The ancient Romans believed that the god Vulcan commanded destructive fire, hence the name of the geological hills. Today, scientific discoveries have made it possible to describe the origin of volcanoes, the nature of eruptions, and the danger to the population living nearby.
Let's consider the largest active geological elevations and give them a characteristic. On the surface of the land, their number exceeds 900, hundreds more are located under the waters of the World Ocean.
The biggest eruption in history
All terrestrial volcanoes are divided into two types:
- acting;
- extinct.
Depending on the activity of the eruption, it can last either several days or infinitely long. It is noteworthy that the atmosphere on planet Earth arose thanks to the strongest eruptions, during which a huge amount of soot, steam and carbon dioxide was thrown into the atmosphere.
The location of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet
Any eruption is considered an emergency. The force is calculated according to the VEI (Volcanic Eruption Index) scale and does not depend on the characteristics of the crater and the size of the geological formation itself. The assessment is given according to two parameters:
- the volume of the ejected mass;
- ash column height.
When studying the consequences of volcanic activity, it turned out that some supervolcanoes are capable of changing the climate on the planet by their activity. This happened about 75 thousand years ago.
The eruption of the supervolcano Toba
The exact date of the beginning of the eruption of the Indonesian volcano is unknown, at that time the planet was going through the last ice age. Today, its crater is located in the center of Sumatra, where a large lake spilled out. Toba has gone out and will never be able to influence the climate again.
The eruption was so strong that the ash of Toba was subsequently discovered in the area of \u200b\u200bLake Malawi (East Africa, Great Rift Valley). The lava volume exceeded 2800 km 3, this had dire consequences:
- the decline in the population of humans, animals and birds;
- ash emission and reduction of sunlight;
- decrease in the average temperature on the planet by 3 degrees;
- destruction of a number of plants and microorganisms.
Crater Toba today is the lake of the same name
Eruptions of supervolcanoes on Earth occur no more than once every 100,000 years.
The largest volcano in North America - Yellowstone
Supervolcano is not quite a scientific term, it is used to assess the largest geological elevations that can cause significant harm to the planet and humanity. The eruption of such a giant can be estimated at 8 points on the VEI scale.
Consider the largest volcano in America and find out if it may erupt in the near future.
Yellowstone is a volcanic basin on a hill called a caldera. It is located in the northwestern part of the United States (Wyoming) on \u200b\u200bthe territory of the Yellowstone Reserve. Geologists measured the size of the caldera: 55 by 72 kilometers, which is about a third of the territory protected area... The height of the volcano is 2805 meters.
Since the size of the Yellowstone caldera is huge, it was found relatively recently.
Research shows that there have previously been a series of three eruptions, the first of which is dated 2.1 million years ago. Each of them was weaker than the previous one. The likelihood that Yellowstone will wake up is very small. Meanwhile, it is impossible to predict the onset of activity. The US government invests annually in a magma bladder cooling project.
The largest volcano in Europe - Etna
There are 2 supervolcanoes on the territory of Europe, their activity is not very high. However, people still remember the aftermath of the eruption of Vesuvius, which engulfed Pompeii and nearby cities.
To see the largest volcano in Europe, you should go to Italy to the island of Sicily. On east coast not far from the town of Messina is Mount Etna, 3295 meters high. Studies have shown that the giant has hundreds of side craters, from which lava is alternately knocked out.
A breathtaking spectacle of the eruption of Etna on the island. Sicily
Etna is a dangerous volcano, once every hundred years it floods the Sicilians with hot streams, destroying villages and towns. The ashes remaining after this are rich in minerals and trace elements, therefore grapes, olives, tangerines are grown on the slopes. In 2015, Etna threw up a 1 kilometer high lava flow.
The largest volcano in Russia - Elbrus
There are several active volcanoes in Russia that can wake up at any moment. Most of it is geographically located in Asia, but there is one, which is also the highest point in Europe.
The largest volcano in Russia is the Caucasus Elbrus, which has been sleeping for a long time and is not considered dangerous. The summit is located at an altitude of 5642 meters. Formed 2-3 million years ago, volcanic activity lasted 250 thousand years, after which he fell asleep. Today, in the foothills and on the slopes, hotels, tourist centers, a rescue center have been built, cable cars.
Do not forget that Elbrus is a dormant volcano, and one day it will wake up
Studies in 2000-2010 showed that the activity of Elbrus is growing; moss was found on the slopes at the summit in place of glaciers. The volcano may wake up within the next 50-70 years.
TOP 10 largest volcanoes in the world
Active volcanoes are located all over the planet Earth. The largest hazardous areas are Central and South America, Indonesia, Kamchatka, Kurile Islands and Japan, Hawaii and the Northwest United States. We present the TOP-10 of the largest active volcanoes in the world in terms of height.
1. Ojos del Salado (6893 m)
The highest volcano on Earth is considered to be the giant Ojos del Salado, located on the border between Argentina and Chile in South America... It is considered extinct and not dangerous, but little activity is observed. The crater of Ojos del Salado is home to the planet's highest mountain lake.
