10 largest and most dangerous volcanoes on Earth.
A volcano is a geological formation that arose due to the movement of tectonic plates, their collision and the formation of faults. As a result of collisions of tectonic plates, faults are formed, and magma comes to the surface of the Earth. As a rule, volcanoes are a mountain, at the tip of which there is a crater, which is the place where the lava comes out.
Volcanoes are divided into:
- acting;
- sleeping;
- extinct;
Active volcanoes are those that have erupted in the short term (approximately 12,000 years)
Dormant volcanoes are called volcanoes that have not erupted in the near historical perspective, but their eruption is practically possible.
Extinct volcanoes include those that have not erupted in the near historical future, however, the top has the shape of a crater, but such volcanoes are unlikely to erupt.
List of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world:
1. (Hawaii, USA)
Located in the islands of Hawaii, it is one of the five volcanoes that make up the islands of Hawaii. It is the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume. It contains over 32 cubic kilometers of magma.
The volcano formed about 700,000 years ago.
The last volcanic eruption occurred in March 1984, and it lasted more than 24 days, causing great damage to people and the surrounding area.
2. Taal Volcano (Philippines)
The volcano is located on the island of Luzon, belonging to the Philippine Islands. The crater of the volcano rises 350 meters above the surface of Lake Taal and is located almost in the center of the lake.
The peculiarity of this volcano is that it is located in the crater of a very old extinct mega volcano, now this crater is filled with lake water.
In 1911, the most powerful eruption of this volcano occurred - then 1335 people died, within 10 minutes all life around the volcano died at a distance of 10 km.
The last eruption of this volcano was observed in 1965, which led to 200 human casualties.
3. Merapi Volcano (Java Island)
The name of the volcano in the literal sense is the Mountain of Fire. The volcano has been systematically erupting over the past 10,000 years. The volcano is located near the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the population of the city is several thousand people.
It was the most active volcano among the 130 volcanoes in Indonesia. It was believed that the eruption of this volcano led to the decline of the Hindu Kingdom of Matarama. The peculiarity and horror of this volcano is the speed of magma propagation, which is more than 150 km / h. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 2006 and claimed 130 lives and made more than 300,000 people homeless.
4. Santa Maria Volcano (Guatemala)
It is one of the most active volcanoes of the 20th century.
It is located at a distance of 130 kilometers from the city of Guatemala, and is located in the so-called Pacific. Ring of Fire. The Santa Maria crater was formed after it erupted in 1902. About 6,000 people died then. The last eruption occurred in March 2011.
5. Volcano Ulawun (Papua New Guinea)
Ulawun volcano, located in the region of New Guinea, began to erupt from the beginning of the 18th century. Since then, eruptions have been recorded 22 times.
In 1980, the largest volcanic eruption occurred. The ejected ash covered an area of more than 20 square kilometers.
Now this volcano is the highest peak in the region.
The last volcanic eruption occurred in the year 2010.
6. Volcano Galeras (Colombia)
The Galeras volcano is located near the border of Ecuador in Colombia. One of the most active volcanoes in Colombia, it has been systematically erupting over the past 1000 years.
The first documented volcanic eruption occurred in 1580. This volcano is considered the most dangerous because of its sudden eruptions. Along the eastern slope of the volcano is the city of Paphos (Pasto). Paphos is a residence for 450,000 people.
In 1993, six seismologists and three tourists died during a volcanic eruption.
Since then, the volcano has erupted every year, claiming thousands of lives and making many people homeless. The last volcanic eruption occurred in January 2010.
7. Volcano Sakurajima (Japan)
Until 1914, this volcanic mountain was located on a separate island in the immediate vicinity of Kyushu. After a volcanic eruption in 1914, a lava flow connected the mountain to the Ozumi Peninsula (Japan). The volcano was named as Vesuvius of the East.
It serves as a threat to the 700,000 people of Kagoshima City.
Since the year 1955, eruptions have occurred every year.
The government even built a refugee camp for the people of Kagoshima so they could find shelter during the volcanic eruption.
The last volcanic eruption occurred on August 18, 2013.
8. Nyiragongo (DR Congo)
It is one of the most active, active volcanoes in the African region. The volcano is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The volcano has been monitored since 1882. Since the beginning of observations, 34 eruptions have been recorded.
