The highest volcanoes in the world. The most powerful volcanoes on the planet 4 largest volcanoes in the world

14.01.2022

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

Where are the largest volcanoes on the world map?

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

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

The strongest eruption in history

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

The force of the explosion during the eruption exceeded the force of the nuclear bomb explosion over Hiroshima by 10,000 times. Most of the deaths are the result of huge tsunami caused by the eruption. The island on which Krakatoa was located was almost completely destroyed during the disaster. The sound from the explosion spread to a distance of 5 thousand kilometers from the epicenter of the disaster.

Earth's Greatest Active Volcanic Mountains

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

  • mauna loa, Hawaii, with a volume of 80 thousand cubic kilometers;
  • kilimanjaro(Tanzania), which is considered dormant but potentially active, has a volume of 4,800 cubic kilometers;
  • Volcano Sierra Negra, located in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) has a volume of 580 cubic kilometers.

Which country has the largest source of lava?

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

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

Description with titles

There are between 1000 and 1500 active volcanoes on our planet. Many of them are located close to 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 United Nations 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 died.

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

Sakurajima

Sakurazdima 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 there are thousands of small explosions and ash emissions.

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

Sakurajima is also on the Volcanoes of the Decade list.

Aso

Aso Volcano 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-sized eruptions occurred, many of which led to 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 try to conquer Aso. The last such incident occurred in 1997, when two climbers died.

Last eruption Aso was noted in 2011, when ash was ejected to a height of up to 2 kilometers.

Nyiragongo

Nyiragongo is located in DR Congo V mountain system Virunga (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, resulting in a major lava flow to the surrounding area, resulting in the death of 70 people.

During observations of Nyiragongo since 1882, it was recorded 34 major volcanic eruptions. A feature of the Nyiragongo eruptions is an 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 most dangerous volcanoes in the world, for which he was rightly included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade.

Galeras

Galeras volcano is located in Colombia near the city of Pasto, whose population is more than 400 thousand people. Its height exceeds 4200 meters. Due to its danger, Galeras has been included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade 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

Mauna Loa Volcano is located on Hawaiian Islands owned by the United States of America. This giant volcano occupies more than half the area of ​​Hawaii, the height of the peak is 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.

Mauna Loa eruptions occur along the so-called Hawaiian type with an 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 were recorded. This volcano was included in the list of Volcanoes of the Decade due to the huge lava flows that accompany 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

Most active volcano in Central America is located in the state of Jalisco. Due to its activity, Colima received the nickname "little Vesuvius", its height exceeds 3800 meters.

Over the past 450 years, more than 40 large and medium-sized 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 America's most dangerous volcano. For this reason, the volcano was included in the Volcanoes of the Decade list.

Vesuvius

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

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

  • Pompeii;
  • Oplontis;
  • Herculaneum;
  • Stabiae.

It is believed that at least 16,000 people died during this cataclysm.

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

Etna

Another famous volcano in Italy is located in the east of the island of Sicily and is highest volcano, rising to a height of 2329 meters. Etna eruptions are observed several times a year. History has recorded several major eruptions of this volcano, which led to devastating consequences:

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

Despite the danger of the volcano, the inhabitants of the island continue to settle on its slopes. The reason for this is fertile soil, enriched with minerals and trace elements contained in the 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 it is affectionately called locals, is located in Mexico, 70 kilometers from the capital of this country, the city of Mexico City. The height of the volcano is almost 5500 meters. Over the past 500 years, Popocatepetl has erupted more than 15 times, with the latest occurring as recently as 2015. An extinct volcano is located near Popocatepetl Istaxihuatl.

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

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

The highest volcano in Eurasia is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula and is considered the most famous of the many volcanoes in Kamchatka. The highest point outside the Caucasus Mountains reaches a height of 4750 meters. It is the most active volcano in Eurasia, on average its eruptions occur almost every year. The last significant eruption occurred in 2013, the height of the ash emission was 10-12 kilometers. The eruption was accompanied by mud flows and ashfall.

Cotopaxi

The active volcano Cotopaxi is located in South America on the territory of the state Ecuador in the Andean mountain system. The height of the top of Cotopaxi is 5897 meters. Over the entire history of observations, 86 eruptions have been recorded, the largest of which led to the complete destruction of the city of Latacunga in 1786. The last activity of Cotopaxi was seen in 1942, after which the volcano is still dormant.

