The ten most powerful volcanic eruptions in history. The most powerful volcanoes on the planet 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world
Ecology
In 2018, scientists dared to predict the intensification of volcanic activity on the planet, frightening ordinary people catastrophic consequences in the form of global climate change, destruction of cities and loss of life.
Such bleak forecasts from experts are not unfounded: for many years now, increasing volcanic activity has been observed along the region of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire, where more than three hundred active volcanoes are located.
The behavior of a couple of other active volcanoes that have managed to ruin the lives of a significant number of people on our planet. But there are about nine hundred active volcanoes on land alone.
Volcanoes are an integral part of the Earth, reminding us of how destructive the fury of nature can be. We bring to your attention a list of the ten most dangerous active volcanoes on our planet today.
Active volcanoes
Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii
While the whole world is watching with aspiration as the Kilauea volcano covers the largest island of Hawaii with waves of hot lava, not so far from it it is sleeping peacefully megavolcano Mauna Loa, whose height is 4169 meters (that is, almost three thousand meters higher than Kilauea!).
Mauna Loa, whose name translates as “long mountain,” is the largest active volcano on planet Earth. At the moment, it is a place of pilgrimage for tourists and a work site for representatives of the scientific world.
The formation of this volcano began approximately 700,000 years ago, while its activity continues to this day. Mauna Loa's most recent eruption occurred in 1984. The underwater part of this volcano is the largest on the planet and is 80 thousand cubic kilometers.
The volcano spews intense lava flows that threaten not only the huge ecosystem that has settled on its slopes, but also nearby human settlements. The Hawaiians in their mythology singled out Mauna Loa as the place of one of the sisters Pele - the goddess of fire, volcanoes and strong winds.
Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Iceland
For some time now, Eyjafjallajökull has become one of the most famous volcanoes on our planet. And this despite the fact that Very few people can pronounce its name without hesitation.. This 1666-meter-high volcano (a mysterious combination of three sixes, isn't it?) is located in the south of Iceland.
It is part of several small glaciers on this island nation. The volcano's crater itself, which is three to four kilometers in diameter, was also covered by glaciers. However, the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which began on March 20, 2010, melted its ice.
Despite the fact that Eyjafjallajökull is not the largest volcano in Iceland, its eruption caused trouble throughout Europe. The height that the volcanic ash reached was 13 kilometers. And its significant spread led to the suspension of air traffic over the entire Northern Europe.
Almost a month later, volcanic ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano was recorded over a huge part of the territory of the Russian Federation. As a result of the last eruption, a new crack formed on the volcano in the direction from north to south, the length of which was two kilometers.
Volcano Vesuvius, Italy
Speaking about the most dangerous active volcanoes on the planet, it would be unforgivable frivolity not to mention the Italian Vesuvius. This volcano the last eruption of which was recorded in 1944, is most famous in the world for the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum that were razed to the ground in 79 AD.
The location of this volcano, the only one active in continental Europe, makes it one of the most dangerous in the world. The reason is the proximity of densely populated regions. Suffice it to say that just fifteen kilometers from Vesuvius is Naples, whose agglomeration exceeds three million people.
Vesuvius does not have an outstanding height - it is only 1281 meters above sea level. His quite frequent activity (one eruption approximately every twenty years) due to the relative youth of the volcano - it was formed about 25,000 years ago.
We most often remember the tragedy of Pompeii, where about two thousand people were buried during the eruption. At the same time, we forget that during the eruption on July 26, 1805 (far from the most powerful eruption of this volcano!), Vesuvius took the lives of 26 thousand people!
Active volcanoes
Volcano Nyiragongo, Congo
If we talk about activity, then the Nyiragongo volcano, whose height is 3469 meters, can rightfully be considered one of the most active. It is known that 34 eruptions have been recorded since 1882. Some of these eruptions continued for many months and even years.
In fact, Nyiragongo and its neighbor Nyamlagira are responsible for forty percent of all eruptions that continue to be observed on the African continent to this day. If we talk about the most destructive eruptions of Nyiragongo, the last one occurred on January 10, 1977.
As a result of that cataclysm, about two thousand people died, and the tragedy occurred literally within the first half hour from the moment the eruption began. Deadliest eruption of Nyiragongo in this century happened in 2002, when 45 people died under lava flows.
Nyiragongo is also famous for having the largest molten lava lake in its main crater, which is two kilometers in diameter. The temperature of the lava is 1200 degrees Celsius. The lake of fire itself, which is visible even from space, in size resembles a red Cyclopean eye, or, if you like, the eye of Sauron.
Taal Volcano, Philippines
Taal Volcano, whose height is only some 311 meters, is located on the island of Luzon, just 50 kilometers away from the more than one and a half million city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. In fact, it is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet.