The crater in the mountain serves as a holder for the magma fluid. In 1977, there was a major eruption, neighboring villages were burned by hot lava flows. The average speed of the lava flow was 60 kilometers per hour. Hundreds of people died. The most recent eruption occurred in the year 2002, leaving 120,000 people homeless.
This volcano is a caldera - the formation of a pronounced rounded shape with a flat bottom.
The volcano is located in the Yellow National Park of the United States.
This volcano has not erupted for 640,000 years.
The question arises: How can it be an active volcano?
There are claims that 640,000 years ago, this super volcano erupted.
This eruption changed the terrain and covered half of the US in ash.
According to various estimates, the volcanic eruption cycle is 700,000 - 600,000 years. Scientists expect this volcano to erupt at any time.
This volcano could destroy life on Earth.
Volcanoes are shrouded in mystery, in ancient times they were associated with mythology, with gods and goddesses who controlled their fiery power. For millennia, volcanoes have created new lands, destroyed cities, and changed the face of our planet.
Thousands of travelers and holidaymakers were forced to cancel their travel plans in 2010 following the eruption of an Icelandic volcano. Huge volcanic ash clouds closed the airspace of much of continental Europe, which made major adjustments to flight schedules.
But there are some enthusiasts for whom volcanoes and travel are always a combination. They love adventure and will do anything to get to the next active volcano to photograph the fiery lava flows and stay surrounded by danger for a while.
Although there are thousands of volcanoes on Earth, only about 500 of them are active at the moment. And at the moment, approximately 500 million people live in close proximity to active volcanoes.
1. Kilauea Volcano ( Kilauea Volcano), Hawaii
The volcano is located in the southeastern part big island. The first recorded eruption was in 1790. The current eruption began in 1983 and is still ongoing. The volcano is located on the territory. Here you can see dramatic landscapes of burning lava flows flowing straight into the sea.
Mount Etna is located on the island in. This is the largest active volcano in Europe, it was formed around 1500 BC. e. and has since erupted about 200 times. Small eruptions occur regularly. Throughout its history, the volcano has killed thousands of people, but this does not stop the Italians. The volcanic soil is excellent for growing olives and grapes, which is why they re-settle on the slopes of Etna.
Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano located in the Indian Ocean on the eastern side of Reunion Island, is the main attraction of the island. The volcano has been active for more than 530 thousand years. Since the 17th century, there have been more than 150 eruptions, the last of which was recorded in December 2010.
The volcanic island of Stromboli is part of the Aeolian Islands located off the coast in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ancient Greeks considered these places the home of the god of the winds, Eola. The island was formed as a result of volcanic activity on the seabed millions of years ago. For the past few thousand years, the Stromboli volcano has been erupting almost continuously.
Yasru Volcano is located on the island of Tanna, located in the southern part of the New Hebrides archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Part of the Pacific Volcanic Ring of Fire. It has been continuously erupting for more than 800 years with a frequency of several times per hour. Yasru Volcano is a popular tourist destination and looks like a fantastic fiery firework at night.
The volcano is located on the former island of the same name in Kagoshima Prefecture. The top of the mountain is divided into three peaks, the southern peak of Minamidake is active. The most powerful eruption occurred in 1914, when the island of Sakurajima connected with the mainland and became a peninsula. Since 1955, the volcano has been erupting almost continuously.
7. Santa Maria Volcano ( Santa Maria Volcano), Guatemala
A large active stratovolcano, located on the Pacific coast, rises to an impressive height of 3772 meters. Activity began about 30 thousand years ago. For many millennia until the 20th century, eruptions were small and frequent. In 1902, a powerful volcanic explosion occurred that destroyed part of the mountain and caused serious damage to southwestern Guatemala.
The crater of the Chaiten volcano is a caldera with a diameter of 3 km, inside which there are several volcanic lakes. The volcano is located at an altitude of 1122 meters, 10 km., Northeast of the city of Chaiten, near Corcovado Bay in the south. A strong eruption began in the spring of 2008, and it continues to this day with varying intensity. Prior to this, the volcano had not been active for almost 10,000 years.
Mayon is an active stratovolcano in Albay Province. It is the most active volcano in the Philippine Islands and has erupted more than 50 times over the past 400 years. The first major eruption was recorded in 1616. Mayon has been erupting weakly since January 2011, which could be a sign of a major eruption in the near future. The volcano is known for its nearly perfect cone shape.