Famous extinct giants

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

Supreme

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

sleeping giants

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

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

    It is believed that if Yellowstone wakes up, the potential eruption will become one of the largest disasters 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 tsunami waves and eruptions of other volcanoes, which will affect almost every inhabitant of the planet. The ash thrown out by the volcano will cover the surface of the earth 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.

  • The largest extinct volcano in Russia - - 5642 meters. It is located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Related to the list the highest peaks six parts of the world. Scientists consider the activity of the volcano not so much completed as fading.
  • Most large volcano modern times cannot be visited and is very hard to see as it is under water. array Tamu located at the bottom Pacific Ocean and is located about 1600 kilometers east of the Japanese Islands. Its dimensions are 650 by 450 kilometers; in terms of its scale, the array is one of the largest not only on Earth, but 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. Peak 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, volcanic ash from an eruption that allegedly occurred 40 thousand years ago was found in one of the caves of Kazbek.

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

Most of the volcanoes on our planet are located in the "ring of fire", which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. And in total there are about 1.5 thousand volcanoes on Earth, of which 540 are active.

Here is a list of the most dangerous ones.

1. Nyiragongo, height 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 unusually fluid and its flows can reach speeds of 100 km/h. In 2002, the eruption killed 147 people and left 120,000 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 Lake Taal. The strongest eruption of this volcano in the 20th century occurred in 1911 - 1335 people died in 10 minutes 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 4169 m, Hawaii (USA)


There are many volcanoes in Hawaii, but this is the largest and most dangerous of all. Since 1832, 39 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption occurred in 1984, the last strong eruption in 1950.

4. Vesuvius, height 1281 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 catastrophe, two cities - Pompeii and Herculaneum - disappeared from the face of the Earth. In modern history, the last eruption of Vesuvius happened in 1944.

5. Merapi, height 2,930 m, Indonesia


This 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. Large eruptions occur on average every 7 years. In 1930, about 1300 people died, in 1974 two villages were destroyed, in 2010 353 people died. Last eruption - 2011

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


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

7. Etna, height 3,350 m, Italy


Mount Etna is located on east coast Sicily. It is the highest active volcano in Europe. During its existence, it 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 threw a fountain of lava to a kilometer high. The last eruption is February 27, 2017.

8. Sakurajima, height 1117 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. The eruptions were recorded on August 18, 2013, in March 2009. The last eruption was recorded on July 26, 2016.

9. Galeras, height 4276 m, Colombia


Over the past 7 thousand years, at least six large eruptions and many small ones have occurred on Galeras. In 1993, during research work in the crater, six volcanologists and three tourists died (then the eruption also began). Latest recorded eruptions: January 2008, February 2009, January and August 2010

10. Popocatepetl, height 5426 m, Mexico


The name translates as "smoking hill". The volcano is located near Mexico City. It has erupted 20 times since 1519. The last eruption was recorded in 2015.

11. Unzen, height 1,500 m, Japan


The volcano is located on the Shimabara Peninsula. The eruption of Mount Unzen in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in human history in terms of the number of human casualties. The eruption caused a tsunami 55 meters high, which killed more than 15 thousand people. And in 1991, 43 people died during the 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 higher and was one large island. However, the most powerful eruption of 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Today, Krakatau is still active and small eruptions occur fairly regularly. Last activity - 2014.

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


The first recorded eruption of this volcano occurred in October 1902, before that he "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 registered in 2011.

14. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, height 4835 m, Russia


The volcano is located in the east of Kamchatka, 60 km from the coast. It is the largest active volcano in Russia. Over the past 270 years, more than 50 eruptions have been recorded, the last in April 2016.

15. Karymskaya Sopka, height 1468 m, Russia


Also located in Kamchatka. More than 20 eruptions have been recorded since 1852. Eruptions of recent years: 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 A very restless volcano.

Volcanoes have always evoked a lot of emotions in a person - from panic horror and fear to admiration and admiration for the incredible power of nature. Volcanic peaks are located almost all over the planet and regularly make themselves felt, spewing tons of ash into the air. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the rating of the top 10 highest active volcanoes, each of which is distinguished by its grandeur and unpredictability.

10. Cameroon (Fako), 4100 meters

Faco - highest point Cameroon, active volcano. The last major eruption was recorded in 2000. Richard Francis Burton - the first European to conquer a volcano. This happened in 1895.

9. Mauna Loa, 4169 meters

highest active volcano Hawaiian Islands. It belongs to the shield volcanoes, has fairly gentle slopes with a weakly expressed flat top.


