up to 11 km.

mauna loa

The eruption of this huge volcano can be observed from anywhere in Hawaii. Mauna Loa is located in an archipelago formed as a result of volcanic activity. Its height is 4169 meters. The peculiarity is that the crater is not round, so the distance from one edge to the other varies within 3-5 km. The inhabitants of the island call the mountain Long.

On a note! Many guides on the island take tourists to the Mauna Kea volcano. It is indeed a little higher than Mauna Loa, but unlike the latter, it is already extinct. Therefore, be sure to specify which volcano you want to see.

The age of Mauna Loa is 700 thousand years, of which 300 thousand it was under water. The activity of the volcano was recorded only in the first half of the 19th century. During this time, he reminded himself more than 30 times. With each eruption, the size of the giant increases.

The most devastating disasters occurred in 1926 and 1950. The volcano destroyed several villages and the city. And the eruption in 1935 was reminiscent of the plot of the legendary Soviet film The Crew. The last activity was recorded in 1984, for 3 weeks lava poured out of the crater. In 2013, several earthquakes occurred, which indicate that the volcano may soon again show what it is capable of.

We can say that scientists are showing the greatest interest in Mauna Loa. According to seismologists, the volcano (one of the few in the world) will continuously erupt for another million years.

Cameroon

Located in the republic of the same name, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. This is the highest point of the state - 4040 meters. The foot of the mountain and its lower part are covered with tropical forests, there is no vegetation on the top, there is not a large number of snow.

In the territory West Africa it is the most active volcano of all active on the mainland. Over the past century, the giant showed himself 8 times. Each eruption resembles an explosion. The first mention of the catastrophe dates back to the 5th century BC. In 1922, volcanic lava reached the coast Atlantic Ocean. The last eruption occurred in 2000.

Good to know! The best time to climb is December or January. In February, an annual competition is held here - the Race of Hope. Thousands of participants climb to the top, competing in speed.

Kerinci

highest volcano on the territory of Indonesia (its height reaches 3 km 800 meters) and the most high point Sumatra. Located in the central part of the island, southbound from the city of Padang. Not far from the volcano is Keinci Seblat Park, which has the status of a national park.

The depth of the crater is more than 600 meters; there is a lake in its northeastern part. A strong eruption was recorded in 2004, when a column of ash and smoke rose 1 km. The last serious catastrophe was recorded in 2009, and in 2011 the activity of the volcano was felt in the form of characteristic shocks.

In the summer of 2013, the volcano threw out a column of ash 800 meters high. Residents of nearby settlements hastily packed up and evacuated. Ashes painted the sky gray, and the air smelled of sulfur. It took only 30 minutes, and several villages were covered with a thick layer of ash. Fears were caused by tea plantations, which are located near the volcano and also suffered as a result of the disaster. Fortunately, after the event, heavy rain fell, and the consequences of the eruption were washed away.

It is interesting! Climbing to the crater takes 2 to 3 days. The route is laid through dense forests, most often the road is slippery. To overcome the path, you will need the help of a guide. In history, there were cases when travelers disappeared, setting off on a journey on their own. It is best to start climbing in the village of Kersik Tua.

Erebus

Active volcanoes on every continent (except Australia) attract the attention of scientists and tourists. Even in Antarctica there is one of them - Erebus. This volcano is located to the south of other objects that are the subject of seismological research. The height of the mountain is 3 km 794 m, and the size of the crater is a little more than 800 m.

The volcano has been active since the end of the last century, when a station was opened in the state of New Mexico, its employees monitor its activities. The unique phenomenon of Erebus is the lava lake.

The object is named after the god Erebus. The mountain is located in a fault zone, which is why the volcano is recognized as one of the most active in the world. The emitted gases cause serious damage to the ozone layer. Scientists note that this is where the thinnest layer of ozone is found.

Volcanic eruptions occur in the form of explosions, the lava is thick, solidifies quickly and does not have time to spread to large areas.

The main danger is ash, which makes air travel difficult, as visibility drops sharply. The mud stream is also dangerous, as it moves at high speed, and it is almost impossible to escape from it.