Although the greatest volcano on the planet is active, it may soon be declared extinct
The Incas, who lived here historically, considered the supervolcano sacred; on the slopes of the mountain, climbers found sacrificial altars.
2. Llullaillaco (6723 m)
The high-altitude plateau of Puna de Atacama is dotted with large volcanoes. Llullaillaco is one of them. A number of volcanologists include Ojos del Salado in the list of extinct ones, in their opinion it is Llullaillaco who should take first place in the top. Geographically, they are neighbors. The last eruption took place in 1877.
The volcano is located in the driest place on the planet, the Atacama Desert
The Incas, who survived more than one major catastrophe, performed sacrificial rites. So, in 1999, the mummies of three children were found here, well-preserved, they are kept in the museum of Argentina.
3. San Pedro (6159 m)
In the central part of the Andes, the largest is the San Pedro stratovolcano. Geographically lies in the province of El Loa in Chile. The last time he acted in 1960. Since there are few settlements, it is not considered dangerous.
Near San Pedro is the giant San Pablo
At present, he is in a state of long rest, does not show activity. Climbers have conquered San Pedro more than once, the journey is considered difficult due to the peculiarities of the dry climate.
4. Cotopaxi (5911 m)
Cotopaxi Volcano is the second highest peak in Ecuador. Crater dimensions: 800 x 550 meters. A stratovolcano is considered not only large, but also dangerous. It has been active over 50 times over the past 300 years.
Cotopaxi is a dangerous volcano
The last eruption took place in 2015. The summit of Cotopaxi is steep, covered with snow and ice; bases for climbers have been built on the slopes.
5. Kilimanjaro (5895 m)
One of the most attractive sights of Tanzania, the highest volcano in Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro. The last activity is dated 200 thousand years to the present day, but a detailed study has shown that hot lava is located close, tremors can provoke its release at any time. It is also interesting that the ice cap at the top has significantly melted over the past 100 years, its volume has decreased by 82%.
Kilimanjaro Kibo crater from above
Despite the fears of volcanologists, Kilimanjaro is a mecca for climbers. The mountain is considered difficult to climb. Consists of three peaks covered with glaciers:
- Mawenzi (eastern);
- Shira (western);
- Kibo (central).
Kilimanjaro's area is 6208 kilometers.
6. Misty (5821 m)
Let's go back to South America. The sixth place on the list is occupied by the Peruvian volcano Misty, the top of which is covered with snow only in winter. The city of Arequipa lies 20 kilometers from the hill, built from white pyroclastic material mined from the mountain.
Center of Arequipa, on the right in the background the volcano Misti
In 1985, the population saw little activity, at the moment Misty is stable. Inca mummies were also found on its slopes.
7. Orizaba (5700 m)
Orizaba Peak is the highest point in Mexico. For more than 300 years, it has been in a phase of tranquility, watched by volcanologists. Next to it is the Sierra Negra stratovolcano, at the top of which there is a high-precision telescope. An observatory has been built between the two peaks to observe the galaxy.
Orizaba Peak Trail
The summit of Orizaba is a small crater closed with a plug.
8. Elbrus (5642 m)
The largest volcano in Eastern Europe and Russia is Elbrus. It last erupted over 5,000 years ago. History knows hundreds of failures in climbing and not a single death from red-hot lava.
Climbing Elbrus
A much more dangerous supervolcano in Russia is Klyuchevskaya Sopka, located in Kamchatka. In the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth, it ranks 12th, showing activity approximately every 5 years.
Activity of Klyuchevskaya Sopka
9. Popocatepetl (5422 m)
Translated from the Nahuatl language, the name of the active powerful stratovolcano literally means "smoking hill". It is the second highest peak in Mexico. Not far from it is the largest city in the country - Mexico City.
Throwing out ash and gases in 2019, without causing any harm to the population.
10. Sangay (5230 m)
The Sangay volcanic formation in Ecuador has three craters. The area around it is considered a protected area. Sangay is active, last ejecting lava flows in 2016. The world watched the action with horror, but there were no casualties.
Sangay volcano in 2016
conclusions
- The largest eruption studied by volcanologists occurred on the island of Sumatra thousands of years ago. Such a phenomenon can change the climate on the planet and harm humanity.
- The largest volcano by area in North America is Yellowstone. If he enters the active phase, it will end in disaster.
- Largest in Western Europe - Etna stratovolcano in Italy.
- In Russia, the highest is Elbrus, the largest in area is Klyuchevskaya Sopka.
- The largest volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado in Argentina and Chile. He is inactive. If volcanologists recognize him as sleeping, Llullaillaco, next to him, will rise to the first line.
Despite their lethality, various volcanoes have long attracted people to themselves. Previously, people were attracted by fertile soil 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 on our planet occur.