The greatness and extraordinary beauty of the mountains leaves few people indifferent. Sometimes snow-covered ridges inspire fear, sometimes they fascinate, inspire, beckon...

8. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, 4835 meters

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the highest active volcano on the Eurasian continent, located in Kamchatka. This is a fairly active volcano, eruptions occur here almost every two years. In this regard, the height of Klyuchevskaya Sopka is a variable value.

7. Sangay, 5230 meters

It is located in Ecuador, on the territory of the park of the same name, it is part of the Andes mountain system. The toponym is translated from Indian as "to scare", and this is not surprising - Sangai is one of the most restless volcanoes on the continent. Sangai has three huge craters, which is not typical for andesitic stratovolcanoes. According to researchers, the volcano was formed about 14 thousand years ago. Since 1934, Sangai has erupted regularly, the last time the maximum peak of activity was recorded in 2016. Rare representatives of the fauna are found around the volcano: ocelots, cougars, tapirs, Andean bears and porcupines.

6. Popocatepetl, 5426 meters

It is an active volcano located in Mexico, part of the Cordillera mountain system. Translated from the local language - "smoking hill" and is located next to another volcano - Istaxihuatl. The most famous ancient literary work is written about these peaks - the legend of Popocatepetl and Istaxihuatl. The first ascent was made in 1519 by Diego de Ordaz.

5. Orizaba, 5636 meters

The second name is Sitlaltepetl, which means "star-mountain" in translation. Orizaba is the highest Mexican peak and is located in the Cordillera mountain system. Geographically, the volcano is located on the territory of two states - Puebla and Veracruz. The stratovolcano is now relatively dormant, and last erupted in 1846. In total, 27 periods of activity were recorded, including those in the middle of the 16th and 17th centuries. Orizaba for the Incas has always been a sacred mountain, with which many legends and myths were associated. Since 1936, a reserve has been created on the volcano in order to protect Orizaba from unauthorized ascents. Every year hundreds of climbers come here, for whom many routes of varying degrees of difficulty have been laid. The most favorable time for climbing to the top is the period from mid-autumn to early spring.

4. Misty, 5822 meters

Located in South America, territorially belongs to Peru, in the winter months it is almost completely covered with snow. 17 km from the stratovolcano is located small town Arequipa, with a population of over 1 million people. In the country locality known as the "White City" due to the fact that most of the buildings were erected from snow-white deposits of volcanic origin. The Chile River flows past Misty, and another volcano, Pichu Pichu, is located south of the summit. The last eruption was recorded in 1985, in just a century, activity was manifested 5 times. In the 16th century, the inhabitants of Arequipa had to leave the city due to an extremely strong eruption, with huge ash emissions. At the end of the 20th century, mummified remains of the ancient Incas and a number of valuable artifacts were discovered on the slopes of El Misti. All found bodies and household items are stored today in the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries.


South America is something unattainable and exotic for us. A lot of literary works have been written about these places, a huge amount has been filmed ...

3. Cotopaxi, 5897 meters

The toponym is translated from the Quechua language as "brilliant mountain". Cotopaxi is located in South America, on the territory of Ecuador and is the second highest peak in the country. The volcano belongs to the Eastern Cordillera, has a crater measuring 550 by 800 meters, almost half a kilometer deep. For the period from 1738 to the present day, about 50 eruptions were recorded in total, the penultimate one occurred in 1877. However, after 140 years, on August 15, 2015, Cotopaxi again began to show signs of activity. The first explorer of the volcano was the German Alexander von Humboldt and the Frenchman Aimé Bonpland, but they never conquered the peak. A man climbed to the top of Cotopaxi in 1872. This was done by the German geologist Wilhelm Reiss, and a year later by the volcanologist and naturalist Moritz Alfons Stübel, also a native of Germany. The history of eruptions looks like this: the first recorded was 1534, then 1742, 1768, 1864, 1877, but until 1940, ash emissions were periodically observed.

2. San Pedro, 6145 meters

It is considered one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, located in the Atacama Desert, in the province of El Loa, Antofagastan region of Chile. Not far from the top is another attraction - the San Pablo volcano, connected to San Pedro by a high saddle. According to the type of formation, San Pedro is a stratovolcano and is represented by formations such as dacites, andesites and basalts. The relative height of the peak is 2014 meters, the most recent recorded eruption was observed in 1960. The first man climbed San Pedro on July 16, 1903. The climbers were the Chilean Filemon Morales and the Frenchman George Corti.