Erebus is an amazing natural creation - formidable, magical and charming. The lake in the crater attracts with special mystery.

Etna

Located in Sicily, in the Mediterranean Sea. With a height of 3329 meters, it cannot be attributed to the highest active volcanoes in the world, but it can confidently be included in the most active. After each eruption, the height increases slightly. In Europe, this is the largest volcano, its top is always decorated with a snow cap. The volcano has 4 central cones and about 400 lateral ones.

The first activity dates back to 1226 BC. The most terrible eruption occurred in 44 BC, it was so strong that the ash completely covered the sky over the capital of Italy, destroyed the crop on mediterranean coast. Today, Etna is no less dangerous than in the prehistoric period. The last eruption occurred in the spring of 2008 and lasted almost 420 days.

The volcano is attractive for its diverse vegetation, here you can find palm trees, cacti, pines, agaves, spruces, biscuses, fruit trees and vineyards. Some plants are characteristic only for Etna - stone tree, ethnian violet. Numerous myths and legends are associated with the volcano and the mountain.

Kilauea

On the territory of the Hawaiian Islands, this is the most active volcano (although far from the highest in the world). In Hawaiian, Kilauea means strongly spreading. Eruptions have been occurring continuously since 1983.

The volcano is located on the territory of the National Park of Volcanoes, its height is only 1 km 247 meters, but it compensates for its insignificant growth with activity. Kilauea appeared 25 thousand years ago, the diameter of the volcano's caldera is considered one of the largest in the world - about 4.5 km.

Interesting! According to legend, the volcano is the residence of the goddess Pele (the goddess of volcanoes). Her tears are individual drops of lava, and her hair is streams of lava.

An amazing sight is the Puuoo lava lake, which is located in the crater. Molten rocks seethe restlessly, creating amazing stains on the surface. Stay close to it natural phenomenon dangerous, because the fiery lava breaks out to a height of 500 meters.

In addition to the lake, you can admire a cave of natural origin. Its length is more than 60 km. The ceiling of the cave is decorated with stalactites. Tourists note that walking through the cave is reminiscent of flying to the moon.

In 1990, volcanic lava completely destroyed the village, the thickness of the lava layer was from 15 to 25 meters. For 25 years, the volcano destroyed almost 130 houses, destroyed 15 km of the roadway, and lava covered an area of ​​120 km.

The whole world watched the most powerful Kilauea eruption in 2014. The eruption was accompanied by periodic earthquakes. Huge volumes of lava destroyed residential buildings and operating farms. The evacuation of the nearest settlements was carried out, but not all residents showed a desire to leave their homes.

Which continent has no active volcanoes?

There are no extinct or active volcanoes in Australia. This is explained by the fact that the mainland is located far from the crustal faults and the volcanic lava has no outlet to the surface.

The opposite of Australia is Japan - the country is located in the most dangerous tectonic zone. This is where 4 tectonic plates collide.

Volcanoes are geological formations on the Earth's surface where magma comes out in the form of lava. These mountains are not only on Earth, but also on other planets. So, the Olympus volcano on Mars reaches a height of several tens of kilometers. Such formations are dangerous not only with lava, but also with the release of a large amount of dust and ash into the atmosphere.

eruption Icelandic volcano Eyyafjallayekul in 2010 made a lot of noise. Although it was not the most destructive in terms of strength, its proximity to Europe led to the impact of emissions on transport system mainland. However, history knows many other cases of the destructive effects of volcanoes. Let's talk about the ten most famous and large-scale of them.

Vesuvius, Italy. On August 24, 79, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, which destroyed not only the well-known city of Pompeii, but also the cities of Stabiae and Herculaneum. Ashes even reached Egypt and Syria. It would be a mistake to assume that the catastrophe destroyed Pompeii alive, out of 20 thousand people, only 2 thousand died. Among the victims was the famous scientist Pliny the Elder, who approached the volcano on a ship in order to explore it and thus found himself practically at the epicenter of the disaster. During the excavations of Pompeii, it was found that under a multi-meter layer of ash, the life of the city froze at the time of the disaster - objects remained in their places, houses with furnishings, people and animals were found. Today, Vesuvius remains the only active volcano on the continental part of Europe, more than 80 of its eruptions are known, the very first one supposedly happened 9 thousand years ago, and the last one took place in 1944. Then the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano were destroyed, and 57 people died. Naples is located 15 kilometers from Vesuvius, the height of the mountain is 1281 meters.