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 Krakatoalocated in. During this cataclysm, more than 36 thousand people died, more than 165 cities and villages were completely destroyed, ash was thrown 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 tsunamicaused 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 volcanolocated on 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:
- Llullaillacolocated on the border of Argentina and Chile with a height of more than 6 thousand meters;
- Cotopaxilocated 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 in 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 Decade Volcanoes.
Sakurajima
Sakuradima volcano (Japan) is located on kyushu island, its peak rises to a height of 1110 meters. The first eruption recorded by the chronicles occurred 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 release, 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 at an altitude of 1592 meters. During the observation of the volcano, about 165 large and medium eruptions occurred, many of which resulted in human casualties.
The last time people died as a result of volcanic eruptions 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.
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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, the crater wall ruptured, 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 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 Islandsbelonging 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 World heritage UNESCO.
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.
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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 Vesuviusduring 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 happened on this moment eruption of Vesuvius, 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 Campania province and its visit is included in excursion 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. Etna eruptions are observed several times a year. Several major eruptions of this volcano have been recorded in history, which led to devastating consequences:
- Destroyed in 122 AD catania city;
- In 1169, during a large-scale eruption, Etna died 15 thousand people;
- In 1669 Catania suffered again, houses were destroyed 27 thousand people;
- 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 soilenriched 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. Popocatepetl has erupted more than 15 times over the past 500 years, with the last occurring as recently as 2015. Near Popocatepetl is located dormant volcano 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. Highest point outside Caucasus mountains reaches a height of 4750 meters. It is the most active volcano in Eurasia, on average, its eruptions occur almost annually... The last significant eruption occurred 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 peak 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 sleeping.
Famous extinct giants
In addition to active volcanoes, there are many extinct volcanoes on our planet that do not show volcanic activity.
Supreme
The highest extinct volcano on the planet, Aconcagua, located in Argentina and included in mountain system Andes. Aconcagua is not only the highest extinct volcano in the world, but also the highest peak in America, 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.
- 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 located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and is located about 1,600 kilometers east of 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 top 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.
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.
Yellowstone eruption will provoke many earthquakes, giant tsunamis and eruptions of other volcanoes, which will affect almost everyone on the planet. The ash ejected by the volcano will cover the earth's surface from the sun for a year and a half, and a 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.
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Watch a video about these and other volcanoes in the world:
Volcanoes are one of the most unique geological formations, and if we abstract from the danger that they sometimes bring to Humanity, they amaze with their grandeur and beauty.
Dangerous, but so attractive, volcanoes formed over cracks in the earth's crust millions of years ago. In active volcanoes, magma comes to the surface, forming volcanic lava, sweeping away everything in its path.
Even if facts not attested in history, but with the danger posed by volcanoes to humans, the most ancient ancestors of people faced back in the late Paleolithic, the era of the formation of the earth's surface. The ancient Greeks gave the name of the god Vulcan to the smoking and breathing heat of the mountains.
Of ancient history we have also received evidence of the first tragedies associated with volcanic eruptions. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum perished under lava and volcanic ash.
The science of volcanoes divides them into active volcanoes, dormant and extinct. Consider the largest representatives of this geological miracle of nature.
Sangay
A unique volcano, located on the slope of the Andes, in Ecuador has three craters at its summit, with a diameter of 50 to 100 meters. The height of the volcano above sea level is 5230 meters.
Sangay belongs to young and restless volcanoes. Volcanologists on geological deposits suggest that the volcano formed about 14,000 years ago. They began to observe this volcano in 1628, the first recorded eruption of the Sangay volcano in history belongs to this year.
The last two eruptions took place in 2007 and 2016.
During periods of calmness of the volcano, tourists visiting the eponymous National park Ecuador, can climb to the top and examine the craters in detail.
"Smoking Hill" is how the name of this volcano is translated from the Aztec language Naunatl. The volcano is located in the Mexican Highlands and Popocatepetl is 5455 meters.
Popocatepetl fully confirms its name. Even in a calm state around its summit is shrouded in a cloud of ash and gas. Near the volcano is the extinct volcano Istaxihuatl. Popocatepetl and Istaxihuatl became heroes of the Aztec heroic epic.
Despite the danger, densely populated villages and cities are spread around the volcano. Some villages are located directly on the slopes of the volcano, and the inhabitants are constantly in danger.
The one-day eruption occurred on March 27, 2016. The volcano threw a kilometer-long column of smoke and ash into the sky and calmed down.
The Spanish conquistador Diego de Ordaz, who climbed Popocatepetl, ordered to add the image of the volcano to his family coat of arms.
Elbrus is the highest mountain peak not only Russia, but also the European continent. The height of this stratovolcano is 5642 meters. In terms of altitude, Elbrus is one of the 7 highest peaks of the planet.
The description of the peak is found among ancient geographers and historians of Asia and Europe. Most likely, the name of the volcano - Al-Borji, which means "Rising", came to us from the Persian language.
Scientists attribute Elbrus to extinct volcanoes, but earthquakes and emissions of sulfurous gases sometimes occur on its slopes. This circumstance gives grounds for some volcanic scientists to classify the volcano as damping.
