10 active volcanoes and where they are. Volcanoes: characteristics and types

Volcanoes are attractive due to their beauty, but they can be fraught with destructive power, causing mass deaths and severe destruction. Although volcanic eruptions themselves are relatively rare and controlled by scientists, they still represent a huge source of danger for people who choose their own housing next to them. Here is a list of the top 10 active volcanoes:

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Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

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

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

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Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

The most active volcano in Papua New Guinea is Ulawun, which is also one of the most dangerous. This is the most high volcano and the most high peak in the Bismarck archipelago. The very first recorded eruption of Ulawun occurred in 1700. From then until now, 22 eruptions have occurred. Several thousand people constantly live next to the volcano. During a major eruption in 1980, ash was thrown up to a height of 18 kilometers, producing pyroclastic flows that swept across the flanks of the volcano and devastated an area of \u200b\u200b20 square kilometers.

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Nyiragongo, Congo

One of the most active volcanoes in Africa and one of eight volcanoes in the Virunga mountains. Since 1882, Nyiragongo has erupted at least 34 times. The most recent devastating eruption of Nyiragongo volcano occurred on January 17, 2002, when a red-hot lava destroyed 40% of the city of Goma.

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Merapi, Indonesia

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

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Galeras, Colombia

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

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

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

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

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Vesuvius, Italy

Mount Vesuvius is located 9 km east of Naples at a short distance from the coast. It is the only volcano in Europe where eruptions have occurred over the past hundred years. The eruptions of Vesuvius occurred many times, the latter occurred in 1944. Today, Vesuvius is considered one of the most destructive volcanoes in the world due to the 3 million people living nearby, and the high probability of its eruptions.

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Yellowstone Caldera, USA

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

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Conclusion

These were the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world. We hope you enjoyed our material.

Volcanoes on Earth are divided into two types:

Active (active) - erupted in the historical period of time or during the Holocene (in the last 10 thousand years). Some active volcanoes can be considered sleepingbut eruptions are still possible on them.
Inactive (extinct) - ancient volcanoes that have lost their activity.

On land, there are about 900 active volcanoes (see the list of the largest volcanoes below), in the seas and oceans their number is being specified.

The period of volcanic eruption can last from several days to several million years.

On other planets

Types of volcanic buildings

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

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

Distinguish also monogenic and polygenic volcanoes. The former arose as a result of a single eruption, the latter as a result of multiple eruptions. Viscous, acidic in composition, low-temperature magma, extruding from the vent, forms extrusive domes (Montagne-Pelet needle, 1902).

Thyroid (shield) volcanoes. Formed as a result of repeated emissions of liquid lava. This form is typical for volcanoes that spew low-viscosity basaltic lava: it flows for a long time both from the central vent and from the side craters of the volcano. Lava spreads evenly for many kilometers; gradually a wide “shield” with gentle edges is formed from these layers. An example is the volcano Mauna Loa in Hawaii, where lava flows directly into the ocean; its height from the foot at the bottom of the ocean is about ten kilometers (the underwater base of the volcano is 120 km long and 50 km wide).
Slag cones. During the eruption of such volcanoes, large fragments of porous slag are piled around the crater in layers in the form of a cone, and small fragments form sloping slopes at the foot; with each eruption, the volcano is getting higher. This is the most common type of volcanoes on land. In height, they are no more than a few hundred meters. Often slag cones form as side cones large volcano, or as separate centers of eruptive activity during fracture eruptions. Example - several groups of slag cones appeared during the last eruptions of the Flat Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka in 1975-76 and in 2012-2013.
Stratovolcanoes, or “layered volcanoes”. Periodically erupt lava (viscous and thick, quickly solidifying) and pyroclastic substance - a mixture of hot gas, ash and hot stones; as a result, deposits on their cone (acute, with concave slopes) alternate. The lava of such volcanoes also flows from cracks, solidifying on the slopes in the form of ribbed corridors that serve as a support for the volcano. Examples are Etna, Vesuvius, Fuji.
Dome Volcanoes. They are formed when viscous granite magma, rising from the bowels of the volcano, cannot drain down the slopes and freezes at the top, forming a dome. She plugs his vent, like a cork, which over time is knocked out by the gases accumulated under the dome. Such a dome is now forming over the crater of the St. Helens volcano in the northwestern United States, formed during the 1980 eruption.
Difficult (mixed, compound) volcanoes.

