The most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world. Volcanoes: characteristics and types Where is the most active volcano located?

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

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

What is a volcano

For many decades, literature, especially in fantasy stories, has attributed magical properties to the mountain, which is capable of spewing fire. The most famous novel that described an active volcano is “The Lord of the Rings” (where it was called “the lonely mountain”). The professor was right about this phenomenon.

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

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

Causes

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

How do they arise? On planet earth, the main cause of formation is the earth's crust. The fact is that above the earth’s core there is a liquid part of the planet (magma), which is always moving. It is thanks to this phenomenon that there is a magnetic field on the surface - natural protection from solar radiation.

However, the earth's surface itself, although solid, is not solid, but is divided into seventeen large tectonic plates. As they move, they converge and diverge; it is because of the movement that ruptures occur at the places where the plates touch, and this is how volcanoes arise. It is not at all necessary that this happens on continents; at the bottom of many oceans there are also similar gaps.

Structure of the volcano

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

Schoolchildren see a drawing of such a representation high school on the pages of a geography textbook.

The structure of the “fire” mountain itself is simple and in cross-section looks like this:

• crater - tip;
• vent – ​​a cavity inside a mountain through which magma rises;
• magma chamber - a pocket at the base.

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

Types of volcanoes

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

Let's first look at the types:

• active;
• sleeping;
• extinct.

Volcanoes come in different forms:

The classification would not be complete if we did not take into account the relief forms of the volcano crater:

• caldera;
• volcanic plugs;
• lava plateau;
• tuff cones.

Eruption

As old as the planet itself, a force that can rewrite history the whole country- this is an eruption. There are several factors that make such an event on earth the deadliest for residents of some cities. It is better not to get into a situation where a volcano is erupting.

On average, 50 to 60 eruptions occur on the planet in one year. At the time of writing, about 20 ruptures are flooding the surrounding area with lava.

The algorithm of actions may change, but this depends on the accompanying weather conditions.

In any case, the eruption occurs in four stages:

1. Silence. Large eruptions show that it is generally quiet until the first explosion occurs. There is nothing to indicate the coming danger. A series of small tremors can only be measured by instruments.
2. Lava ejection and pyroclastite. A deadly mixture of gas and ash at a temperature of 100 degrees (reaches 800) Celsius is capable of destroying all life within a radius of hundreds of kilometers. An example is the eruption of Mount Helens in May of the eighties of the last century. Lava, the temperature of which can reach one and a half thousand degrees during an eruption, killed all living things at a distance of six hundred kilometers.
3. Lahar. If you are unlucky, it may rain at the eruption site, as happened in the Philippines. In such situations, a continuous stream is formed consisting of 20% water, the remaining 80% rock, ash and pumice.
4. "Concrete". The conventional name is the hardening of magma and ash caught under a rain stream. A similar mixture destroyed more than one city.

The eruption is an extremely dangerous phenomenon; over half a century it has killed more than twenty scientists and several hundred civilians.

Right now (at the time of writing) the Hawaiian Kilauea continues to destroy the island.

The largest volcano in the world

Mauna Loa is the highest volcano on earth. It is located on the island of the same name (Hawaii) and rises 9 thousand meters from the ocean floor. His last awakening took place in the year 84 of the last century.

However, in 2004 he showed the first signs of awakening.

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

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

Active volcanoes

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

Eruption of the Guatemalan volcano Fuego Perhaps someone will be interested

• list of active volcanoes:
• on the territory of Guatemala - Fuego;
• on the Hawaiian Islands - Kilauea;
• within the border of Iceland – Lakagigar; on Canary Islands
• – La Palma;
• on the Hawaiian Islands - Loihi;
• on the Antarctic island - Erebus;
• Greek Nisyros;
• within the border of Iceland – Lakagigar; Italian volcano Etna; Caribbean island
• Montserrat – Soufrière Hills;
• Italian mountain in the Tyrrhenian Sea - Stromboli;

and the most famous Italian - Mount Vesuvius.

Extinct volcanoes of the world Volcanologists sometimes cannot say for sure whether extinct or dormant. In most cases, zero activity of a particular mountain does not guarantee safety. More than once, giants that had fallen asleep for many years suddenly showed signs of activation. This happened with the volcano near the city of Manila, but there are many similar examples.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Below are just some of the extinct volcanoes known to our scientists:

• Kilimanjaro (Tanzania);
• Mt Warning (in Australia);
• Chaine des Puys (in France);
• Elbrus (Russia).