Around Elbrus is widely developed tourist infrastructure... For the convenience of tourists, many tourist bases, shelters for climbers and viewing platforms. The first ascent to the top took place back in 1829. Today every mountaineer in the world dreams of conquering Elbrus.
The highest peak in Mexico is the Orizaba volcano. Locals also called the volcano Sitlaltepetl, which means "Star Mountain". Indeed, the height of the volcano 6636 meters can classify it as stellar.
The greatest activity of the Orizaba was recorded during the Middle Ages. From 1569 to 1630, 7 strongest eruptions were recorded. The latter happened in 1687.
Orizaba belongs to dormant volcanoes and is a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world. In order to preserve the unique volcano and nature around the mountain, a reserve was created by the Mexican authorities.
Misty
The height of the Peruvian volcano Misty is 5822 meters. Because of this height, the top of the volcano is covered with snow.
Misty belongs to active volcanoes, the last strong eruption occurred in 1985. The uniqueness of the volcano is in its structure. Misty has three concentric craters. In the inner crater, scientists note little activity.
Historical sources have testified that a powerful volcanic eruption in the 16th century forced the inhabitants of the city of Arequipa to flee. But the mountain also helps people. Many buildings in Arequipa (" White City") Are built from volcanic deposits of the volcano, which are white.
Archaeological research is taking place on the slopes of the volcano. In 1997, 6 Inca mummies were discovered and examined. Perhaps these are the sacrifices made by the tribesmen to the fire-breathing Misty.
The most high peak African continent - Kilimanjaro volcano. The height of this cone-shaped volcano is 5895 meters.
Until 1918, the mountain was called "The Summit of Kaiser Wilhelm", but with the fall of the German Empire, it was renamed. Scientists classify the volcano as potentially active, but, interestingly, not a single eruption has been recorded in history. Ethnographers and historians. Studying local legends and legends, they helped volcanists in the study of the volcano. From the legends it became clear. That the volcanic activity of Kilimanjaro took place somewhere between 150,000-200,000 years ago.
It is interesting that the Masai plateau, on which the volcano is located, is located at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. Which makes the peak even more majestic.
The first to mention the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro was Ptolemy, who brought the volcano to his maps in the 2nd century BC. In modern times, the German Johannes Rebman on May 11, 1848 re-discovered the volcano to the world.
Like Elbrus, Kilimanjaro is popular with climbers around the world. Interestingly, when climbing to the top, the climber crosses seven climatic zones. Despite the fact that the volcano is located on the hottest continent on Earth, glaciers have formed on the slopes of Kilimanjaro.
Among the Andes, there is another volcano - Cotopaxi, translated in the language of local peoples as "Shiny Mountain". The height of this volcano is 5911 meters. It is the second highest peak in Ecuador.
It is a fairly active volcano. Since the end of the 18th century, more than 50 volcanic eruptions of varying intensity have been recorded. As recorded by sources, the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of its existence was the release of ash, sulfur and magma in 1768. The products of the eruption spread within a radius of 100 kilometers from the volcano.
Since 1940, the volcano has not been active, but in 2015 a strong volcano erupted. Cotopaxi is one of the highest active mounds on planet Earth. We advise you to take a look at the beautiful photos of the eruption of Cotopaxi in the article.
San Pedro
Another active volcano in South America, 6145 meters high, is located on the border of Chile and Bolivia.
The volcano San Pedro began to be observed relatively recently, at the beginning of the last century. In 1903, a French-Chilean expedition documented the first volcanic eruption that occurred on July 16. In 1960, the volcano showed its last activity.
The volcano forms a kind of complex, connected by a high saddle with its elder twin, the volcano San Pablo, 6092 meters high.
Mauna loa
Mauna Loa is relatively low compared to others, the summit of the volcano is at an altitude of 4169 meters above sea level. But it is this volcano that is the largest volcano in the world in terms of its height. The thing is that its foot is deep under water. More than 10 km from the foot of the volcano to the summit, which significantly exceeds the height of the high mountain Earth - Everest.
In addition, Mauna Loa is one of the largest volcanoes in terms of area and volume of its sole. The Megavolcano, located on the island of Hawaii, has a volume, including its marine part, 75,000 km³. This is one of those monsters that threaten the existence of an entire city today. Read more about this on the site in the article.
This volcano was formed about 700 thousand years ago and remains active to this day. Since 1832, 39 eruptions have been recorded. One of the last eruptions in 1984 lasted for a month.
A Volcanic Station was established in 1912 to research and track the activities of Mauna Loa. Its workers concluded that the world is not in danger of a volcano explosion.
Interesting legends are associated with Mauna Loa and the nearby volcano Mauna Kea. Aboriginal people believe that Mauna Loa is one of the two sisters of the Pele volcanoes. The second sister, Mauna Kea, constantly competes with her sister, so strong winds constantly blow between the volcanoes.