Tambora, Sumbawa Island. The cataclysm on this Indonesian island happened on April 5, 1815. This is the largest number dead people and by the amount of material released into modern history eruption. The catastrophe associated with the eruption and the ensuing famine killed 92,000 people. In addition, the Tambora culture, which Europeans had only met shortly before, completely disappeared from the face of the earth. The volcano lived for 10 days, decreasing during this time in height by 1400 meters. Ashes for 3 days hid the territory within a radius of 500 kilometers from the sun. According to the testimony of the British authorities in those days in Indonesia, it was impossible to see anything at arm's length. Most of the island of Sumbawa was covered with a meter layer of ash, under the weight of which even stone houses crumbled. 150-180 cubic kilometers of gases and pyroclassics were thrown into the atmosphere. The volcano therefore had a strong impact on the climate of the entire planet - ash clouds poorly transmitted the rays of the Sun, which led to a noticeable decrease in temperature. 1816 became known as "the year without summer", in Europe and America the snow melted only in June, and the first frosts appeared already in August. The result was massive crop failures and famine.

Taupo, New Zealand. 27 thousand years ago, a strong volcanic eruption occurred on one of the islands, surpassing even Tamboru in strength. Geologists consider this cataclysm the last such force in the history of the planet. As a result of the work of the supervolcano, Lake Taupo was formed, which today is the object of attention of tourists, as it is very beautiful. The last eruption of the giant took place in 180 AD. The ash and the blast destroyed half of all life on the North Island, about 100 cubic kilometers of tectonic matter fell into the atmosphere. The speed of the rock eruption was 700 km/h. The ash that rose into the sky painted sunsets and sunrises all over the world with purple, which was reflected in the ancient Roman and Chinese chronicles.

Krakatau, Indonesia. The volcano, located between the islands of Sumatra and Java, produced on August 27, 1883 the largest explosion of its kind in modern history. During the cataclysm, a tsunami up to 30 meters high appeared, which simply washed away 295 villages and cities, while about 37 thousand people died. The roar from the explosion was heard on 8% of the entire surface of the planet, and pieces of lava were thrown into the air to an unprecedented height of 55 kilometers. The wind carried the volcanic ash so much that after 10 days it was found at a distance of 5330 kilometers from the scene. The mountain-island then split into 3 small parts. The wave from the explosion circled the earth from 7 to 11 times, geologists believe that the explosion was 200 thousand times stronger than the nuclear strike on Hiroshima. Krakatau woke up before, so, in 535, his activity significantly changed the climate of the planet, perhaps then the islands of Java and Sumatra were divided. On the site of the volcano destroyed in 1883, during an underwater eruption in 1927, a new volcano, Anak Krakatau, which is still quite active today. Its height is now 300 meters due to new activities.

Santorini, Greece. Approximately one and a half thousand years BC, a volcanic eruption occurred on the island of Thera, which put an end to the entire Cretan civilization. Sulfur covered all the fields, which made further farming unthinkable. According to some versions, it is Thera that is the very Atlantis described by Plato. Someone also believes that the eruption of Santorini entered the annals, like a pillar of fire seen by Moses, and the parted sea is nothing more than the consequences of the disappearance of the island of Thera under water. However, the Volcano continued its activity, in 1886 its eruption lasted a whole year, while pieces of lava flew straight out of the sea and rose to a height of 500 meters. As a result - several new islands nearby.