The most dangerous volcanoes in the world

Eruption even small volcano looks impressive, you just have to imagine what it's like monstrous strength lurking there, in the depths of the mountain. However, there is clear data that volcanologists use.

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

The most powerful explosion can follow from the eruption of a mountain of colossal proportions. Volcanologists call this kind of “fire” mountains a supervolcano. On the activity scale, such formations should occupy a level of at least eight.

Volcano Taupo in New Zealand

There are four of these in total:

1. Indonesian supervolcano of Sumatra-Toba island.
2. Taupo is located in New Zealand.
3. Serra Galan in the Andean mountains.
4. Yellowstone in the North American park of the same name in Wyoming.

We have collected the most interesting facts:

• the largest (in terms of duration) is the eruption of Pinatubo in 91 (20th century), which lasted more than a year and reduced the temperature of the earth by half a degree (Celsius);
• the mountain described above threw 5 km 3 of ash to a height of thirty-five kilometers;
• the largest explosion occurred in Alaska (1912), when the Novarupta volcano became active, reaching a level of six points on the VEI scale;
• the most dangerous is Kilauea, which has been erupting for thirty years since 1983. Active on this moment. Killed more than 100 people, over a thousand more remain at risk (2018);
• the deepest eruption to date occurred at a depth of 1200 meters - Mount West Mata, near the island of Fiji, Lau River basin;
• the temperature in a pyroclastic flow can be more than 500 degrees Celsius;
• The last supervolcano erupted on the planet about 74,000 years ago (Indonesia). Therefore, we can say that no person has ever experienced such a catastrophe;
• Klyuchevsky on the Kamchatka Peninsula is considered the largest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere;
• ash and gases emitted by volcanoes can color sunsets;
• the volcano with the coldest lava (500 degrees) is called Ol Doinyo Langai and is located in Tanzania.

How many volcanoes are there on earth

There are not too many crustal ruptures in Russia. From a school geography course we know about Klyuchevsky volcano.

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

The science that studies volcanoes is volcanology and geomorphology.

Volcanoes are classified by shape (shield, stratovolcanoes, cinder cones, domes), activity (active, dormant, extinct), location (terrestrial, underwater, subglacial), etc.

Volcanic activity

Volcanoes are divided depending on the degree of volcanic activity into active, dormant, extinct and dormant. An active volcano is considered to be a volcano that erupted during a historical period of time or in the Holocene. The concept of active is quite inaccurate, since a volcano with active fumaroles is classified by some scientists as active, and by others as extinct. Dormant volcanoes are considered to be inactive volcanoes where eruptions are possible, and extinct volcanoes are considered to be those where they are unlikely.

However, there is no consensus among volcanologists on how to determine active volcano. The period of volcanic activity can last from several months to several million years. Many volcanoes exhibited volcanic activity tens of thousands of years ago, but are not considered active today.

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

Types of volcanic structures

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

Linear volcanoes or fissure-type volcanoes have extensive supply channels associated with a deep split in the crust. As a rule, basaltic liquid magma flows out of such cracks, which, spreading to the sides, forms large lava covers. Along the cracks, gentle spatter shafts, wide flat cones, and lava fields appear. If the magma has a more acidic composition (higher silicon dioxide content in the melt), linear extrusive ridges and massifs are formed. When explosive eruptions occur, explosive ditches can appear tens of kilometers long.

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

There are monogenic and polygenic volcanoes. The former arose as a result of a single eruption, the latter as a result of multiple eruptions. Viscous, acidic in composition, low-temperature magma, squeezed out of the vent, forms extrusive domes (Montagne-Pelé needle, 1902).