It is an active volcano located 48 km off the east coast of the North Island in the Gulf of Plenty (Gulf of Plenty). The seamount stretches from the seabed 1600 meters, and the round top of the volcano rises above sea level to a height of 321 meters. Thanks to the opportunity to visit the base of the crater without spending energy on climbing, White Island is very popular with tourists and explorers.
11. Soufriere Hills Volcano ( Soufriere Hills), the island of Montserrat
An active stratovolcano in the Lesser Antilles. For a long time he was dormant. The eruption has been ongoing since 1995 and has already destroyed the city of Plymouth and caused mass evacuations. More than half of the population has left the island.
12. Volcano Popocatepetl ( Popocatepetl), Mexico
Popocatepetl Volcano is the second highest peak in. Popocatepetl is connected to the Istaxiuatl volcano by the Paso de Cortes mountain pass ( Paso de Cortes). Only 40 km. from the volcano is the city of Puebla, history Center which is listed in . The last major eruption was in 1947. Since 1994, the volcano has periodically erupted jets of gas and ash.
Active and extinct volcanoes have always attracted people. People settled on the volcanic slopes to engage in agriculture, because the volcanic soil is very fertile.
Today, majestic geological formations attract crowds of tourists who want to admire their beauty.
Thirsty for extreme sports, even the most dangerous natural objects - active volcanoes - do not stop.
How many volcanoes are on Earth is not known for certain, despite the fact that volcanologists have been trying to establish their exact number since the advent of such a science as volcanology - too little has been studied so far at the bottom of the oceans, where many more may be hidden. The Smithsonian has cataloged 1,532 volcanoes. These data are considered the most complete to date.
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List of active volcanoes in the world
Today we will look at where there are active volcanoes in the world. Most of them are located along the coast. This zone is called the Pacific Ring of Fire. The second most volcanic zone is the Mediterranean belt.
In total, there are about 900 active volcanoes on land.
About 60 geological formations of the earth explode every year. Consider the most dangerous of the active, as well as a few impressive, but dormant.
Merapi, Indonesia
Merapi is the most impressive, having received a nickname that in Russian would sound like “Mountain of Fire”. It is located on about. Java, reaches a height of 2914 m. Large-scale emissions are carried out every 7 years, and small ones twice a year. Smoke constantly comes out of its crater. One of the most significant tragedies associated with activity broke out in 1006. Then a ferocious element destroyed the Javanese-Indian state of Mataram.
In 1673, another powerful eruption broke out, as a result of which the towns and villages located at the foot were destroyed. In 1930, volcanic eruptions killed 1,300 people.
The last release of Merapi occurred in 2010, when 350,000 people needed to be evacuated. Some of them decided to return and died in the lava flow. 353 people suffered then.
In that last catastrophe, Fire Mountain threw out a mixture of ash and gas at a speed of 100 km / h, while the temperature reached 1000 ° C.
Sakurajima, Japan
Sakurajima is located on about. Kyushu. Once the mountain stood separately, but in one of the eruptions, with the help of lava, it joined the Osumi Peninsula. It rises to a height of 1117 m. It consists of three peaks, the highest of which is the northern one.
The activity of Sakurajima increases every year, and until 1946 there were only 6 releases. It has been erupting continuously since 1955.
Note: one of the largest disasters occurred in 1914, when the elements claimed the lives of 35 people. In 2013, 1097 emissions of insignificant force were recorded, and in 2014 - 471.
Aso, Japan
Aso is another volcanic giant about. Kyushu. Its height is 1592 m. This is a caldera, in the middle of which there are 17 cones. The most active of them is Nakadake.
Aso last erupted lava in 2011. Since then, there have been about 2500 aftershocks. In 2016, the ejection process was accompanied by an earthquake.
It is worth noting: despite the danger associated with the extreme activity of Aso, about 50 thousand people live in the caldera, and the crater itself has become a popular object of active tourism. In winter, skiing is possible on the slopes of Aso.
Nyiragongo, Republic of the Congo
Nyiragongo belongs to the Virunga mountain system, is the most active in Africa. The height is 3470 m. In its crater there is a huge bubbling lava lake, the largest in the world. During an eruption, lava flows out almost completely, destroying everything around in a matter of hours. After that, it fills the crater again. Due to the military situation in the Republic of the Congo, the crater has not yet been sufficiently explored.