Etna, Sicily. About 200 eruptions of this Italian volcano are known. Among them were quite powerful ones, so, in 1169, about 15 thousand people died during the cataclysm. Today, Etna remains an active volcano with a height of 3329 meters, waking up about once every 150 years and destroying one of the nearby villages. Why don't people leave the slopes of the mountain? The fact is that the frozen lava helps the soil to become more fertile, which is why the Sicilians settle here. In 1928, besides, a miracle happened - the flow of red-hot lava stopped in front of the Catholic procession. This inspired the believers so much that in 1930 a chapel was erected on this site, 30 years later the lava stopped in front of it. The Italians protect these places, so in 1981 the local government created a reserve around Etna. It is curious that a blues music festival is even arranged on a calm volcano. Etna is quite large, exceeding the size of Vesuvius by 2.5 times. The volcano has from 200 to 400 side craters, lava erupts from one of them every three months.

Montagne Pele, Martinique island. The volcanic eruption on the island began in April 1902, and on May 8 a whole cloud of vapors, gases and red-hot lava hit the city of Saint-Pierre, located 8 kilometers away. A few minutes later he was gone, and of the 17 ships that were in the harbor at that moment, only one managed to survive. The ship "Roddam" escaped from the clutches of the elements with broken masts, smoking and littered with ashes. Of the 28 thousand inhabitants of the city, two escaped, one of them was called Opost Siparis, and he was sentenced to death. He was saved by the thick stone walls of the prison. Subsequently, the prisoner was pardoned by the governor, spending the rest of his life traveling the world with stories about what happened. The force of the blow was such that the monument on the square, weighing several tons, was thrown aside, and the heat was such that even the bottles melted. It is interesting that the outpouring of liquid lava did not directly occur, the impact was caused by vapors, gases and pulverized lava. Later, a sharp lava plug 375 meters high came out of the crater of the volcano. It also turned out that the bottom of the sea near Martinique had sunk several hundred meters. The city of Saint-Pierre, by the way, became famous for the birth of Napoleon's wife, Josephine Beauharnais, in it.

Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia. A 5,400-meter-high volcano located in the Andes spewed lava flows on November 13, 1985, and the main blow fell on the city of Armero, located 50 kilometers away. It took only 10 minutes for the lava to destroy it. The death toll exceeded 21 thousand people, and in total at that time about 29 thousand lived in Armero. Sadly, no one listened to the volcanologists' information about the impending eruption, since the specialists' information was repeatedly not confirmed.

Pinatubo, Philippines. Until June 12, 1991, the volcano was considered extinct for 611 years. The first signs of activity appeared in April and the Philippine authorities managed to evacuate all residents within a radius of 20 kilometers. The eruption itself claimed the lives of 875 people, while naval base The United States and the American strategic air base, located 18 kilometers from Pinatubo. The ejected ash covered an area of ​​125,000 km2 of the sky. The consequences of the disaster were a general decrease in temperature by half a degree and a reduction in the ozone layer, due to which a very large ozone hole formed over Antarctica. The height of the volcano before the eruption was 1486 meters, and after - 1745 meters. At the site of Pinatubo, a crater with a diameter of 2.5 kilometers was formed. Today, earthquakes regularly occur in this area, preventing any construction within a radius of tens of kilometers.

Katmai, Alaska. The eruption of this volcano on June 6, 1912 was one of the largest in the 20th century. The height of the ash column was 20 kilometers, and the sound reached the capital of Alaska, the city of Juneau, located 1200 kilometers away. At a distance of 4 kilometers from the epicenter, the ash layer reached 20 meters. Summer in Alaska turned out to be very cold, as the rays could not break through the cloud. After all, thirty billion tons of rocks were taken into the air! In the crater itself, a lake with a diameter of 1.5 kilometers formed, and it became the main attraction of the Katmai National Park and Reserve formed here in 1980. Today, the height of this active volcano is 2047 meters, and the last known eruption occurred in 1921.

A truly amazing sight is a volcanic eruption. But what is a volcano? How does a volcano erupt? Why do some of them spew huge lava flows at different intervals, while others sleep peacefully for centuries?

What is a volcano?

Outwardly, the volcano resembles a mountain. There is a geological fault inside it. In science, it is customary to call a volcano a formation of geological rock located on the surface of the earth. Through it, magma erupts outward, which is very hot. It is magma that subsequently forms volcanic gases and stones, as well as lava. Most of the volcanoes on earth formed several centuries ago. Today, new volcanoes occasionally appear on the planet. But this happens much less often than before.