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

Classification of volcanoes by shape

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

• Shield volcanoes, or "shield volcanoes". Formed as a result of repeated ejections of liquid lava. This form is characteristic of volcanoes that erupt low-viscosity basaltic lava: it flows for a long time both from the central vent and from the side craters of the volcano. Lava spreads evenly 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 its base on the ocean floor is approximately ten kilometers (while the underwater base of the volcano is 120 km long and 50 km wide).
• Cinder cones. When such volcanoes erupt, large fragments of porous slag are piled up around the crater in layers in the shape of a cone, and small fragments form sloping slopes at the foot; With each eruption the volcano gets higher. This is the most common type of volcano on land. They are no more than a few hundred meters in height. An example is the Plosky Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka, which exploded in December 2012.
• Stratovolcanoes, or "layered volcanoes". Periodically erupt lava (viscous and thick, quickly solidifying) and pyroclastic matter - a mixture of hot gas, ash and hot stones; as a result, deposits on their cone (sharp, with concave slopes) alternate. Lava from such volcanoes also flows out of cracks, solidifying on the slopes in the form of ribbed corridors that serve as the support of the volcano. Examples - Etna, Vesuvius, Fuji.
• Dome volcanoes. They are formed when viscous granite magma, rising from the depths of the volcano, cannot flow down the slopes and hardens at the top, forming a dome. It clogs its mouth, like a cork, which over time is expelled 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.

Eruption

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

• Hawaiian type - emissions of liquid basaltic lava, often forming lava lakes, which should resemble scorching clouds or red-hot avalanches.
• Hydroexplosive type - eruptions that occur in shallow conditions of oceans and seas are characterized by the formation large quantity steam generated by the contact of hot magma and sea water.

Post-volcanic phenomena

After eruptions, when the activity of the volcano either stops forever, or it “dormants” for thousands of years, processes associated with the cooling of the magma chamber and called post-volcanic processes persist on the volcano itself and its surroundings. These include fumaroles, thermal baths, and geysers.

During eruptions, a volcanic structure sometimes collapses 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. As the magma rises, the external pressure weakens, associated gases and liquid products escape to the surface, and a volcanic eruption occurs. If ancient rocks, and not magma, are brought to the surface, and the gases are dominated by water vapor formed when groundwater is heated, then such an eruption is called phreatic.

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

Heat sources

One of the unresolved problems of volcanic activity is determining the heat source necessary for 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 USA in the Columbia River basin (Washington and Oregon states) the volume of basalts is more than 820 thousand km³; similar large strata of basalts are found in Argentina (Patagonia), India (Deccan Plateau) and South Africa (Great Karoo Rise). Currently there are three hypotheses. Some geologists believe that the melting is caused by 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 under conditions of high pressure is in a solid state, and when, due to fracturing, the pressure drops, it melts and liquid lava flows through the cracks.

Areas of volcanic activity

The main areas of volcanic activity are South America, Central America, Java, Melanesia, Japanese Islands, Kurile Islands, Kamchatka, north West Side USA, Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, Aleutian Islands, Iceland, Atlantic Ocean.

Mud volcanoes

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

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

Volcanoes on other planets

Volcanoes in culture

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

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Volcanic activity is a regular and stark reminder that the planet we live on has an ever-changing geology. Located along the edges of tectonic plates, the volcano erupts through fissures, releasing boiling magma, ash and gases from beneath the earth's surface to explode in response to changes in the alignment of the tectonic plates.

The catastrophic nature of erupting volcanoes in many ancient civilizations was attributed to the violent mood swings of the gods. We now have a more scientific understanding of volcanic eruptions, but they can still be unpredictable and dangerous. We present to your attention the ten active and most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

10. Mauna Loa, Hawaii

This volcano in Hawaii has been active for 700,000 years. Fortunately, many of the eruptions are slow, but sometimes the lava flows become fast and pose a danger to nearby towns and villages. There is also the possibility of dangerous earthquakes.

9. Taal, Philippines

The volcano is located on the island of Luzon in the center of Taal Lake. Its proximity to Manila makes it a constant threat to its more than 1.6 million residents. Since 1572, the volcano has erupted 33 times. Visitors are encouraged to view the volcano from afar, although many tourists do not adhere to this recommendation.

8. Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

Ulavun Volcano is one of the most active on the planet. It has had 22 major eruptions recorded since the 1700s, and residents of nearby areas report regularly seeing minor eruptions. The structural integrity of Ulawun is questionable; if collapse occurs, the eruption could destroy hundreds of square kilometers of land.

7. Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo

This dramatic volcano has impressive lava lakes near its crater. These lakes come and go, sometimes with quite devastating consequences. In 1977, an eruption occurred in which lava had a speed of 97 km/h and destroyed nearby villages, killing and injuring thousands of people. 147 people died in the 2002 eruption, and another 120,000 lost their homes.

6. Merapi, Indonesia

Volcano Merapi is considered the most active in Indonesia, and it has produced a record amount of lava. Measuring flow only, Merapi stands out as the most active volcano on the planet. It has been active for at least 10 thousand years. A review of the 2010 eruption recorded 353 dead people, and more than 320 thousand people were left homeless.