By the end of the 19th century, people began to understand that if they did not protect environment, but only to exploit it mercilessly, then in a fairly short time ...

1. Lullaco, 6739 meters

Llullalyaco - The highest active volcano in the world, located in the Peruvian Andes, on the border between Argentina and Chile, on the plateau of the world's highest volcanoes - Puna de Atacama. At the very top, there is eternal glaciation, and the last eruption was observed here in 1877, and today Llullaco is in a state of relative rest. The volcano is a cone that continues to grow. The first ascent was made on December 1, 1952 by Billon González and Juan Harzeim. Top - archaeological site, on the territory of which at the end of the 20th century the burials of Inca children were discovered. Three mummies believed to be 4, 5 and 13 years old were sacrificed about 5 centuries ago.

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Volcanic activity is one of the forces of nature that can change the face of the Earth. And at the moment, the underground forces continue their titanic work. Created from many layers of lava, of monstrous proportions, largest volcanoes in the world lurk under the water surface or hang over nearby cities.

Which of them are considered the largest? Scientists have not yet come to a consensus. Some believe that it is necessary to build a rating according to the height above sea level. Others - that it is necessary to take into account the area over which lava flows spread, forming a new surface. Thirdly, what is most important is the human factor: the danger to human settlements.

10. Etna - height 3295 meters

The highest volcano in Europe is located on the island of Sicily and is still active. The last eruption began on December 25, 2018. Due to frequent eruptions, it is impossible to accurately determine its height - it is constantly changing. For example, over the past 30 years, Etna has "lost" more than 20 meters in height. At the moment, it rises above the island at 3295 m.

The mountain is famous for its bad character - its slopes are dotted with craters, from where lava steadily pours out every couple of months. About once a century, eruptions are larger, representing a direct danger to the human settlements inhabiting the slopes. However, this does not stop stubborn people - due to frequent eruptions, the soil on the slopes of the mountain is rich in elements useful for plants, which allow them to harvest large crops.

9. Erebus - 3794 meters

If the rest of the volcanoes are in the inhabited part of the world, then Erebus is located on the uninhabited continent of Antarctica. It is the largest active volcano in the southern polar region. Despite the lifeless ice expanses surrounding it, Erebus leads a very active life. And him geographic location- exactly above several faults in the earth's crust - this contributes a lot.

Despite the fact that people do not live near Erebus, it still affects their lives in a negative way. From the bowels of the volcano, streams of gases contained inside the Earth periodically break out, mainly methane and hydrogen, which destroy the ozone layer. It is believed that the smallest thickness of the ozone sea is exactly in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe volcano.

8. Klyuchevskaya Sopka - 4835 meters

Like Etna, the height of the Klyuchevskoy volcano is constantly changing. Although he lost about 15 meters after five years ago, he still remains the highest active volcano in Russia and Asia.

Although, compared to other peaks of Kamchatka, the Klyuchevskoy volcano loses in frequency, but it successfully compensates for this with its power. For example, the 1938 eruption lasted 13 months and caused the emergence of several craters up to 1900 m high. And the 1980 eruption tore off and threw into the air to a height of more than 500 m a block of ice with an area of ​​at least half a kilometer.

But the most spectacular and most terrible was the eruption of 1994, when an impressive ash column more than 12 km high rose above the volcano, and the plume of volcanic ash extended from the place of release for many tens of kilometers and disappeared somewhere in the ocean.

7. Orizaba - 5636 meters

“The top of the volcano must touch the sky itself,” the ancient Incas probably thought and gave it the name Sitlaltepetl, or “Star Mountain”. It is the highest active volcano in North and Central America, and the third highest peak in the region. It can be seen from afar - even many miles from the coast, the cone of Orizaba can be seen from the side of a ship moving through the Gulf of Mexico to the port of Veracruz.

Although the volcano is sleeping now, its calmness is deceptive - it led a very active existence from the moment the conquistadors came to these places until the 19th century, and in recent years, the station located at its foot has recorded constant internal activity.

6. Elbrus - 5642 meters

The most high mountain at the same time it is the largest volcano in Russia and Europe. Glaciers descending from the snow-covered surface give rise to several significant rivers that feed the plains of the Caucasus region.

In addition to beauty, a snow-white cone with two peaks and a small saddle between them is distinguished by a meek and peaceful character. Elbrus has been sleeping for a long time, and its last eruption was more than 5000 years ago. Despite the external severity, climbing Elbrus is easy and simple - climbing routes to the top of the sleeping patriarch are among the most uncomplicated.