Since the end of the 19th century alone, 34 eruptions of the formidable Nyiragongo have been noted. Its lava is very liquid because it does not contain enough silicates. For this reason, it spreads rapidly, reaching a speed of 100 km / h. This feature makes Nyiragongo one of the most dangerous on the planet. In 1977, a huge mass of lava hit the nearby town. The cause was the rupture of the crater wall. The disaster claimed the lives of several hundred people.
In 2002, another large-scale eruption occurred, then 400 thousand people were evacuated, 147 of whom died. Despite the fact that this Nyiragongo is considered the most dangerous in the world, about half a million people live in nearby settlements.
Galeras, Colombia
It rises above the Colombian town of Pasto, with about 500 thousand inhabitants. Galeras reaches a height of 4276 m. In recent years, Galeras has been constantly active, throwing out volcanic ash.
One of the largest eruptions was recorded in 1993. The element led to the death of 6 volcanologists and 3 tourists in the crater. The disaster came unexpectedly, after a long lull.
One of the recent eruptions occurred in August 2010. Colombian authorities periodically evacuate local residents as Galeras is active.
Colima, Mexico
Spread Colima on the Pacific coast. Consists of 2 peaks, one of which is extinct. In 2016, Colima became active, releasing a column of ash.
The last time he reminded of himself was on January 19, 2017. At the time of the disaster, a cloud of ash and smoke rose 2 km.
Vesuvius, Italy
Vesuvius has 3 cones. Strong eruptions alternate with periods of low-power activity. Throws out a huge amount of ash and gases. In 79, Vesuvius shook all of Italy, destroying the cities of Pompeii and Stabia. They were covered with a thick layer of ash, reaching up to 8 m. The city of Herculaneum was flooded with mud flows, as mud rains accompanied the eruption.
In 1631, an eruption was noted that claimed the lives of 4,000 people. It turned out to be weaker than in 79, but the slopes of Vesuvius have since been inhabited by more people, which led to such victims. The volcano after this event became lower by 168 m. The eruption of 1805 destroyed almost the entire Naples and claimed the lives of 26 thousand people.
The last time Vesuvius erupted lava flows in 1944, leveling the cities of San Sebastiano and Massa. The number of victims was 27 people. After that, the volcano subsided. A volcano observatory was built here to track its activities.
Etna, Italy
Etna is the highest volcano in Europe. It is located in the northern hemisphere in the east. Its height changes after each eruption, now it is 3429 m above sea level.
Etna has, according to various estimates, 200-400 side craters. Every 3 months, one of them erupts. Quite often, this leads to the destruction of villages, spread out nearby.
Despite the dangers, the Sicilians densely populate the slopes of Etna. It even created a national park.
Popocatepetl, Mexico
The second highest peak in Mexico, its name means "smoking hill". It is located 70 km from Mexico City. The height of the mountain is 5500 meters.
Over 500 years, Popocatepetl has erupted lava over 15 times, the last time it happened in 2015.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Russia
This is the most high peak. Its height ranges from 4750-4850 m above sea level. The slopes are covered with lateral craters, of which there are more than 80.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka reminds of itself every 3 years, each of its activity lasts several months and is sometimes accompanied by ashfalls. The most active year was 2016, when the volcano exploded 55 times.
The most destructive was the catastrophe of 1938, when Klyuchevskaya Sopka was active for 13 months.
Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA
Mauna Loa can be found in the central part of the island of Hawaii. It rises to 4169 m above sea level. Mauna Loa is of the Hawaiian type.
His salient feature- outpourings of lava, passing without explosions and ash emissions. Lava erupts through the central vent, cracks and fractures.
Cotopaxi, Ecuador
Cotopaxi belongs to the Andes mountain system. This is the second highest peak, rising to 5911 m.
The first eruption was recorded in 1534. The eruption had the most devastating consequences in 1768. Then the ejection of lava and sulfur was accompanied by an earthquake. The disaster destroyed the city of Latacunga with its surroundings. The eruption was so strong that traces of it were found in the Amazon basin.
Iceland
There are about three dozen volcanoes on the island. Among them there are long-extinct ones, but there are also active ones.
This island is the only one in the world where so many geological formations are located. Icelandic territory is a real volcanic plateau.