In the driest place on Earth, on the border of Chile and Argentina, lies the huge volcano Llullaillaco. Its height with a sole is 6739 meters. Geographic statistics tell us that Llullaillaco is the tallest active volcano and the second highest of all volcanoes in the world.
Now Llullaillaco is relatively calm, only occasionally releasing clouds of steam and sulfur gases from his bowels. The last major eruption was recorded in 1877.
In 1952, climbers made the first attempt at climbing Llullaillaco. During the ascent, climbers discovered an ancient Inca sanctuary. Archaeologists gathered on the volcano. During archaeological work in 1999, 3 burials of children's mummies were discovered, aged from 3 to 14 years. As in most cases of such discoveries, the children were killed below and transferred to the volcano as a sacrifice to the gods. The find is approximately 500 years old.
The most famous volcanoes in the history of Mankind cannot be ignored. From school we have heard about such volcanoes as Vesuvius, Fujiyama and Etna.
Vesuvius is an active volcano located in the south of Italy. Its height is 1281 meters. We already wrote about it in our article about.
Nothing remarkable, if not for the eruption of Vesuvius on August 24, 79, when magma and ash completely covered and destroyed the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii, Oplontis and the Villa Stabius. The ash of the volcano conserved time. Now, during excavations, scientists receive unique information about the life and life of a person in Roman times.
Since 79, 68 eruptions of a different nature have occurred: from explosive to simply ejection of steam from the crater and crevices on the slopes of Vesuvius.
One of the most beautiful mountains on Earth. The snowy peak and the regular, conical, gentle outlines of the volcano made it the most recognizable in the world.
Fujiyama is also an active stratovolcano 3776 meters high. The last eruption was recorded in 1707 - 1708.
The mountain is an object of worship and veneration not only among the Japanese, but also by Buddhists around the world. Tourists from all over the world travel thousands of kilometers to admire this natural wonder. In July and August, snow melts from the slopes of Fujiyama, and then pilgrims make attempts to climb the volcano.
Fujiyama is sung in poetry and prose. She became a natural hero of many films.
Mount Etna is known for being the highest active volcano in Europe, excluding the Caucasus peaks. Etna's height is 3329 meters.
More than 300 craters are located on the slopes of Etna, of which steam comes out from the bowels of the volcano every three months and lava erupts. If you look at the history and geological deposits at the base of the volcano, it is proved that the first eruptions of Etna began about 500,000 years ago.
The last eruption took place in 2016. Due to the eruption of Etna, the authorities are evacuating the population and closing the airports in southern Italy for security reasons.
Recently, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, located on the island of Iceland, has become very popular. Iceland's sixth largest volcano.
Despite the difficult to pronounce name and small size, this volcano is known to all inhabitants of the world. The last volcanic eruption of 2010, which was accompanied by a large release of steam and ash, paralyzed air traffic throughout Europe and North Africa.
By the way, the 2010 eruption melted the glaciers in the crater of the volcano, which formed in it in ancient times.
The highest volcano on Earth, Ojos del Salado, is located in the Andes. Its height is 6893 meters. Translated from Spanish, the name of the volcano is "Salty Eyes".
For the entire period of observation of the volcano, not a single eruption was recorded, therefore the volcano is considered extinct. But in the early to mid-twentieth century, small steam emissions were observed.
In 1937, Polish climbers conquered the top of the volcano. And on April 21, 2007, Chilean racer Gonzalo Bravo in a Suzuki Samurai car climbed the slope of the volcano to a height of 6688 meters, which became an absolute world record.
Yellowstone caldera
Unlike other volcanoes, the Yellowstone Caldera is a supervolcano. This definition of the volcano has been fixed since 2000. This is not a volcano in our usual sense, but a volcanic basin, where the smallest distance of magma outflow in relation to the earth's surface is observed. Simply put, this volcano is underground and contains a magma bubble more than 8 thousand meters deep.
Yellowstone Volcano is located in the northwestern United States in the park of the same name. The dimensions of the basin are 55 by 72 km.
IN last years The Yellowstone supervolcano has become the subject of active discussion in the scientific world. The reason is that the volcano has not been active for 620 thousand years, and now there are signs of the awakening of Yellowstone. Previous eruptions have radically changed the face of the Earth and significantly changed the climate and conditions for the existence of flora and fauna.
Scientists are not sure when the volcano will wake up. But if this happens, its eruption can bring all life on our planet to the brink of existence. But TheBiggest hopes that won't happen. Moreover, many scientists are inclined to think that now all the excess energy Yellowstone is "dumping" with the help of geysers.
Tamu massif
The place, which was previously considered just a hill at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, made a lot of noise in the scientific community in 2013. This "hill" turned out to be the largest underwater volcano on Earth. This is a special type of volcano called thyroid. The slopes of such volcanoes are rather gentle, not exceeding 6-8 °. And the slopes of Tamu generally have a slope of about 1 °.
It is located 1.6 thousand km east of the coast Japan and hides under a two-kilometer water column. The height of this extinct supervolcano is 4.5 km. from the foot to the top, but it has a very impressive area and volume.