Baransky Volcano. Iturup Island.

Volcanic eruption

Hawaiian type

Strombolian type

Volcanic eruptions are geological emergencies that often lead to natural disasters. The eruption process can last from several hours to many years.

Under the eruption is understood the process of entering from the subsoil to the surface of a significant amount of hot and hot volcanic products in a gaseous, liquid and solid state. During eruptions, volcanic structures are formed - a characteristic form of a hill, confined to channels and cracks, through which eruption products enter the surface from magma chambers. Usually they have the shape of a cone with a depression - a crater on top. In the case of its subsidence and collapse, a caldera is formed - an extensive circus-shaped basin with steep walls and a relatively flat bottom.

The generally accepted assessment of the strength of an eruption, or its explosiveness, without taking into account the individual characteristics of the volcano, is made according to the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale. It was proposed in 1982 by American scientists C.A. Newhall and S.Self. It allows us to give an overall assessment of the eruption by its effect on the Earth's atmosphere. An indicator of the strength of a volcanic eruption, regardless of its volume and location, on the VEI scale is the volume of erupted products - tephra and the height of the ash column - an eruptive column.

Among the various classifications, common types of eruptions are distinguished:

Hawaiian type - emissions of liquid basaltic lava, lava lakes are often formed, lava flow can spread over long distances.
Strombolic type - lava is thicker and is ejected from the vent by frequent explosions. The formation of cones from ash, volcanic bombs and lapilli is characteristic.
Plinian type - powerful rare explosions that can throw tephra to a height of several tens of kilometers.
Peleus type - eruptions, the hallmark of which is the formation of extrusive domes and pyroclastic flows ("scorching clouds").
Gas (freotic) type - eruptions in which only volcanic gases reach the crater and rock is ejected. Magma is not observed.
Underwater type - eruptions occurring under water. As a rule, they are accompanied by emissions of pumice.

Postvolcanic phenomena

After eruptions, when the activity of the volcano either ceases forever, or it has been “dormant” for thousands of years, processes associated with cooling of the magma chamber, called postvolcanic. These include:

During eruptions, a volcanic structure sometimes collapses with the formation of a caldera - a large hollow with a diameter of up to 16 km and a depth of up to 1000 m. When magma rises, the external pressure weakens, the gases and liquid products associated with it break to the surface, and a volcano erupts. If ancient rocks are not brought to the surface of magma, and water vapor prevails among the gases formed during the heating of groundwater, then such an eruption is called phreatic.

Eiffel Volcanic Domes

The lava that has risen to the earth’s surface does not always reach this surface. It only raises layers of sedimentary rocks and solidifies in the form of a compact body (laccolith), forming a peculiar system of low mountains. In Germany, the Röhn and Eiffel regions belong to such systems. At the latter, another post-volcanic phenomenon is also observed in the form of lakes filling the craters of former volcanoes, which failed to form a characteristic volcanic cone (the so-called Maars).

Geysers are found in areas with volcanic activity, where hot rocks are located close to the surface of the earth. In such places, groundwater is heated to a boiling point, and a fountain of hot water and steam is periodically thrown into the air. In New Zealand and Iceland, the energy of geysers and hot springs is used to generate electricity. One of the most famous geysers in the world is the Old Servant Geyser in Yellowstone national park (USA), which every 70 minutes shoots a stream of water and steam to a height of 45 m.

Mud volcanoes are small volcanoes through which not magma but liquid mud and gases from the earth's crust come to the surface. Mud volcanoes are much smaller than ordinary ones. Mud usually comes to the surface of the cold, but the gases erupted by the mud volcanoes often contain methane and can catch fire during the eruption, creating a picture that looks like an eruption of an ordinary volcano in miniature.