How are volcanoes formed?

Briefly explaining the essence of the formation of a volcano, it will look like this. Under the earth's crust is a special layer under strong pressure, consisting of molten rocks, and it is called magma. If cracks suddenly begin to appear in the earth's crust, then hills form on the surface of the earth. Magma comes out through them under strong pressure. At the surface of the earth, it begins to break up into red-hot lava, which then solidifies, causing the volcanic mountain to become larger and larger. The emerging volcano becomes such a vulnerable spot on the surface that it erupts volcanic gases onto the surface with great frequency.

What is a volcano made of?

In order to understand how magma erupts, you need to know what the volcano consists of. Its main components are: volcanic chamber, vent and craters. What is the focus of a volcano? This is where magma forms. But not everyone knows what the mouth and crater of a volcano are? A vent is a special channel that connects the hearth with the surface of the earth. A crater is a small bowl-shaped depression on the surface of a volcano. Its size can reach several kilometers.

What is a volcanic eruption?

Magma is constantly under strong pressure. Therefore, there is a cloud of gases above it at any time. Gradually, they push the red-hot magma to the surface of the earth through the mouth of the volcano. That's what causes the eruption. However, one small description of the eruption process is not enough. To see this spectacle, you can use the video, which you need to watch after you have learned what the volcano consists of. In the same way, in the video you can find out which volcanoes do not exist at the present time and what volcanoes that are active today look like.

Why are volcanoes dangerous?

Active volcanoes are dangerous for a number of reasons. By itself, a dormant volcano is very dangerous. He can “wake up” at any time and start spewing lava flows that spread over many kilometers. Therefore, you should not settle near such volcanoes. If an erupting volcano is located on the island, such a dangerous phenomenon as tsunami may occur.

Despite their danger, volcanoes can serve mankind well.

Why are volcanoes useful?

• During the eruption, a large number of metals appear that can be used in industry.
• The volcano generates the strongest rocks that can be used for construction.
• Pumice, which appears as a result of the eruption, is used for industrial purposes, as well as in the production of stationery gum and toothpaste.

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 increasing volcanic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where more than three hundred active volcanoes are located.

The behavior of a couple or three of other active volcanoes, which have managed over the past ten to twenty years, is also alarming. spoil the lives of a significant number of people on our planet. But there are about nine hundred active volcanoes only on land.

Volcanoes are an integral part of the Earth that 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 is breathlessly watching how the Kilauea volcano covers the most large island Hawaii, not so far from him peacefully dozing megavolcano mauna loa, whose height is 4169 meters (that is, almost three thousand meters above Kilauea!).

Mauna Loa, whose name translates as " long mountain", is the largest active volcano on planet Earth. In this moment it is a place for 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 erupts 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 identified Mauna Loa as one of the Pele sisters - the goddess of fire, volcanoes and strong winds.

Eyjafjallajokull 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 people can pronounce his name without hesitation. This volcano with a height of 1666 meters (a mysterious combination of three sixes, isn't it?) is located in the south of Iceland.

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

Despite the fact that Eyjafjallajokull 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 air traffic over the entire Northern Europe.

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

Mount Vesuvius, Italy

Speaking of the most dangerous active volcanoes on the planet, it would be 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 wiped off 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 only fifteen kilometers from Vesuvius is Naples, the agglomeration of which exceeds three million people.

Vesuvius is not distinguished by its outstanding height - it has only 1281 meters above sea level. His fairly frequent activity (one eruption about once every twenty years) due to the relative youth of the volcano - it 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 most powerful eruption of this volcano!), Vesuvius took the lives of 26 thousand people!

active volcanoes

Volcano Nyiragongo, Congo

If we talk about activity, then the Nyiragongo volcano, whose height is 3469 meters, can rightly 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 its neighbor Nyamlagir accounts for forty percent of all eruptions that continue to this day to observe on the African continent. If we talk about the most destructive eruptions of Nyiragongo, then 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 in Nyiragongo in this century happened in 2002, when 45 people died under lava flows.