Extinct and dormant volcanoes
Volcanoes that have lost their activity are extinct and dormant. It is safe to visit them, so these sites are more popular among travelers. On the map, such inactive geological formations are indicated by special icons: black asterisks, in contrast to active ones, marked with red asterisks. Even for the locations of these fiery mountains, there are letter designations "vlk" or "vk". For mud volcanoes, which send a message about their activity in the form of flows not of magma, but of mud - "mud". Examples of dormant and extinct volcanoes - see below.
What is the difference between an extinct and dormant volcano? Extinct ones do not show active activity for at least 1 million years. Presumably, their magma has already cooled down and will not be able to explode. True, volcanologists do not exclude that a new volcano may form in their place.
Aconcagua, Argentina
Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Andes. It rises to 6960.8 m. The mountain was formed at the junction of the Nazca and South American lithospheric plates. Today the slopes of the mountain are covered with glaciers.
Aconcagua is of interest to climbers as the highest peak in South America, as well as the highest extinct volcano.
Kilimanjaro, Africa
If someone is asked to name the most high mountain Africa, he will name - the most famous mountain on the African mainland. It consists of 3 peaks, the highest of them is Kibo (5,891.8 m).
Kilimanjaro is considered dormant, now only gases and sulfur come out of its crater. It is expected to be active when the mountain collapses, leading to a massive eruption. Scientists consider the peak of Kibo to be the most formidable.
Yellowstone, USA
Yellowstone is located on the territory of the national park of the same name. The top belongs to the supervolcanoes, of which there are 20 on Earth. Yellowstone is extremely dangerous because it erupts with incredible force, and can affect the planet's climate.
Yellowstone has erupted three times. The last eruption took place 640 thousand years ago, at the same time a caldera cavity was formed.
At this volcano, lava accumulates in a special reservoir, where it melts the surrounding rocks, becoming thicker. This reservoir is very close to the surface, which worries volcanologists.
The eruption is stopped by water flows that cool the magma bubble and break out in the form of geysers. Since there is still a lot of energy left inside the bubble, it is expected to burst out in the near future.
The US authorities are taking all measures to prevent the eruption of Yellowstone, because it can kill 87 thousand people. One of the projects is the installation of a geothermal station, but this will require drilling wells that can provoke a catastrophe not only in the country, but throughout the planet.
Elbrus, Russia
The Caucasian peak is attractive for climbers today. Its height is 5621 m. This is a dormant formation in which volcanic processes occur. The last eruption took place presumably 1.7 thousand years ago, 500 years ago it released a column of ash.
The activity of Elbrus is evidenced by geothermal springs located nearby. Scientists disagree on when to expect the next eruption, but it is known for sure that it will lead to the convergence of the mudflow.
Big and Small Ararat, Turkey
Big Ararat (5165 m) is located on the Armenian Highlands, 11 km from it is Small Ararat (3927 m).
The eruptions of Greater Ararat have always been accompanied by destruction. The last tragedy broke out in 1840 and was accompanied by a strong earthquake. Then 10,000 people died.
Kazbek, Georgia
Kazbek is located in Georgia. The locals call it Mkinvartsveri, which translates as "ice mountain". The height of the giant is 5033.8 m.
Kazbek is not active today, but it is classified as potentially dangerous. It last erupted in 650 BC.
The mountain has very steep slopes, mudflow landslides are possible.
Conclusion
Volcanoes are among the most attractive tourist sites. Today, they are no longer so dangerous, since volcanologists can predict their activity. Research is being conducted on the use of the energy of geological formations for the benefit of mankind.
In an effort to go to the top of a volcano, especially an active one, it is necessary to collect information about its condition, listen to the forecasts of seismologists, since tragic incidents among tourists often occur.
We bring to your attention an interesting video about the active volcanoes of the world:
In ancient Rome, the name Vulcan was given to a mighty god, patron of fire and blacksmithing. We call volcanoes geological formations on the surface of the land or on the ocean floor, through which lava comes to the surface from the deep interior of the earth.
Often accompanied by earthquakes and tsunamis, major volcanic eruptions have had a significant impact on human history.
Geographic feature. Significance of volcanoes
During a volcanic eruption, magma comes to the surface through cracks in the earth's crust, forming lava, volcanic gases, ash, volcanic rocks, and pyroclastic flows. Despite the danger posed to humans by these mighty natural objects, it was thanks to the study of magma, lava and other products of volcanic activity that we managed to gain knowledge about the structure, composition and properties of the lithosphere.