5. Galeras, Colombia

This volcano is located near the border of Ecuador. It erupts frequently and has been active for an impressively long time. Scientists estimate that the volcano has been erupting for one million years or more. The first recorded eruption was in 1580, and between 1978 and 1988, Galeras was temporarily dormant. Once active again, it behaves menacingly, erupting almost every year since the start of the new millennium. The town of Pasto on the eastern slope of Galeras is home to 450 thousand inhabitants.

4. Sakurajima, Japan

In the list of active volcanoes, Sakurajima is known as the "Vesuvius of the East", referring to its high activity. It is separated from mainland Japan, but lava flows from the 1914 eruptions have effectively created a bridge of land connecting it to the rest of Japan. Sakurajima produces thousands of small eruptions every year. If a major eruption occurs, 700,000 residents in the city of Kagoshima will be in danger.

3. Popocatepetl, Mexico

Popocatepetl is located just 56 km from Mexico City and broke out recently, in 2000. Forty-one thousand people would have been in danger of losing their lives if they had not been evacuated in time. Nine million people live within the blast radius. If a major eruption ever occurs, it will be a disaster. Therefore, Popocatepetl is one of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet, and the most active.

2. Vesuvius, Italy

Vesuvius is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world. Anyone who studied history at school knows about the famous catastrophic eruption in 79 AD. e., which destroyed the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Volcanic ash preserved two sites, making them some of the most famous archaeological excavations on the ground. Vesuvius erupts cyclically, approximately every 20 years. The last recorded eruption dates back to 1944, so the next eruption is not far off. Three million people are not only within the blast radius, but also close to the crater. This is another volcano that poses a serious danger to an incredible number of people.

1. Yellowstone Volcano, USA

The number one active volcano on our list is the Yellowstone Caldera. Active volcanic caldera in National Park attracts about three million visitors a year. Its geysers and hot springs are beautiful, but they are also potentially deadly. Yellowstone is a supervolcano. Indeed, the famous major supervolcano eruption occurred at Yellowstone 640,000 years ago. If Yellowstone exploded, it is estimated that 87,000 people would be killed instantly. The entire western United States will be devastated, and the ash will impact the environment and health of people across the country and the world. The explosion would be a global catastrophe of unprecedented proportions, and there is no way to predict how far its effects will spread.

We no longer associate volcanic explosions with the whims of angry gods, but we believe that it is necessary to treat them with respect, at least we must, to protect the people who live within the radius of possible action. The amount of damage from volcanoes can be enormous. The best geologists have come to understand volcanoes and have determined that it is better to predict their explosions and protect large populated areas.

Volcanoes are attractive due to their beauty, but they can harbor destructive power, causing massive loss of life and severe destruction. Although volcanic eruptions themselves are relatively rare and are monitored by scientists, they still pose a huge source of danger for people who choose to live near them. Here is a list of the 10 most active volcanoes:

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10

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

Mauna Loa Volcano is one of the largest volcanoes on our Earth in terms of height and area covered. It is also one of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii in America. Mauna Loa is an active volcano that has likely been erupting for 700,000 years. The most recent eruption occurred relatively recently, from March 24 to April 15, 1984.

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9

This famous volcano is located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, it is located about 50 km from the capital of this country - Manila. Taal is one of the active Philippine volcanoes, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. It erupted many times, bringing nearby settlements around the lake there are victims and destruction. The last eruption occurred in 1977, but signs of activity have been recorded regularly since 1991, characterized by both high activity and small seismic fracturing.

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8

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

The most active volcano in Papua New Guinea— Ulavun, he is also one of the most dangerous. This is the highest volcano and the most high peak in the Bismarck Archipelago. The very first recorded eruption of Ulavun occurred in 1700. From then until now, 22 eruptions have occurred. Several thousand people permanently live near the volcano. During a major eruption in 1980, ash was thrown up to a height of 18 kilometers, producing pyroclastic flows that swept along the entire flanks of the volcano and devastated an area of ​​20 square kilometers.

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7

Nyiragongo, Congo

One of the most active volcanoes in Africa and one of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. Nyiragongo has erupted at least 34 times since 1882. The most recent destructive eruption of Mount Nyiragongo occurred on January 17, 2002, when hot lava destroyed 40% of the city of Goma.