Despite his size, Taal sent many thousands of people to the next world. It is known that since 1572 this volcano has erupted at least thirty times. It was thanks to his activity that the third largest lake in the Philippines was formed, the greatest depth of which is 172 meters. It is also called Taal.
One of the most powerful eruptions of Taal, which resulted in the death of all living things within a few minutes at a distance of up to ten kilometers from the volcano, occurred on January 30, 1911. Then masses of superheated steam and hot ash killed 1335 people. It is noteworthy that the volcano did not eject lava.
A huge cloud of ash, according to sources of those years, was visible at a distance of more than four hundred kilometers. The last powerful eruption of Taal was also recorded in the last century. It happened in 1965, taking the lives of more than two hundred people.
Volcano Merapi, Indonesia
Some volcanoes destroy settlements and villages, like Nyamlaghira and Taal. Others, like Vesuvius, entire cities. About the Merapi volcano it is known that he destroyed the entire Javanese-Indian kingdom, which was located on the territory of modern Indonesia. This happened in the year 1006.
The highest point of Merapi is 2968 meters. “Mountain of Fire” (that’s how the name of this volcano is translated) does not skimp on deadly eruptions. And this is not surprising, since Merapi is the youngest volcano from the group of its many “relatives” located in the south of the island of Java.
In the first half of the last century, there were 13 eruptions of the “mountain of fire”. It is known, for example, that in 1930, 1,300 people died due to the activity of this volcano. And now in 1974 Merapi wipes out two villages, and just a year later - another village, causing enormous damage to the region’s infrastructure. 29 people died then.
The last powerful eruption of Merapi in 2010 forced more than 350,000 local residents to flee the surrounding region. Some of them, however, dared to return, for which many of them paid with their lives - the volcano sent 353 people to the next world.
The most dangerous volcanoes
Volcano Galeras, Colombia
In Colombia, very close to the border with the Republic of Ecuador, is the majestic Galeras volcano. The height of this giant is 4276 meters. The depth of the crater (about 80 meters) and its diameter (320 meters) turn this volcano into a kind of cannon that has fired more than once.
The Galeras volcano continues to be active, as can be seen from numerous small eruptions. Not many really strong eruptions happened on Galeras. According to scientists, over the past seven thousand years there have been about six major bursts of its activity.
Galeras is a very popular destination for tourists in South America, who also come to admire the beauty of the mountain located at the foot of the mountain. national reserve, the area of which is several thousand hectares.
Galeras constantly keeps in suspense almost half a million people living near the volcano, which, according to experts, remains active for at least a million years. Due to small eruptions, people often die there, and due to the threat of large ones, the authorities periodically evacuate many thousands of residents.
Sakurajima Volcano, Japan
The active Japanese volcano Sakurajima was once an independent island. However, after the eruption of 1914, it became part of the Osumi Peninsula, connecting with it through frozen lava flows.
Sakurajima has been continuously active since 1955, posing a serious threat to the city of Kagoshima, with a population of more than six hundred thousand people. However, this did not prevent (or rather helped) the residents of the city to benefit from such a dangerous neighborhood, making the volcano a tourist attraction.
There is a regular ferry to Mount Sakurajima, and from the city itself to the volcano, whose height is 1117 meters, a breathtakingly beautiful view opens up. Given the constant small eruptions of the volcano, it is not surprising that residents have become accustomed to it. For example, in 2014 alone, 471 eruptions occurred!
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 deaths and more than 320,000 people 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 has preserved the two sites, making them one of the most famous archaeological sites on earth. 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. The active volcanic caldera in the national park attracts an estimated 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.
Most of the volcanoes on our planet are located in the “ring of fire”, which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. There are about 1.5 thousand volcanoes on Earth, of which 540 are active.
Here is a list of the most dangerous of them.
1. Nyiragongo, altitude 3470 m, Democratic Republic of the Congo
This is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Africa. Since 1882, 34 eruptions have been recorded here. The main crater is 250 meters deep and 2 km wide, and contains a lake of actively bubbling lava. This lava is extremely fluid and its flows can reach speeds of 100 km/h. In 2002, an eruption killed 147 people and left 120,000 people homeless. The last eruption to date occurred in 2016.
2. Taal, height 311 m, Philippines
This is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet. It has erupted 34 times since 1572. Located on the island of Luzon, on Taal Lake. The most powerful eruption of this volcano in the 20th century occurred in 1911 - in 10 minutes, 1335 people died and, in general, all living things at a distance of up to 10 km. In 1965, 200 people died. Last eruption - 1977
3. Mauna Loa, height 4,169 m, Hawaii (USA)
There are many volcanoes in Hawaii, but this is the largest and most dangerous of them all. Since 1832, 39 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption occurred in 1984, the last major eruption in 1950.