It is believed that thanks to volcanic eruptions, protein forms of life could appear on our planet: eruptions released carbon dioxide and other gases necessary for the formation of the atmosphere. And volcanic ash, settling, became an excellent fertilizer for plants due to the potassium, magnesium and phosphorus contained in it.
The role of volcanoes in regulating the climate on Earth is invaluably important: during the eruption, our planet “lets off steam” and cools, which largely saves us from the consequences of global warming.
Characteristics of volcanoes
Volcanoes differ from other mountains not only in composition, but also in strict external outlines. From the craters at the top of the volcanoes, deep narrow ravines formed by streams of water stretch down. There are also entire volcanic mountains formed by several nearby volcanoes and their eruptions.
However, a volcano is not always a mountain breathing fire and heat. Even active volcanoes can look like straight cracks on the surface of the planet. There are especially many such "flat" volcanoes in Iceland (the most famous of them, Eldgja, has a length of 30 km).
Types of volcanoes
Depending on the degree of volcanic activity, there are: current, conditionally active and dormant ("sleeping") volcanoes. The division of volcanoes according to activity is very conditional. There are cases when volcanoes, considered extinct, began to show seismic activity and even erupt.
Depending on the shape of volcanoes, there are:
- Stratovolcanoes- classic "fire mountains" or volcanoes of the central type of a cone-shaped shape with a crater at the top.
- Volcanic crevices or fissures- Faults in the earth's crust through which lava comes to the surface.
- calderas- depressions, volcanic cauldrons formed as a result of the failure of a volcanic peak.
- Shield- are called so because of the high fluidity of the lava, which, flowing for many kilometers in wide streams, forms a kind of shield.
- lava domes - formed by the accumulation of viscous lava above the vent.
- Cinder or tephra cones- have the shape of a truncated cone, consist of loose materials (ash, volcanic stones, boulders, etc.).
- complex volcanoes.
In addition to terrestrial lava volcanoes, there are underwater and mud(spewing liquid mud, not magma) Underwater volcanoes are more active than terrestrial ones, through them 75% of the lava erupted from the bowels of the Earth is ejected.
Types of volcanic eruptions
Depending on the viscosity of the lavas, the composition and amount of eruption products, 4 main types of volcanic eruptions are distinguished.
Effusive or Hawaiian type- relatively quiet eruption of lava formed in craters. The gases released during the eruption form lava fountains from drops, filaments and lumps of liquid lava.
Extrusion or dome type- accompanied by the release of gases in large quantities, leading to explosions and emissions of black clouds from ash and lava debris.
Mixed or strombolian type- abundant lava output, accompanied by small explosions with ejection of pieces of slag and volcanic bombs.
hydroexplosive type- characteristic of underwater volcanoes in shallow water, accompanied by a large amount of steam released when magma contacts water.
The largest volcanoes in the world
The highest volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado located on the border between Chile and Argentina. Its height is 6891 m, the volcano is considered extinct. Among the active "fire mountains" the highest is Llullaillaco- volcano of the Chilean-Argentine Andes with a height of 6,723 m.
The largest (among terrestrial) in terms of area is a volcano mauna loa on the island of Hawaii (height - 4,169 m, volume - 75,000 km 3). mauna loa also one of the most powerful and active volcanoes in the world: since its “awakening” in 1843, the volcano has erupted 33 times. The largest volcano on the planet is a huge volcanic massif Tamu(area 260,000 km 2), located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
But the strongest eruption for the entire historical period was produced by a “low” Krakatoa(813 m) in 1883 in the Malay Archipelago in Indonesia. Vesuvius(1281) - one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, the only active volcano in continental Europe - is located in southern Italy near Naples. Exactly Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii in 79.
In Africa, the highest volcano is Kilimanjaro (5895), and in Russia - a two-peak stratovolcano Elbrus (North Caucasus) (5642 m - western peak, 5621 m - eastern).
Volcanoes are geological formations on the Earth's surface where magma comes out in the form of lava. These mountains are not only on Earth, but also on other planets. So, the Olympus volcano on Mars reaches a height of several tens of kilometers. Such formations are dangerous not only with lava, but also with the release of a large amount of dust and ash into the atmosphere.