Nyiragongo is also known for having the most big lake molten lava, whose diameter is two kilometers. The temperature of the lava is 1200 degrees Celsius. Samo lake of fire, which is visible even from space, resembles in size the red cyclopean eye, or, if you like, the eye of Sauron.

Taal Volcano, Philippines

Taal Volcano, whose height is only some 311 meters, is located on the island of Luzon, only 50 kilometers 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 his activity that the third largest lake in the Philippines was formed, the greatest depth of which is 172 meters. It is also called Taal.

One of the strongest eruptions of Taal, as a result of which all living things died within a few minutes 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 cloud of ash, 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.

Mount Merapi, Indonesia

Some volcanoes destroy settlements and villages, like Nyamlagira and Taal. Others, like Vesuvius, entire cities. It is known about the volcano Merapi that he destroyed the whole Javanese-Indian kingdom located in what is now Indonesia. It happened in 1006.

The highest point of Merapi is 2968 meters. "Mountain of fire" (namely, 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 the island 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 in 1930, 1,300 people died due to the activity of this volcano. And now in 1974 Merapi wipes two villages off the face of the earth, and just a year later - 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 people to leave the nearby region. local residents. Some of them, however, dared to go back, 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, is the majestic volcano Galeras. The height of this giant is 4276 meters. The depth of the crater (about 80 meters) and its diameter (320 meters) turn this volcano into a kind of cannon that has fired more than once.

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

Galeras is very popular place for tourists in South America, who also come to admire the beauties located at the foot of the mountain national reserve covering an area of ​​several thousand hectares.

Galeras constantly keeps in suspense almost half a million people living near the volcano, which, according to experts, has been 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.

Volcano Sakurajima, Japan

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

Sakurajima has been incessantly active since 1955, posing a serious threat to the city of Kagoshima with a population of over six hundred thousand people. 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.

A ferry runs regularly to Mount Sakurajima, and from the city itself to the volcano, whose height is 1117 meters, opens bewitchingly beautiful view . Given the constant small eruptions of the volcano, it is not surprising that the inhabitants are used to it. For example, in 2014 alone, there were 471 eruptions!

Volcanoes on Earth are divided into two types:

• Active(active) - erupted in the historical period of time or during the Holocene (in the last 10 thousand years). Some active volcanoes may be considered sleeping, but eruptions are still possible on them.
• Inactive(extinct) - ancient volcanoes that have lost their activity.

There are about 900 active volcanoes on land (see the list of the largest volcanoes below), in the seas and oceans their number is being specified.

The period of a volcanic eruption can last from several days to several million years.

On other planets

Types of volcanic structures

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

The forms of volcanoes of the central type depend on the composition and viscosity of the magma. Hot and easily mobile basaltic magmas create vast and flat panel board volcanoes (Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kilauea). If the volcano periodically erupts either lava or pyroclastic material, a cone-shaped layered structure, a stratovolcano, arises. 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 slag, tuffs, etc. formations, or be mixed - stratovolcanoes.

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

• Shield (shield) volcanoes. Formed as a result of repeated 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. Lava evenly spreads over many kilometers; Gradually, a wide “shield” with gentle edges is 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 at the bottom of the ocean is approximately ten kilometers (while the underwater base of the volcano has a length of 120 km and a width of 50 km).
• cinder cones. During the eruption of such volcanoes, large fragments of porous slag pile 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 gets higher and higher. This is the most common type of volcanoes on land. They are no more than a few hundred meters high. Cinder cones often form as side cones of a large volcano, or as separate centers of eruptive activity during fissure eruptions. An example - several groups of cinder cones appeared during the last eruptions of the Plosky Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka in 1975-76 and in 2012-2013.
• Stratovolcanoes, or "layered volcanoes". Periodically erupt lava (viscous and thick, quickly solidifying) and pyroclastic substance - a mixture of hot gas, ash and red-hot stones; as a result, deposits on their cone (sharp, with concave slopes) alternate. The lava of such volcanoes also flows out of cracks, solidifying on the slopes in the form of ribbed corridors, which serve as a support for the volcano. Examples are Etna, Vesuvius, Fujiyama.
• dome volcanoes. They are formed when viscous granite magma, rising from the bowels of the volcano, cannot flow down the slopes and freezes at the top, forming a dome. It clogs its mouth, like a cork, which, over time, is kicked out by the gases accumulated under the dome. Such a dome is now forming over the crater of Mount St. Helens in the northwestern United States, formed during the 1980 eruption.
• Complex (mixed, composite) volcanoes.