Its area is about 260,000 km², which is comparable to the area of \u200b\u200bcountries such as New Zealand and Great Britain, and significantly exceeds the area of \u200b\u200bBelarus, Kyrgyzstan, Syria and Tunisia.
In terms of area and volume, Tamu volcano can be compared with the Martian record holder Olympus, which is currently the highest famous volcano in the solar system.
Scientists believe that Tamu went extinct more than 140 million years ago, showing activity for a relatively short time. But the scientific community does not exclude the possibility that other similar volcanoes may be found on our planet in the future.
Conclusion
There are hundreds of active and extinct volcanoes on Earth. Some of their eruptions pose a danger to the population living at its foot, others have long gone extinct and have become objects of tourist pilgrimage. Be that as it may, volcanoes are the most unique and unusual natural formation on the earth's surface.
It seems that Humanity has unraveled all the secrets that volcanoes keep in themselves, but each time, showing activity, they appear before us in a new light, never ceasing to amaze with their capabilities and power that can destroy all life on earth.
10 largest and most dangerous volcanoes on Earth.
A volcano is a geological formation that arose due to the movement of tectonic plates, their collision and the formation of faults. As a result of collisions of tectonic plates, faults are formed, and magma is released to the surface of the Earth. As a rule, volcanoes are a mountain, at the end of which there is a crater, which is the place where lava emerges.
Volcanoes are divided into:
- active;
- sleeping;
- extinct;
Active volcanoes include those that erupted in the near historical perspective (approximately in a period of 12,000 years)
Dormant volcanoes are volcanoes that have not erupted in the near historical perspective, but their eruption is practically possible.
Extinct volcanoes include those that did not erupt in the near historical perspective, but the top has the shape of a crater, but such volcanoes are unlikely to erupt.
List of 10 most dangerous volcanoes on the planet:
1. (Hawaii, USA)
Located in the islands of Hawaii, it is one of five volcanoes that make up the islands of Hawaii. It is the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume. It contains over 32 cubic kilometers of magma.
The volcano was formed about 700,000 years ago.
The last volcanic eruption occurred in March 1984, and it lasted more than 24 days, causing enormous damage to people and the surrounding area.
2. Taal Volcano (Philippines)
The volcano is located on the island of Luzon, which belongs to the Philippine Islands. The crater of the volcano rises 350 meters above the surface of Lake Taal and is located almost in the center of the lake.
The peculiarity of this volcano is that it is located in the crater of a very old extinct mega volcano, now this crater is filled with lake water.
In 1911, the strongest eruption of this volcano occurred - then 1335 people died, within 10 minutes all life around the volcano died at a distance of 10 km.
The last eruption of this volcano was observed in 1965, which led to 200 deaths.
3. Volcano Merapi (Java island)
The name of the volcano is literally the Mountain of Fire. The volcano has been systematically erupting over the past 10,000 years. The volcano is located near the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the population of the city is several thousand people.
It was the most active volcano among the 130 volcanoes in Indonesia. It was believed that the eruption of this volcano led to the decline of the Hindu Kingdom of Matarama. The peculiarity and horror of this volcano is the speed of magma propagation, which is more than 150 km / h. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 2006 and claimed 130 lives and left more than 300,000 people homeless.
4. Volcano Santa Maria (Guatemala)
This is one of the most active volcanoes of the 20th century.
It is located at a distance of 130 kilometers from Guatemala City, and is located in the Pacific so-called. Ring of Fire. The crater in Santa Maria was formed after its eruption in 1902. Then about 6,000 people died. The last eruption took place in March 2011.
5. Ulavun Volcano (Papua New Guinea)
Ulawun Volcano, located in the New Guinea region, began to erupt in the early 18th century. Since then, eruptions have been recorded 22 times.
In 1980, the largest volcanic eruption occurred. The ejected ash covered an area of \u200b\u200bover 20 square kilometers.
Now this volcano is the highest peak in the region.
The last volcanic eruption occurred in the year 2010.
6. Volcano Galeras (Colombia)
Volcano Galeras is located near the Ecuadorian border in Colombia. One of the most active volcanoes in Colombia, it has erupted systematically over the past 1000 years.
The first documented volcanic eruption occurred in 1580. This volcano is considered the most dangerous because of its sudden eruptions. The city of Paphos (Pasto) is located along the eastern slope of the volcano. Paphos is home to 450,000 people.
In 1993, a volcanic eruption killed six seismologists and three tourists.
Since then, the volcanic eruption has occurred every year, claiming thousands of lives and making many people homeless. The last volcanic eruption occurred in January 2010.
7. Sakurajima volcano (Japan)
Until 1914, this volcanic mountain was located on a separate island in the immediate vicinity of Kyushu. After the volcanic eruption in 1914, a lava flow connected the mountain with the Ozumi Peninsula (Japan). The volcano was named as Vesuvius of the East.
It threatens 700,000 people in Kagoshima City.