The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 made a lot of noise. Although it was not the most destructive in terms of strength, its proximity to Europe led to the impact of emissions on the transport system of the mainland. However, history knows many other cases of the destructive effects of volcanoes. Let's talk about the ten most famous and large-scale of them.
Vesuvius, Italy. On August 24, 79, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, which destroyed not only the well-known city of Pompeii, but also the cities of Stabiae and Herculaneum. Ashes even reached Egypt and Syria. It would be a mistake to assume that the catastrophe destroyed Pompeii alive, out of 20 thousand people, only 2 thousand died. Among the victims was the famous scientist Pliny the Elder, who approached the volcano on a ship in order to explore it and thus found himself practically at the epicenter of the disaster. During the excavations of Pompeii, it was found that under a multi-meter layer of ash, the life of the city froze at the time of the disaster - objects remained in their places, houses with furnishings, people and animals were found. Today, Vesuvius remains the only active volcano in the continental part of Europe, more than 80 of its eruptions are known in total, the very first one supposedly happened 9 thousand years ago, and the last one took place in 1944. Then the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano were destroyed, and 57 people died. Naples is located 15 kilometers from Vesuvius, the height of the mountain is 1281 meters.
Tambora, Sumbawa Island. The cataclysm on this Indonesian island happened on April 5, 1815. This is the largest number dead people and by the volume of ejected material in the modern history of the eruption. The catastrophe associated with the eruption and the ensuing famine killed 92,000 people. In addition, the Tambora culture, which Europeans had only met shortly before, completely disappeared from the face of the earth. The volcano lived for 10 days, decreasing during this time in height by 1400 meters. Ashes for 3 days hid the territory within a radius of 500 kilometers from the sun. According to the testimony of the British authorities in those days in Indonesia, it was impossible to see anything at arm's length. Most of the island of Sumbawa was covered with a meter layer of ash, under the weight of which even stone houses crumbled. 150-180 cubic kilometers of gases and pyroclassics were thrown into the atmosphere. The volcano therefore had a strong impact on the climate of the entire planet - ash clouds poorly transmitted the rays of the Sun, which led to a noticeable decrease in temperature. 1816 became known as "the year without summer", in Europe and America the snow melted only in June, and the first frosts appeared already in August. The result was massive crop failures and famine.
Taupo, New Zealand. 27 thousand years ago, a strong volcanic eruption occurred on one of the islands, surpassing even Tamboru in strength. Geologists consider this cataclysm the last such force in the history of the planet. As a result of the work of the supervolcano, Lake Taupo was formed, which today is the object of attention of tourists, as it is very beautiful. The last eruption of the giant took place in 180 AD. The ash and the blast destroyed half of all life on the North Island, about 100 cubic kilometers of tectonic matter fell into the atmosphere. The speed of the rock eruption was 700 km/h. The ash that rose into the sky painted sunsets and sunrises all over the world with purple, which was reflected in the ancient Roman and Chinese chronicles.
Krakatau, Indonesia. The volcano, located between the islands of Sumatra and Java, produced on August 27, 1883 the largest explosion of its kind in modern history. During the cataclysm, a tsunami up to 30 meters high appeared, which simply washed away 295 villages and cities, while about 37 thousand people died. The roar from the explosion was heard on 8% of the entire surface of the planet, and pieces of lava were thrown into the air to an unprecedented height of 55 kilometers. The wind carried the volcanic ash so much that after 10 days it was found at a distance of 5330 kilometers from the scene. The mountain-island then split into 3 small parts. The wave from the explosion circled the earth from 7 to 11 times, geologists believe that the explosion was 200 thousand times stronger than the nuclear strike on Hiroshima. Krakatau woke up before, so, in 535, his activity significantly changed the climate of the planet, perhaps then the islands of Java and Sumatra were divided. On the site of the volcano destroyed in 1883 during an underwater eruption in 1927, a new volcano, Anak Krakatau, appeared, which is still quite active today. Its height is now 300 meters due to new activities.