Volcano Baransky. Iturup Island.

Volcanic eruption

Hawaiian type

Strombolian type

Volcanic eruptions are geological emergencies that often lead to natural disasters. The eruption process can last from several hours to many years.

An eruption is understood as the process of coming from the depths to the surface of a significant amount of incandescent and hot volcanic products in a gaseous, liquid and solid state. During eruptions, volcanic structures are formed - a characteristic form of elevation, confined to channels and cracks, through which eruption products come to the surface from magma chambers. Usually they have the shape of a cone with a recess - a crater at the top. In the event of its subsidence and collapse, a caldera is formed - a vast circus-shaped basin with steep walls and a relatively flat bottom.

The generally accepted assessment of the strength of the eruption, or its explosiveness, without taking into account the individual characteristics of the volcano, is made on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale. It was proposed in 1982 by American scientists C.A. Newhall and S.Self, allowing a general assessment of the eruption in terms of its impact on the earth's atmosphere. An indicator of the strength of a volcanic eruption, regardless of its volume and location, in the VEI scale is the volume of erupted products - tephra and the height of the ash column - an eruptive column.

Among the various classifications, general types of eruptions stand out:

• Hawaiian type- ejections of liquid basalt lava, lava lakes are often formed, the lava flow can spread over long distances.
• Strombolian type- the lava is thicker and is ejected from the vent by frequent explosions. The formation of ash cones, volcanic bombs and lapilli is characteristic.
• plinian type- powerful rare explosions capable of throwing tephra to a height of up to several tens of kilometers.
• Peleian type- eruptions, the hallmark of which is the formation of extrusive domes and pyroclastic flows ("scorching clouds").
• Gas (frheotic) type- eruptions in which only volcanic gases reach the crater and solid rocks are ejected. Magma is not observed.
• Underwater type- eruptions occurring under water. As a rule, they are accompanied by emissions of pumice.

Post-volcanic phenomena

After eruptions, when the activity of the volcano either ceases forever, or it “dozes” for thousands of years, processes associated with the cooling of the magma chamber and called post-volcanic. These include:

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

Eiffel Volcanic Domes

Lava that has risen to the earth's surface does not always come out to 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 that fill the craters of former volcanoes that failed to form a characteristic volcanic cone (the so-called maars).

Geysers are found in areas with volcanic activity, where hot rocks are located close to the surface of the earth. In such places, groundwater is heated to a boiling point, and a fountain of hot water and steam is periodically thrown into the air. In New Zealand and Iceland, geyser and hot spring energy is used to generate electricity. One of the most famous geysers in the world is the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone. national park(USA), which every 70 minutes shoots a jet of water and steam to a height of 45 m.

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 than ordinary volcanoes. The mud usually comes to the surface cold, but the gases erupted by mud volcanoes often contain methane and can ignite during the eruption, creating a picture similar to a miniature eruption of an ordinary volcano.

Heat sources

One of the unsolved problems of manifestation of volcanic activity is the determination of the heat source necessary for the local melting of the basalt layer or mantle. Such melting must be highly localized, since the passage of seismic waves shows 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 United States in the Columbia River Basin (Washington and Oregon), the volume of basalts is more than 820 thousand km³; similar large strata of basalts are found in Argentina (Patagonia), India (Decan Plateau) and South Africa (Great Karoo Rise). There are currently three hypotheses. Some geologists believe that the melting is due to local high concentrations of radioactive elements, but such concentrations in nature seem unlikely; others suggest that tectonic disturbances in the form of shifts 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 conditions of high pressures, and when the pressure drops due to cracking, the so-called phase transition occurs - the solid rocks of the rock mantle melt and liquid lava flows out of the cracks onto the Earth's surface.

extraterrestrial volcanoes

Volcanoes exist not only on Earth, but also on other planets and their satellites. The first highest mountain in the solar system is the Martian volcano Olympus 21.2 km high.