5. Kilimanjaro - 5885 meters

Gorgeous handsome Kilimanjaro - business card Africa, its largest volcano. The sleeping giant is actually three volcanic cones that are visible from almost anywhere in neighboring Tanzania and Kenya.

Unlike many volcanoes in the rating, Kilimanjaro is the most famous volcano in the world, a typical stratovolcano. If you ask a child to draw it, most likely, he will draw a conical mountain, from the top of which ash, burning gases and very viscous lava erupt, which quickly solidifies, increasing the cone higher and higher. This is the stratovolcano. The size of Kilimanjaro is 4800 km3, and its height is 5885 m. The last time the volcano was active was at the dawn of mankind - 360,000 years ago.

4. Ojos del Salado - 6,893 meters

If the second and third places in the ranking are the largest volcanoes in the world, if you count from the seabed, then Ojos del Salado is the highest volcano in the world located above the sea surface. It rises 6,893 meters above the ground. The giant mountain is located on the border between Argentina and Chile.

Although the last active volcanic eruption occurred before the invention of writing by mankind - no data on it has been preserved - however, Ojos del Salado cannot be called sleeping in the full sense of the word. In the bowels of a huge mountain, a mysterious hidden work seems to be taking place, the echo of which reaches the inhabitants of the earth in the form of clouds of steam and ash. The last such activity took place as recently as 1993.

3. Mauna Loa - 9800 meters

Mauna Loa is an underwater volcano whose summit (along with five others) caused big island archipelago of Hawaii. The size of Mauna Loa is 40,000 km3, the area is 75,000 m2, and the height (if you count from the seabed) is as much as 9800 m. And it is the highest active volcano in the world - the last eruption of Mauna Loa was only 34 years ago, in 1984 year. In total, over the past 170 years, Mauna Loa has scared people with its activity, throwing out lava, 33 times.

2. Mauna Kea - 10058 meters

"Sister" Mauna Loa rises almost 4267 m above sea level. Seems like a little, right? However, Mauna Kea has more potential than meets the eye - its base is located deep under the water column at a depth of more than 6000 m. Mauna Kea does it. If it were located entirely on land, it would break the record of all the highest volcanoes in the world, beating the "terrestrial" favorite Ojos del Salado by almost 3000 m.

At the top of Mauna Kea, there is very low humidity and there are almost never clouds - now one of the largest observatories in the world is located there.

Mauna Kea arose over a hot spot of the earth - a place where red-hot and molten magma rises from the Earth's mantle layer. Over millions of years, molten rock emanating outward formed the surface of the entire Hawaiian archipelago. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano; this means that it has been inactive for more than 4,000 years, and the hot spot of magma outflow has shifted. However, inaction does not mean that he will doze forever.

1. The largest volcano in the world: Tamu Massif - 4000 meters

“How, only 4000 meters - and the largest volcano in the world?” The reader may be indignant. Yes, Tamu's height is not too impressive. But let's look at it in more detail from all sides.

Most of the largest natural objects in the world have been discovered by mankind long ago, at the dawn of its existence. But the Tamu massif - the largest volcano on planet Earth - long years managed to hide from people.

It is amazing that mankind knew more about the huge volcanoes on Mars than about the giant mountain under their very noses. The reason for this is both the remote location (it is located more than 1,600 kilometers east of Japan) and the depth. Its top is submerged in the thickness of the World Ocean for 2000 km. And only in 2013, scientists found out that the amazing mountain of lava at the bottom of the ocean is actually a single volcano.

Its volume is approximately equal to 2.5 million km3, and its area is more than 311 km2. Fortunately, he has been sleeping for a long time - the last eruption of Tamu was about 144 million years ago.

The most dangerous volcano in the world

The Yellowstone supervolcano is considered the most active and dangerous today. Located in national park USA, it poses a huge threat not only to the state of Wyoming, but to the entire planet. It is believed that the eruption of the Yellowstone Volcano can lead to climate change throughout the Earth.

As a result of the disaster, more than 70% of the US territory will be destroyed. Magma and ash will cover the territory with a 3-meter layer. Losses will amount to more than 10 million lives, and the territory will turn into uninhabited due to high levels of radiation.

Today, visiting the park is limited, entry is completely prohibited to some territories. Scientists carefully examine the caldera, the eruption may begin in the coming decades.