Santorini, Greece. Approximately one and a half thousand years BC, a volcanic eruption occurred on the island of Thera, which put an end to the entire Cretan civilization. Sulfur covered all the fields, which made further farming unthinkable. According to some versions, it is Thera that is the very Atlantis described by Plato. Someone also believes that the eruption of Santorini entered the annals, like a pillar of fire seen by Moses, and the parted sea is nothing more than the consequences of the disappearance of the island of Thera under water. However, the Volcano continued its activity, in 1886 its eruption lasted a whole year, while pieces of lava flew straight out of the sea and rose to a height of 500 meters. As a result - several new islands nearby.
Etna, Sicily. About 200 eruptions of this Italian volcano are known. Among them were quite powerful ones, so, in 1169, about 15 thousand people died during the cataclysm. Today, Etna remains an active volcano with a height of 3329 meters, waking up about once every 150 years and destroying one of the nearby villages. Why don't people leave the slopes of the mountain? The fact is that the frozen lava helps the soil to become more fertile, which is why the Sicilians settle here. In 1928, besides, a miracle happened - the flow of red-hot lava stopped in front of the Catholic procession. This inspired the believers so much that in 1930 a chapel was erected on this site, 30 years later the lava stopped in front of it. The Italians protect these places, so in 1981 the local government created a reserve around Etna. It is curious that a blues music festival is even arranged on a calm volcano. Etna is quite large, exceeding the size of Vesuvius by 2.5 times. The volcano has from 200 to 400 side craters, lava erupts from one of them every three months.
Montagne Pele, Martinique island. The volcanic eruption on the island began in April 1902, and on May 8 a whole cloud of vapors, gases and red-hot lava hit the city of Saint-Pierre, located 8 kilometers away. A few minutes later he was gone, and of the 17 ships that were in the harbor at that moment, only one managed to survive. The ship "Roddam" escaped from the clutches of the elements with broken masts, smoking and littered with ashes. Of the 28 thousand inhabitants of the city, two escaped, one of them was called Opost Siparis, and he was sentenced to death. He was saved by the thick stone walls of the prison. Subsequently, the prisoner was pardoned by the governor, spending the rest of his life traveling the world with stories about what happened. The force of the blow was such that the monument on the square, weighing several tons, was thrown aside, and the heat was such that even the bottles melted. It is interesting that the outpouring of liquid lava did not directly occur, the impact was caused by vapors, gases and pulverized lava. Later, a sharp lava plug 375 meters high came out of the crater of the volcano. It also turned out that the bottom of the sea near Martinique had sunk several hundred meters. The city of Saint-Pierre, by the way, became famous for the birth of Napoleon's wife, Josephine Beauharnais, in it.
Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia. A volcano 5400 meters high, located in the Andes, splashed out lava flows on November 13, 1985, and the main blow fell on the city of Armero, located 50 kilometers away. It took only 10 minutes for the lava to destroy it. The death toll exceeded 21 thousand people, and in total at that time about 29 thousand lived in Armero. Sadly, no one listened to the volcanologists' information about the impending eruption, since the specialists' information was repeatedly not confirmed.
Pinatubo, Philippines. Until June 12, 1991, the volcano was considered extinct for 611 years. The first signs of activity appeared in April and the Philippine authorities managed to evacuate all residents within a radius of 20 kilometers. The eruption itself claimed the lives of 875 people, while the US naval base and the US strategic air base, located 18 kilometers from Pinatubo, were destroyed. The ejected ash covered an area of 125,000 km2 of the sky. The consequences of the disaster were a general decrease in temperature by half a degree and a reduction in the ozone layer, due to which a very large ozone hole formed over Antarctica. The height of the volcano before the eruption was 1486 meters, and after - 1745 meters. At the site of Pinatubo, a crater with a diameter of 2.5 kilometers was formed. Today, earthquakes regularly occur in this area, preventing any construction within a radius of tens of kilometers.
Katmai, Alaska. The eruption of this volcano on June 6, 1912 was one of the largest in the 20th century. The height of the ash column was 20 kilometers, and the sound reached the capital of Alaska, the city of Juneau, located 1200 kilometers away. At a distance of 4 kilometers from the epicenter, the ash layer reached 20 meters. Summer in Alaska turned out to be very cold, as the rays could not break through the cloud. After all, thirty billion tons of rocks were taken into the air! In the crater itself, a lake with a diameter of 1.5 kilometers formed, and it became the main attraction of the lake formed here in 1980. national park and the Katmai Wildlife Sanctuary. Today, the height of this active volcano is 2047 meters, and the last known eruption occurred in 1921.