Heat sources

One of the unresolved problems of the manifestation of volcanic activity is the determination of the heat source necessary for the local melting of the basalt layer or mantle. Such melting should be narrowly localized, since the passage of seismic waves indicates that the crust and upper mantle are usually in a solid state. Moreover, thermal energy should be enough to melt huge volumes of solid material. For example, in the United States in the Columbia River Basin (states of Washington and Oregon) the volume of basalts is more than 820 thousand km³; The same large strata of basalts are found in Argentina (Patagonia), India (Deccan Plateau) and South Africa (the High Karu Upland). There are currently three hypotheses. Some geologists believe that melting is due to local high concentrations of radioactive elements, but such concentrations in nature seem unlikely; others suggest that tectonic disturbances in the form of faults and faults are accompanied by the release of thermal energy. There is another point of view, according to which the upper mantle is in a solid state under high pressure, and when the pressure drops due to cracking, the so-called phase transition occurs - the solid rocks of the mountain mantle melt and liquid lava flows onto the surface of the earth through cracks.

Extraterrestrial Volcanoes

Volcanoes are not only on Earth, but also on other planets and their satellites. The first highest mountain in the solar system is the Martian volcano Olympus, 21.2 km high.

On some planetary satellites (Enceladus and Triton) at low temperatures, the erupted “magma” does not consist of molten rock, but of water and light substances. This type of eruption cannot be attributed to ordinary volcanism, therefore this phenomenon is called cryovolcanism.

Famous eruptions

The eruption of the volcano Krakatau in Indonesia in 1883 caused the loudest roar ever heard in history; sound was heard at a distance of more than 4800 km from the volcano. Atmospheric shock waves circled the Earth seven times and were still visible for 5 days. During the eruption, more than 36,000 people died, 165 villages were destroyed and another 132nd were damaged (mainly through the tsunami that followed the eruption). Volcanic eruptions after 1927 formed a new volcanic island called Anak-Krakatau.
Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawaii is the most active volcano at the moment. The last eruption continues since 1983, and the lava ducts reach the ocean.
In 2010, the eruption of Eyjafjädlajökull volcano caused the cancellation of more than 60 thousand flights throughout Europe.

Recent eruptions

Scientists have observed eruptions on 560 volcanoes. The last largest of them are presented in the list:

The largest volcanoes on Earth

The largest areas of volcanic activity are South America, Central America, Java, Melanesia, the Japanese Islands, the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, the northwestern United States, Alaska, Hawaii, the Aleutian Islands, Iceland and others.

List of the largest active volcanoes

Volcano name	Location	Height,	Region
Ojos del Salado	Chilean Andes	6893	South America
Lulhaillaco	Chilean Andes	6723	South America
San pedro	Central Andes	6159	South America
Cotopaxi	Equatorial Andes	5911	South America
Kilimanjaro	Masai Highlands	5895	Africa
Misty	Central Andes (south of Peru)	5821	South America
Orisaba	Mexican highlands	5700
Elbrus	Greater Caucasus	5642	Europe
Popocatepetl	Mexican highlands	5455	North and Central America
Sangai	Equatorial Andes	5230	South America
Tolima	Northwest Andes	5215	South America
Klyuchevskaya Sopka	kamchatka Peninsula	4850	Asia
Rainier	Cordilleras	4392	North and Central America
Tahumulco	Central America	4217	North and Central America
Mauna Loa	about. Hawaii	4169	Oceania
Cameroon	Array Cameroon	4100	Africa
Ergiyas	Anatolian Plateau	3916	Asia
Kerinci	about. Sumatra	3805	Asia
Erebus	about. Ross	3794	Antarctica
Fuji	about. Honshu	3776	Asia
Teide	Canary Islands	3718	Africa
Semeru	about. Java	3676	Asia
Ichinskaya Sopka	kamchatka Peninsula	3621	Asia
Kronotskaya Sopka	kamchatka Peninsula	3528	Asia
Koryakskaya Sopka	kamchatka Peninsula	3456	Asia
Etna	about. Sicily	3340	Europe
Shiveluch	kamchatka Peninsula	3283	Asia
Lassen peak	Cordilleras	3187	North and Central America
Lyama	South Andes	3060	South America
Apo	about. Mindanao	2954	Asia
Ruapehu	New Zealand	2796	Australia Oceania
Pectusan	Korean peninsula	2750	Asia
Avachinsky Sopka	kamchatka Peninsula	2741	Asia
Alaid	Kuril Islands	2339	Asia
Katmay	alaska Peninsula	2047	North and Central America
Chum	Kuril Islands	1819	Asia
Haleakala	about. Maui	1750	Oceania
Hekla	about. Iceland	1491	Europe
Montagnet-Pele	about. Martinique	1397	North and Central America
Vesuvius	Apennine Peninsula	1277	Europe
Kilauea	about. Hawaii	1247	Oceania
Stromboli	Aeolian Islands	926	Europe
Krakatau	Sunda Strait	813	Asia