On some satellites of the planets (Enceladus and Triton), at low temperatures, the erupted "magma" does not consist of molten rocks, but of water and light substances. This type of eruptions cannot be attributed to ordinary volcanism, therefore this phenomenon is called cryovolcanism.

Famous eruptions

• The eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia in 1883 produced the loudest rumble ever heard in history; the sound was heard at a distance of more than 4800 km from the volcano. Atmospheric shock waves circled the Earth seven times and were still visible for 5 days. The eruption killed more than 36,000 people, destroyed 165 villages and damaged another 132 (mainly through the tsunami that followed the eruption). Volcanic eruptions after 1927 formed a new volcanic island called Anak Krakatoa.
• The Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii is the most active volcano at present. The last eruption has been going on since 1983, and lava flows reach the ocean.
• In 2010, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption caused the cancellation of more than 60,000 flights across Europe.

Recent eruptions

Scientists have observed eruptions on 560 volcanoes. The last largest of them are presented in the list:

The largest volcanoes on Earth

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

List of largest active volcanoes

The name of the volcano	Location	Height,	Region
Ojos del Salado	Chilean Andes	6893	South America
Llullaillaco	Chilean Andes	6723	South America
San Pedro	Central Andes	6159	South America
Cotopaxi	Equatorial Andes	5911	South America
kilimanjaro	Masai plateau	5895	Africa
misty	Central Andes (southern Peru)	5821	South America
Orizaba	Mexican highlands	5700
Elbrus	Greater Caucasus	5642	Europe
popocatepetl	Mexican highlands	5455	North and Central America
Sangay	Equatorial Andes	5230	South America
Tolima	Northwestern Andes	5215	South America
Klyuchevskaya Sopka	peninsula Kamchatka	4850	Asia
Rainier	Cordillera	4392	North and Central America
Tahumulco	Central America	4217	North and Central America
mauna loa	about. Hawaii	4169	Oceania
Cameroon	Massif Cameroon	4100	Africa
Erciyes	Anatolian plateau	3916	Asia
Kerinci	about. Sumatra	3805	Asia
Erebus	about. Ross	3794	Antarctica
Fujiyama	about. Honshu	3776	Asia
Teide	Canary Islands	3718	Africa
Seven	about. Java	3676	Asia
Ichinskaya Sopka	peninsula Kamchatka	3621	Asia
Kronotskaya Sopka	peninsula Kamchatka	3528	Asia
Koryakskaya Sopka	peninsula Kamchatka	3456	Asia
Etna	about. Sicily	3340	Europe
Shiveluch	peninsula Kamchatka	3283	Asia
Lassen Peak	Cordillera	3187	North and Central America
Liaima	Southern Andes	3060	South America
apo	about. Mindanao	2954	Asia
Ruapehu	New Zealand	2796	Australia Oceania
paektusan	Korean peninsula	2750	Asia
Avachinskaya Sopka	peninsula Kamchatka	2741	Asia
Alaid	Kuril Islands	2339	Asia
Katmai	Alaska Peninsula	2047	North and Central America
tyatya	Kuril Islands	1819	Asia
Haleakala	about. Maui	1750	Oceania
Hekla	about. Iceland	1491	Europe
Montagne Pele	about. Martinique	1397	North and Central America
Vesuvius	Apennine Peninsula	1277	Europe
Kilauea	about. Hawaii	1247	Oceania
Stromboli	Aeolian Islands	926	Europe
Krakatoa	Sunda Strait	813	Asia

The list of the largest eruptions in the history of the Earth is constantly updated as the issue is researched.

In culture

Bryullov K.P. The Last Day of Pompeii. 1830-1833

• Painting by Karl Bryullov “The Last Day of Pompeii”, Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation;
• Movies "Volcano", "Dante's Peak" and a scene from the film "".
• The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland during its eruption became the hero of a huge number of humorous programs, TV news stories, reports and folk art discussing events in the world.