19.02.2014

In countries where there are volcanoes, such as Indonesia, they are located in such large provinces as West Java, East Java or Central Java. One of the most terrible disasters is a volcanic eruption, which can claim hundreds or even thousands of lives. It is impossible to forget about the eruption of the Krakatau volcano, the huge damage and thousands of victims. And here we present a list of the most dangerous and active volcanoes in the world. However, not all volcanoes are dangerous. is in great demand among travelers and connoisseurs of wildlife.

No. 10. Hawaii, Mauna Loa volcano

Mauna Loa is one of the five mountains that make up the island of Hawaii. Despite the fact that it is not the highest mountain, the volcanic eruption poses a high danger, since its lava is basically a liquid, which can lead to serious fires. Mauna LOA is the largest volcano in the world (in terms of volume and area), with the volume of lava, it reaches 18,000 cubic miles. The last eruption occurred on April 15, 1984.

No. 9. Philippines, Taal volcano

Approximately 50 km (31 miles) from the capital city of Manila, one of the most dangerous volcanoes, Taal. This mountain is an island in Taal Lake, which is located inside a caldera formed as a result of very strong previous eruptions (this process is similar to Lake Toba). Taal Volcano is a complex of volcanoes on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. This volcano has erupted several times, including one of the most powerful eruptions that claimed more than a thousand people.

No. 8. Papua New Guinea, Ulavun Volcano

Ulawun volcano is located in Papua New Guinea, on the Bismarck archipelago, and is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes New Guinea. Several eruptions have been recorded, one of the strongest being in 1980, with a plume of ash erupting from Ulawun reaching 60,000 feet in height and its pyroclastic flows engulfing the mountains on all sides.

No. 7. Congo, Nyiragongo Volcano

It has erupted at least 34 times since 1882. One of the worst eruptions occurred on September 17, 2002, when lava that flowed down the slopes of Nyiragongo covered about 40% of the city of Goma and left almost 120,000 people homeless. Nyiragongo is one of most active volcanoes in Africa, its activity never stops.

No. 6. Indonesia, volcano Merapi

Mount Merapi is a conical volcano located in Indonesia on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta. Much of the Merapi eruption, including the lava, continues to descend, occasionally accompanied by hot smoke capable of spreading at speeds of up to 120 km per hour. This is the most active and dangerous volcanoes in Indonesia, they became active 10,000 years ago, and since 1548 their activity has not stopped.

No. 5. Colombia, Galeras volcano

This mountain most active volcano in Colombia. Since 2000, its eruptions have occurred almost every year. This is dangerous, because the frequency of eruptions is unpredictable. The Galeras volcano has been active for at least a million years. Its location near the southern Colombian border with Ecuador would have caused hot lava to descend down the slope of Mount Galeras for 3.5 km. The latest eruption on January 3, 2010 forced the government to evacuate 8,000 people.

No. 4. Japan, Sakurajima volcano

The Sakurajima volcano is located on the island of Kyushu in Japan and is one of the the most dangerous volcanoes. On March 10, 2009, a terrible eruption occurred, when the volcano threw stones and other rocks up to 2 miles away. The intensity of the Sakurajima eruption is one of the strongest not only in Japan, but also in the world. Over the past 45 years, 73 eruptions have been recorded.

No. 3. Mexico, Popocatepetl volcano

The active volcano Popocatepetl is located at an altitude of 5426 meters above sea level. Beginning in December 1994, the dangerous activity of the volcano continued, until in 2000 there was the most powerful eruption known to history. Since 1519, 20 eruptions have been recorded. The explosion was so strong that it threw ashes over a fairly long distance.

No. 2. Italy, Vesuvius volcano

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano in Gulf of Naples, in Italy, about 9 miles east of Naples. Mount Vesuvius is the only volcano in Europe that has erupted in the last 100 years. This volcano could explode at any moment and severely punish the people living in its vicinity. A lava eruption from a volcano can reach high altitude, so in March 1994 lava splashed to a height of up to 1000 meters. The famous eruption of 79 AD destroyed the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

No. 1. USA, Yellowstone Volcano

Volcano Yellowstone - the most dangerous and active volcano in the world. Rocks and rocks ejected from this volcano can fly up to 1000 km. The volcanic eruption of lava and ash from this mountain threatens the extinction of the living and can cause a mass disaster because it will entail other volcanic activities determined by tectonic fluctuations, which will cause other explosions.