The list of the largest eruptions in the history of the Earth is constantly updated as the issue is explored.

In culture

Bryullov K.P. Last day of Pompeii. 1830-1833

Karl Bryullov's painting “The Last Day of Pompeii”, Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation;
The films "Volcano", "Dante's Peak" and a scene from the film "".
The volcano Eyyafyadlayokyudl in Iceland during his eruption became the hero of a huge number of humorous programs, television news stories, news and folk art, discussing events in the world.

Volcanic activity is a regular and harsh reminder that the planet on which we live has an ever-changing geology. Located along the edges of the tectonic plates, the volcano erupts through cracks, boiling magma, ashes and gases escape from under the earth's surface to explode in response to changes in the location of the tectonic plates.

The catastrophic nature of erupting volcanoes in many ancient civilizations was attributed to the stormy mood swings of the gods. We now have a more scientific understanding of volcanic eruptions, but this can still be unpredictable and dangerous. We present to your attention the top ten operating and most dangerous volcanoes of 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 lava flows become fast and pose a danger to nearby cities 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 Lake Taal. Its proximity to Manila makes it a constant threat to more than 1.6 million inhabitants. Since 1572, the eruption of the volcano occurred 33 times. Visitors are advised to view the volcano from afar, although many tourists do not follow this recommendation.

8. Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

Volcano Ulawun is one of the most active on the planet. He experienced 22 major eruptions recorded from the 1700s, and residents of nearby areas report that they regularly observe minor eruptions. The structural integrity of Olavun is doubtful; if a collapse occurs, hundreds of square kilometers of land may collapse as a result of the eruption.

7. Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

6. Merapi, Indonesia

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

5. Galeras, Colombia

This volcano is located near the border of Ecuador. He erupts frequently and actively impressively for a long time. According to scientists, the volcano erupted one million years or more. The first recorded eruption was in 1580, and between 1978 and 1988, Galeras was temporarily inactive. Having become active again, he behaves menacingly, erupting almost every year since the beginning of the new millennium. The city of Pasto on the eastern slope of Galeras is home to 450 thousand inhabitants.

4. Sakurajima, Japan

In the list of active volcanoes, Sakuradzima is known as the "Vesuvius of the East", citing its high activity. It is separated from mainland Japan, but the lava flows from the 1914 eruptions actually 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 Kagoshima will be in danger.

3. Popocatepetl, Mexico

Popocatepetl is located just 56 km from Mexico City and flashed recently in 2000. Forty-one thousand people would be in danger of losing their lives if they were not evacuated in time. Nine million people live in a 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 has studied history at school knows about the famous catastrophic eruption in 79 AD. e., which destroyed the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Volcanic ash retained two places, making them one of the most famous archaeological site on earth. Vesuvius erupts cyclically, approximately every 20 years. The last recorded eruption dates back to 1944, so the next eruption is just around the corner. Three million people are not only within the radius of the explosion, but also close to the crater. This is another volcano that poses a serious danger to an incredible amount of people.