Since the year 1955, eruptions have occurred every year.
The government even built a refugee camp for the people of Kagoshima so that they can take refuge during the volcanic eruption.
The last volcanic eruption occurred on August 18, 2013.
8. Nyiragongo (DR Congo)
It is one of the most active, active volcanoes in the African region. The volcano is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The volcano has been observed since 1882. Since the beginning of observations, 34 eruptions have been recorded.
The crater in the mountain serves as a holder for magma fluid. In 1977, there was a major eruption, neighboring villages were burned by streams of hot lava. The average lava flow rate was 60 kilometers per hour. Hundreds of people died. The recent eruption took place in the year 2002, leaving 120,000 people homeless.
This volcano is a caldera - the formation of a pronounced rounded shape with a flat bottom.
The volcano is located in the United States Yellow National Park.
This volcano has not erupted for 640,000 years.
The question arises: How can it be an active volcano?
There are claims that 640,000 years ago, this super volcano erupted.
This eruption changed the topography and covered half of the United States in ash.
According to various estimates, the cycle of a volcanic eruption is 700,000 - 600,000 years. Scientists expect this volcano to erupt at any time.
This volcano could destroy life on Earth.
Undoubtedly, active volcanoes in the world are one of the most bewitching and beautiful and at the same time frightening natural phenomena. These geological formations played a key role in the formation of the Earth. Thousands of years ago there were a huge number of them all over 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 the long search";
- "Soft mass that becomes hard".
On the side of the Chilean state, at the foot of the volcano, there is a National Park with the same name - Llullaillaco, 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 climb to the crater:
- northern - 4.6 km long, the road is suitable for driving;
- southern - duration 5 km.
If you are going to hike, take special shoes and an ice ax with you, as there are snowy areas along the way.
Interesting fact! During the first ascent in 1952, an ancient Inca depository was discovered on the mountain, and in 1999, 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 6145 meter tall giant is located in the Andes Mountains, in northern Chile near Bolivia in the Western Cordillera. The peak of the volcano rises above the longest body of water in Chile - Loa.
San Pedro is one of the tallest active volcanoes. For the first time it was possible to climb to the crater in 1903. Today it is a unique attraction in Chile, which attracts thousands of tourists from different corners the world. In the XX century, the volcano reminded of itself 7 times, the last time in 1960. For more than half a century, San Pedro resembles a bubbling cauldron that can explode at any moment. At the bottom there are signs that warn that climbing to the crater is possible only with a mask protecting from toxic emissions.
Interesting:
- San Pedro is one of the few giant volcanoes that has remained active to this day. Many giants are considered 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.
- Chileans tell many legends associated with the San Pedro volcano, since each eruption in the past was considered a heavenly sign and had a mystical meaning.
- For descendants of migrants from Spain and local indigenous people, the volcano is a source of constant and considerable income.
El Misti
Among all the active volcanoes in the world on the map, this one is rightfully considered the most beautiful. Its summit is sometimes snowy. The mountain is located near the city of Arequipa, its height is 5822 meters. The volcano is notable for the fact that at 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 Takune, they stretch for 20 km.
The first active action of the volcano was recorded during the migration of Europeans to Latin America... The strongest, destructive catastrophe occurred in 1438. In the XX century, the volcano several times showed varying degrees of activity:
- In 1948, for half a year;
- in 1959;
- in 1985, steam emissions were observed.
Scientists from Peru made a conclusion a few years ago that the seismic activity of the volcano is gradually increasing. This leads to earthquakes, which are not uncommon in the 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. This is the second highest mountain peak on the territory of the state.
The Aztecs believed that worshiping a volcano would grant rain, so they regularly brought offerings here.
Popocatepetl is dangerous because many cities have been built around it:
- the capitals of the states of Puebla and Tlaxcal;
- the cities of Mexico City and Cholula.
According to scientists, the volcano has erupted more than three dozen times in its history. The last eruption was recorded in May 2013. During the disaster, the airport in Puebla was closed and the streets were covered in ash. Despite the latent danger, thousands of tourists come to the volcano every year from different countries admire the scenery, listen to the legend and enjoy the greatness of the mountain.
Sangay volcano
Sangay is one of the ten active volcanoes, which are the most powerful in the world. The mountain is located in South America, its height is 5230 meters. Translated, the name of the volcano means "fearsome" and this fully reflects its behavior - eruptions are frequent here, and sometimes stones weighing 1 ton fall from the sky. At 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 with comfort, by car, people overcome the final section of the way on mules. The journey takes several days. In general, the journey is assessed as quite difficult, so few decide to climb to the crater. Tourists who have conquered the mountain smell the persistent 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, which covers an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 500 hectares. In 1992, UNESCO included the park in the list of sites that are endangered. However, in 2005 the object was excluded from the list.
Interesting fact! The park area contains the three highest volcanoes in Ecuador - 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 giant's height 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 makes itself known 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 catastrophe 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 severe 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 was formed, and ash emissions 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, for several weeks, another eruption took place, accompanied by earthquakes, lava flows and ash ejections to a height of 11 km.