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6

Merapi, Indonesia

Merapi is the most famous and active volcano in Indonesia, erupting regularly since 1548. It is located very close to the city of Yogyakarta, where thousands of people live on the slopes of Merapi. The volcano has been active for 10,000 years.

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5

Galeras, Colombia

Galeras has been active for at least about 1 million years. The volcano is located in southern Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. In this country, Galeras is the most active volcano.

After only 10 years of dormancy, Galeras became active again in 1988. In 1993 there was terrible disaster, when an expedition of several scientists went to the Galeras crater. The eruption happened very unexpectedly and led to the death of nine people: six scientists and three tourists.

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4

Sakurajima is an active composite volcano and former island. Often called the Vesuvius of the East, eruptions occur almost constantly. Remnants of eruptions formed highlands in this region from white sand. The volcano is dangerous due to its location in a densely populated area - near the city of Kagoshima, which is very close to the volcano.

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3

Popocatepetl is an active volcano and the second highest peak in Mexico (elevation 5426 m). Residents of the city of Puebla, which is only 40 km east of the volcano, can enjoy views of the snow-capped and glacier-covered mountain of almost all year round. The last major eruption occurred in 2000. Fortunately for the residents, then scientists were able to warn the government in time, and people were evacuated from the disaster area in time.

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2

Vesuvius, Italy

Mount Vesuvius is located 9 km east of Naples at a short distance from the coast. This is the only volcano in Europe that has been erupting for the last hundred years. Vesuvius has erupted many times, most recently in 1944. Today, Vesuvius is considered one of the most destructive volcanoes in the world due to the 3 million people living nearby and the high probability of its eruptions.

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1

Yellowstone Caldera, USA

This is the most dangerous active supervolcano, which means that the volume of emissions from this volcano could be more than 1000 cubic kilometers, which would have devastating consequences. Volcanic super-eruptions typically cover large areas with lava and volcanic ash, enough to threaten the extinction of entire species. Such a super-eruption could be one of the reasons for the death of our civilization, because when this volcano erupts, it causes the activity of other volcanoes, which leads to massive tectogenesis.

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Conclusion

These were the most active and dangerous volcanoes peace. We hope you liked our material.

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

Merapi, Indonesia

Merapi is one of the largest volcanoes on the Indonesian islands. It is also one of the most active: large eruptions occur once every seven to eight years, and small ones - once every two years. At the same time, smoke appears from the top of the volcano almost every day, not allowing local residents to forget about the threat. Merapi is also famous for the fact that in 1006 the entire medieval Javanese-Indian state of Mataram was seriously damaged by his activities. The volcano is especially dangerous because it is located near the large Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, which is home to about 400 thousand people.

Sakurajima, Japan

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

Aso Volcano, Japan

The last time volcanic activity was recorded at the volcano was quite recently, in 2011. Then the ash cloud spread over an area of ​​more than 100 km. From that time to the present, about 2,500 tremors have been recorded, which indicates the activity of the volcano and its readiness to erupt. Despite the immediate danger, about 50 thousand people live in the immediate vicinity, and the crater is a popular tourist attraction for daredevils. In winter, the slopes are covered with snow and people go skiing and sledding in the valley.

Popocatepetl, Mexico

One of the largest volcanoes in Mexico is located literally fifty kilometers from. This is a city with a population of 20 million people who are in constant readiness to evacuate. In addition to Mexico City, the following are located in the neighborhood: big cities, like Puebla and Tlaxcala de Xicotencatl. Popocatepetl also gives them a reason to be nervous: emissions of gas, sulfur, dust and stones occur literally every month. In recent decades, the volcano has erupted in 2000, 2005 and 2012. Many climbers strive to climb to its peak. Popocatepetl is famous for the fact that in 1955 it was conquered by Ernesto Che Guevara.

Etna, Italy

This Sicilian volcano is interesting because it has not only one main wide crater, but also many small craters on the slopes. Etna is constantly active, with small eruptions occurring every few months. This does not prevent the Sicilians from densely populating the slopes of the volcano, since the presence of minerals and trace elements makes the soil very fertile. The last major eruption was in May 2011, and minor emissions of ash and dust occurred in April 2013. By the way, Etna is the most big volcano c: it is two and a half times larger than Vesuvius.

Vesuvius, Italy

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

Colima, Mexico

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

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

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

Galeras, Colombia

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

Nyiragongo, Republic of Congo

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

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