1. Volcano Yellowstone, USA

The number one active volcano on our list is the Yellowstone Caldera. Active volcanic caldera in National park attracts about three million visitors a year. Its geysers and hot springs are beautiful, but they are also potentially deadly. Yellowstone is a super volcano. Indeed, the famous major supervolcano eruption occurred in Yellowstone 640,000 years ago. If Yellowstone explodes, an estimated 87,000 people will be killed instantly. The entire western United States will be devastated, and ashes will affect the ecology and health of people throughout the country and the world. The explosion will be a world catastrophe of unprecedented proportions, and there is no way to predict how far its consequences will spread.

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

A truly amazing sight is a volcanic eruption. But what is a volcano? How does a volcanic eruption occur? Why do some of them spew huge lava flows at different intervals, while others sleep peacefully for centuries?

What is a volcano?

Externally, the volcano resembles a mountain. Inside it is a geological fault. In science, a volcano is called a formation from a geological rock located on the surface of the earth. Through it, magma erupts, which is very hot. It is magma that subsequently forms volcanic gases and stones, as well as lava. Most of the volcanoes on earth formed several centuries ago. Today, new volcanoes occasionally appear on the planet. But this happens much less frequently than before.

How are volcanoes formed?

Briefly explain the essence of the formation of the volcano, it will look as follows. Under the crust there is a special layer under strong pressure, consisting of molten rocks, it is called magma. If cracks suddenly begin to appear in the earth's crust, then elevations form on the surface of the earth. Through them, magma comes out under strong pressure. On the surface of the earth, it begins to decay into red-hot lava, which then freezes, causing the volcanic mountain to become larger and larger. An emerging volcano becomes so vulnerable on the surface that it spews volcanic gases to the surface with great frequency.

What does a volcano consist of?

In order to understand how magma erupts, you need to know what the volcano consists of. Its main components are: volcanic focus, vent and craters. What is the center of a volcano? This is the place where magma forms. But not everyone knows what a vent and crater of a volcano are? A vent is called a special channel that combines the focus with the surface of the earth. A crater is a small bowl-shaped depression on the surface of a volcano. Its size can reach several kilometers.

What is a volcanic eruption?

Magma is constantly under intense pressure. Therefore, above it at any time there is a cloud of gases. Gradually they push the red-hot magma to the surface of the earth through the mouth of the volcano. That's what the eruption is about. However, a small description of the eruption process is not enough. To see this spectacle, you can use the video, which you need to watch after you find out what the volcano consists of. In the same way, on the video you can find out what volcanoes do not exist at the present time and what volcanoes look like that are active today.

Why are volcanoes dangerous?

Active volcanoes are dangerous for a number of reasons. A sleeping volcano itself is very dangerous. He can “wake up” at any time and begin to spew lava flows, spreading over many kilometers. Therefore, do not settle near such volcanoes. If an erupting volcano is located on the island, such a dangerous phenomenon as a tsunami can occur.

Despite their danger, volcanoes can serve humanity well.

What are volcanoes useful for?

During the eruption appears a large number of metals that can be used in industry.
The volcano generates the strongest rocks that can be used for construction.
Pumice, which appears as a result of the eruption, is used for industrial purposes, as well as in the production of stationery gums and toothpaste.

In the past, people thought that volcanic eruptions were the punishment of the gods. Today, we understand that this is not so. Volcanic eruptions occur due to the excessive accumulation of very hot magma, which makes its way to the surface of the earth through holes in the earth's crust, that is, through the craters of volcanoes. When this magma reaches the surface, the consequences from it are catastrophic.
We have specially gathered for your attention the ten most dangerous volcanoes in the world that can erupt at any time and create devastation around in a matter of hours.

The ten most dangerous volcanoes in the world

10. Volcano Taal, Philippines

This slag cone of the volcano is located on the island of Luzon in Lake Taal. It is located just 31 kilometers from the city of Manila, whose population is about 1.6 million people. Scientists believe that this volcano erupted about 33 times. And it is reliably known that in 157 magma burned down the population that lived near the active volcano. It is also worth considering that the volcano requires study because of the high danger to humans and the environment.