Mauna loa
The eruption of this huge volcano can be watched from anywhere in Hawaii. Mauna Loa is located in an archipelago formed by volcanic activity. Its height is 4169 meters. Feature - 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 bring tourists to the Mauna Kea volcano. It is indeed slightly higher than Mauna Loa, but unlike the latter, it is already extinct. Therefore, be sure to check which volcano you want to see.
Age Mauna Loa 700 thousand years, of which 300 thousand he was under water. The active actions of the volcano began to be recorded only in the first half of the 19th century. During this time, he reminded of 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 a city. And the eruption in 1935 resembled the plot of the legendary Soviet film "The Crew". The last activity was recorded in 1984, for 3 weeks lava was poured out of the crater. In 2013, there were several earthquakes, which indicate that the volcano may soon show what it is capable of again.
We can say that scientists are most interested in Mauna Loa. According to seismologists, the volcano (one of the few in the world) will constantly erupt for another million years.
Cameroon
Located in the republic of the same name, on the shores 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 at the top, there is a small amount of snow.
In 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 disaster dates back to the 5th century BC. In 1922, volcanic lava reached the Atlantic coast. The last eruption took place in 2000.
Good to know! The optimal time for climbing is December or January. In February, the annual competition “Race of Hope” is held here. Thousands of participants climb to the top, competing in speed.
Kerinci
The highest volcano in Indonesia (its height reaches 3 km 800 meters) and the most high point Sumatra. Located in the central part of the island, south of the city of Padang. Not far from the volcano is the Keinchi Seblat Park, which has national status.
The crater is more than 600 meters deep and has a lake in its northeastern part. A violent eruption was recorded in 2004, when a column of ash and smoke rose 1 km. The last serious disaster was recorded in 2009, and in 2011 the activity of the volcano was felt in the form of characteristic tremors.
In the summer of 2013, the volcano threw out a column of ash 800 meters high. Residents of nearby settlements hastily collected their belongings and evacuated. Ashes stained the sky gray, and the air smelled of sulfur. Only 30 minutes passed, 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, a heavy rain fell after the event, and the consequences of the eruption were washed away.
It is interesting! The ascent to the crater takes 2 to 3 days. The route runs through dense forests, most often the road is slippery. To overcome the path, you need the help of a guide. There have been cases in history when travelers disappeared, setting off on their own. It is best to start the ascent 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 south of other objects that are the subject of research by seismologists. The height of the mountain is 3 km 794 m, and the size of the crater is slightly more than 800 m.
The volcano has been active since the end of the last century, then a station was opened in the state of New Mexico, its employees are monitoring its activities. A unique phenomenon of Erebus is a 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 gases emitted cause serious damage to the ozone layer. Scientists note that this is where the thinnest layer of ozone is.
Volcanic eruptions occur in the form of explosions, lava is thick, freezes quickly and does not have time to spread over large areas.
The main danger is ash, which makes air travel difficult, as visibility is sharply reduced. The mud stream is also dangerous, since it moves at high speed, and it is almost impossible to escape from it.
Erebus is an amazing natural creation - formidable, magical and enchanting. The lake in the crater attracts with its 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. It is the largest volcano in Europe; 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 worst eruption occurred in 44 BC, it was so strong that ash completely covered the sky over the capital of Italy, destroyed the harvest on the Mediterranean coast. Today Etna is no less dangerous than it was in prehistoric times. The last eruption occurred in the spring of 2008 and lasted for almost 420 days.
The volcano is attractive for its varied vegetation, where you can find palms, cacti, pines, agaves, spruces, biscuses, fruit trees and vineyards. Some plants are characteristic only for Etna - a stone tree, an 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 (though not the highest in the world). In Hawaiian, Kilauea means highly flowing. Eruptions have been occurring continuously since 1983.
The volcano is located in 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 (goddess of volcanoes). Her tears are single drops of lava, and her hair are streams of lava.
Puuoo lava lake, which is located in the crater, is an amazing sight. Molten rock seethes restlessly, creating amazing streaks on the surface. It is dangerous to be near this natural phenomenon, since the fiery lava erupts to a height of 500 meters.
In addition to the lake, you can admire a natural cave here. Its length is more than 60 km. The cave ceiling is decorated with stalactites. Tourists note that a walk in the cave resembles a flight 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 roadway, and lava covered an area of \u200b\u200b120 km.
The whole world was watching the most powerful eruption Kilauea in 2014. The eruption was accompanied by periodic earthquakes. Huge volumes of lava destroyed residential buildings and working farms. Evacuation of the nearest settlements was carried out, but not all residents showed a desire to leave their homes.
Which mainland has no active volcanoes
There are no extinct or active volcanoes in Australia. This is due to the fact that the mainland is located far from crustal faults and volcanic lava has no outlet to the surface.
The opposite of Australia is Japan - the country is located in the most dangerous tectonic zone. Here 4 tectonic plates collide.