4. Vesuvius, height 1,281 m, Italy
One of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world is located just 15 km east of Naples. The most famous historical eruption occurred in 79 AD. As a result of this disaster, two cities - Pompeii and Herculaneum - disappeared from the face of the Earth. In modern history, the last eruption of Vesuvius occurred in 1944.
5. Merapi, altitude 2,930 m, Indonesia
This most active active volcano in Indonesia is located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. "Merapi" is translated as "mountain of fire." The volcano is young, so it puffs with enviable regularity. Major eruptions occur on average every 7 years. In 1930, about 1,300 people died, in 1974, two villages were destroyed, and in 2010, 353 people died. Last eruption - 2011
6. St. Helens, altitude 2,550 m, USA
Located 154 km from Seattle and 85 km from Portland. This active volcano's most famous eruption occurred in 1980, killing 57 people. The eruption was of a rare type - a “directed explosion”. The process of the volcanic eruption and the spread of the ash cloud was filmed by photographer Robert Landsburg, who died in this eruption, but saved the film. The last activity to date was recorded in 2008.
7. Etna, height 3,350 m, Italy
Volcano Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily. This is the highest active volcano in Europe. Throughout its existence, it has erupted about 200 times. In 1992, one of the largest eruptions was recorded, during which the town of Zafferana barely escaped. On December 3, 2015, the central crater of the volcano ejected a fountain of lava to a kilometer height. The last eruption was February 27, 2017.
8. Sakurajima, height 1,117 m, Japan
The volcano is located on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu Island in the Japanese Prefecture of Kagoshima. There is almost always a cloud of smoke above the volcano. Eruptions were recorded on August 18, 2013, in March 2009. The last eruption was recorded on July 26, 2016.
9. Galeras, altitude 4,276 m, Colombia
Over the past 7 thousand years, at least six large eruptions and many small ones have occurred on Galeras. In 1993, six volcanologists and three tourists died while conducting research in the crater (then the eruption also began). Latest recorded eruptions: January 2008, February 2009, January and August 2010
10. Popocatepetl, altitude 5426 m, Mexico
The name translates as "smoking hill". The volcano is located near Mexico City. It has erupted 20 times since 1519. The last eruption was recorded in 2015.
11. Unzen, altitude 1,500 m, Japan
The volcano is located on the Shimabara Peninsula. The eruption of Mount Unzen in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in human history in terms of the number of casualties. The eruption caused a tsunami 55 meters high, which killed more than 15 thousand people. And in 1991, 43 people died during an eruption. No eruptions have been observed since 1996.
12. Krakatoa, height 813 m, Indonesia 
This active volcano is located between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Before the historic eruption of 1883, the volcano was much taller and consisted of one large island. However, a powerful eruption in 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Today Krakatoa is still active and small eruptions occur quite regularly. Last activity - 2014.
13. Santa Maria, altitude 3,772 m, Guatemala
The first recorded eruption of this volcano occurred in October 1902, before which it “rested” for 500 years. The explosion was heard 800 km away in Costa Rica, and the ash column rose 28 km. About 6 thousand people died. Today the volcano is active. The last eruption was recorded in 2011.
14. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, height 4835 m, Russia
The volcano is located in the east of Kamchatka, 60 km from the coast. This is the largest active volcano in Russia. Over the past 270 years, more than 50 eruptions have been recorded, the last one in April 2016.
15. Karymskaya Sopka, height 1468 m, Russia
Also located in Kamchatka. Since 1852, more than 20 eruptions have been recorded. Recent eruptions: 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015. A very turbulent volcano.
Volcanic eruptions have claimed millions of lives and continue to scare people. This is a real disaster that can begin suddenly and lead to sad irreparable consequences. There are volcanoes on the planet that can safely be called the most dangerous.
Top 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world:
- In Yellowstone National Park in America there is a volcano of the same name, which in ancient times was a supervolcano that swept away all life in its path. And although the last time activity manifested itself, as scientists have established, was about six hundred thousand years ago, it can resume at any time. Today, millions of tourists visit these spectacular sites every year to witness the stunning hot springs and geysers with their own eyes. And this is not just beautiful, but also dangerous. Researchers have found that the heating of water emerging from the depths of the earth can signal that a huge clot of magma is gradually rising to the surface from the center of the volcano. And if it breaks out, it will become a catastrophe on a planetary scale. The eruption could destroy the nature of the surrounding area, kill 90 thousand local residents and radically change the landscape of the United States.
- When listing the most dangerous volcanoes, it is worth mentioning Vesuvius. It has a relatively low altitude (1281 meters), is located in Italy and is the only European volcano to have erupted over the past hundred years. It was he who destroyed Pompeii, and Karl Bryullov reflected the death of this city in his painting. Herculane also fell under the pressure of the mountain. Moreover, the city of Pompeii was completely destroyed and instantly buried: most of it burned under the action of lava, and the rest was buried in ash. As a result, a unique open-air museum appeared in Italy, reminiscent of sad events. The last peak of activity occurred in the 44th year of the last century, and the volcano is still “sleeping”. But scientists suggest that the explosion could occur at any time, because the frequency of eruptions was previously once every twenty years. And yet, some brave souls populate the surrounding area.