9. Volcano Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

Also, locals also call this volcano "Father". Ulawun is a symmetrical volcano located on the island of New Britain. Its height reaches about 2334 meters, which is why it is not only the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, but also the highest.

Ulawun is an active volcano. Since the 1700s, 22 eruptions have been recorded. Locals regularly observe how tiny explosions occur in the crater of a volcano with a splash of lava and ash.

8. Volcano Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

It is considered the most active volcanoes on the African continent. Nyiragongo Volcano is known for lava lakes, which mainly appear in the crater. This volcano is an active threat to people living in its vicinity.

One of the last major eruptions in 1977 led to the deaths of several hundred people. There could have been much more victims if people had not evacuated on time. Lava erupted by a volcano destroyed almost all residential buildings located at the foot of Nyiragongo.

7. Volcano Merapi, Indonesia

Locals call this volcano "Sorrow of Fire." It is also considered one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world. Scientists claim that earlier the activity of this volcano continued for more than 10,000 years in a row.

About 1300 people died during the last major eruption of the volcano Merapi, which occurred in 1930. Since then, the government of Yogyakarta, which is located on the slope of the volcano, has developed a special plan for the evacuation of citizens.

6. Volcano Galeras, Colombia

This volcano is located in the southern part of Colombia. Galeras has been active for about 1 million years. On its slope is a city with 450,000 inhabitants called Pasto.

In modern times, the volcano became active in 1978, but then its activity was not significant. Then another ten years later a new eruption occurred. But, the worst thing is that since 2000, Galeras began to regularly erupt, albeit with little force.

5. Sakurajima Volcano, Japan

This is a composite volcano located in Japan. Previously, Sakuradzhima was located on a separate island. He has a very high level activity.

Every year, scientists record small eruptions from the crater of this volcano, in which ashes are thrown into the atmosphere and dispersed throughout the neighborhood. If a more serious eruption occurs, a large number of residents of the nearby city of Kagoshima will be in deadly danger.

4. Volcano Popocatepetl, Mexico

The peak of this volcano is covered with a glacier. Popocatepetl is located just 35 miles from the city of Mexico City. Also within the radius of the lesion from a possible eruption are many people living in this district. Since 1519, Popocatepetl has erupted more than 20 times.

The last time the eruption occurred in 2000. Then they managed to evacuate people in time and save thousands of lives that one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world could take away.

3. Yellowstone Caldera, USA

Tourists from all over the world are attracted by the bubbling springs in Yellowstone National Park. The beauty of this park is breathtaking and incense for visitors. Nevertheless, under this beauty lies a dangerous volcano that will burn to destroy the entire western part of the United States.

The Yellowstone Caldera is really huge. People have never witnessed his eruption, but scientists managed to find out that the last eruption of this volcano occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago. Experts suggest that the volume of “lava” spilled onto the surface at that time was 25 thousand times greater than the eruption of Sant Helens in 1980.

2. Volcano Vesuvius, Italy

Probably the most famous volcano in the world. It is located in the Campania region, Italy. The last eruption of Vesuvius occurred in 1944, but fortunately there were no serious consequences. About three million people live in close proximity to the slope of the volcano. The houses of these people are located 5 kilometers from Vesuvius. Therefore, it is also considered the most densely populated volcanic region in the world.

Vesuvius is the only volcano on the European continent that has been active in the last century. His most famous eruption occurred in 79 AD, as a result of which the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried under the lava.

1. Volcano Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Mauna –Lao - the most dangerous volcano in the world and the largest. The last time he erupted in 1984. Lava caused severe damage to the surrounding area. Nevertheless, there is very good news - the erupted lava Mauna – Lao spreads very slowly around the neighborhood, which gives additional time for evacuation.

Mauna Laon also poses another destructive threat to the environment in the form of landslides. Although this is a very rare process, it is really worth fearing.