- The volcano with the complex name Popocatepetl is located in Mexico, and its height exceeds five kilometers! It is active, but last erupted in 2000. Then the local authorities, who noticed something was wrong in time, managed to evacuate more than forty thousand people, thereby saving them from certain death. But people still live in the vicinity of the mountain, and the range of a strong large-scale explosion could affect a vast area that houses more than 9 million Mexicans. And this may well happen, because in five hundred years Popocatepetl has erupted as many as twenty times!
- In Japan there is a not very large, but dangerous volcano Sakurajima. The height is a little more than 1100 meters, but due to its high activity and unpredictability, the mountain is sometimes called the “Eastern Vesuvius”, which is quite justified. Once upon a time, Sakurajima rose out of the water and for a long time was a separate island, but at the beginning of the last century there was an eruption that formed a kind of bridge between the mountain and the territory of the country. The volcano is recognized as one of the most active, because over the past forty-five years there have been more than seventy eruptions! And although not all of them were strong, a huge explosion with a splash of boiling lava could wipe out the nearby territory from the face of the Earth. The last time activity was observed was several years ago, and in 2009, rocks from the crater were scattered over two miles.
- Colombian Galeras is quite high (more than 4200 meters) and last showed itself in 2010, and then local authorities had to urgently evacuate three thousand people living near the slopes. By the way, activity has been evident for about a million years, and the frequency of eruptions is unpredictable: Galeras can “sleep” for several years, but then explode every year. It is this bad character that makes the volcano one of the most dangerous on the planet and makes the population of Colombia and Ecuador worry (the mountain is located on the border with this country, so lava flowing down the slopes and ash flying in all directions may well affect the state and cause enormous damage to it).
- Merapi is located in Indonesia, and its name literally translates as “mountain of fire,” which fully reflects the behavior of this volcano. It has a height of less than three kilometers and last manifested itself in 2010. Moreover, scientists have proven that Merapi has been active and regularly erupting for more than ten thousand years, and each eruption is accompanied by the outpouring of huge streams of hot lava, burning everything in its path. In Indonesia and the surrounding area, the volcano simply has no equal; it keeps all local residents in fear. Several years ago, more than 350 people died at the foot, and more than three hundred thousand were left homeless. And after this disaster, the government finally developed an evacuation scheme.
- Nyiragongo is a 3.47 kilometer high mountain located in Congo. Over the past 135 years, at least thirty-four eruptions have occurred, the worst of which occurred in September 2002. Hot lava rapidly descending down the slopes of the mountain affected almost half of the territory of the city of Goma located at the foot of the mountain and claimed the lives of one hundred and forty-seven people. More than 120 thousand residents lost their homes due to the eruption, and many received serious burns and injuries. Terrible events also occurred in the 77th year of the last century, when part of the crater fell off and a hot stone rolled down through the villages, destroying everything around. Living here is incredibly dangerous.
- Papua New Guinea is home to the Ulawun volcano, which was last active just a few years ago. The mountain, more than 2.3 kilometers high, has regular shapes and looks very majestic, so local residents treat it with great respect and consider it the father of their lands. But the volcano has erupted more than twenty times since the eighteenth century, and some of the explosions were very powerful. The last burst of activity was observed in the 80th year of the last century, and then a huge column of ash burst out of the crater, which literally covered the entire mountain with its pyroclastic flows. To this day, Papuans observe weak eruptions, but the worst and irreparable things can happen at any moment.
- In the Philippines there is a volcano with the beautiful and melodious name Taal. The mountain is located on an island in the lake of the same name and barely exceeds three hundred meters in height, but the Filipinos have already become convinced of its danger and difficult character. Although the last time Taal erupted was in the 65th year of the last century, no one can guarantee the preservation of calm. A powerful surge in activity was observed at the beginning of the twentieth century, and then more than 1,300 people died. In addition, the red-hot lava flowing down the slopes almost completely destroyed all life within a radius of ten kilometers.
- The Mauna Loa volcano is located in Hawaii and is not only one of the most dangerous, but also has an impressive size - more than 4160 meters in height. The last time an eruption was observed was in the 84th year of the 20th century, and the volcano became active more than seven hundred thousand years ago. But it is reassuring that liquid magma comes out and flows down the slopes quite slowly, so residents, noticing the danger in time, will be able to evacuate and avoid death. Yet nature is unpredictable, so volcanologists are confident that a catastrophic eruption is likely, capable of causing serious destruction.
These were the most dangerous volcanoes, keeping millions of people living nearby in fear.
