Most of the volcanoes of our planet are located in the "ring of fire", which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. 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, 3470 m, Democratic Republic of the Congo
It 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, an eruption killed 147 people and left 120,000 homeless. The last eruption to date occurred in 2016.
2. Taal, height 311 m, Philippines
It is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet. Since 1572, it has erupted 34 times. Located on the island of Luzon, on Lake Taal. The strongest eruption of this volcano in the 20th century occurred in 1911 - in 10 minutes, 1335 people and all living things died at a distance of up to 10 km. In 1965, 200 people died. Last eruption - 1977
3. Mauna Loa, height 4,169 m, Hawaii (USA)
There are many volcanoes in Hawaii, but this is the largest and most dangerous of all. Since 1832, 39 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption took place in 1984, the last violent eruption in 1950.
4. Vesuvius, height 1 281 m, Italy
One of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world is located just 15 km east of Naples. The most famous historical eruption occurred in 79 AD. As a result of this disaster, two cities - Pompeii and Herculaneum - disappeared from the face of the Earth. In modern history, the last eruption of Vesuvius happened in 1944.
5. Merapi, height 2 930 m, Indonesia
This active volcano in Indonesia is located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. "Merapi" translates as "mountain of fire". The volcano is young, so it puffs with enviable regularity. Large eruptions occur every 7 years on average. In 1930, about 1,300 people died, in 1974 two villages were destroyed, in 2010 353 people died. The last eruption was in 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 blast". The process of the volcanic eruption and the spread of the ash cloud was captured by photographer Robert Landsburg, who died in this eruption, but preserved the film. The last activity to date was recorded in 2008.
7. Etna, height 3 350 m, Italy
Mount Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe. Throughout its existence, it has erupted about 200 times. In 1992, one of the largest eruptions was recorded, during which the town of Zafferana barely escaped. On December 3, 2015, the volcano's central crater ejected a kilometer-high lava fountain. The last eruption was on February 27, 2017.
8.Sakurajima, height 1,117 m, Japan
The volcano is located on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu Island in the Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima. There is almost always a cloud of smoke over 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 4,276 m, Colombia
Over the past 7 thousand years, at least six large eruptions and many small ones have occurred on Galeras. In 1993, during research work in the crater, six volcanologists and three tourists died (then the eruption also began). Last 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. Since 1519, it has erupted 20 times. 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 the Unzen volcano in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in human history in terms of the number of human victims. The eruption caused a tsunami 55 meters high, which killed more than 15 thousand people. And in 1991, 43 people died during the eruption. There have been no eruptions 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 in 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Krakatoa is still active today and small eruptions occur fairly regularly. The last activity was 2014.
13. Santa Maria, height 3,772 m, Guatemala
The first recorded eruption of this volcano took place in October 1902, before that it "rested" for 500 years. The explosion was heard 800 km away in Costa Rica, and the ash column rose 28 km. About 6 thousand people died. Today the volcano is active. The last eruption was recorded in 2011.
14. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, height 4835 m, Russia
The volcano is located in the east of Kamchatka, 60 km from the coast. 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 in recent years: 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015. Very turbulent volcano.
04/29/2016 at 04:27 PM · Pavlofox · 26 070
The largest volcanoes in the world
Volcanoes, for all their danger, represent one of the most beautiful and majestic wonders of nature. Active volcanoes look especially beautiful at night. But this beauty brings death to everything around. Lava, volcanic bombs, pyroclastic flows consisting of hot volcanic gases, ash and stones can wipe out even large cities from the face of the earth. Humanity managed to become convinced of the incredible power of volcanoes during the infamous eruption of Vesuvius, which killed the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabia. And there are many such examples in history.
The largest volcanoes in the world - let's talk today about these dangerous but beautiful giants. Our list includes volcanoes of varying degrees of activity - from conditionally dormant to active. The main selection criterion was their size.
10. Sangay | Height 5,230 meters
An active stratovolcano located in Ecuador opens the rating of the largest volcanoes on Earth. Its height is 5230 meters. The top of the volcano consists of three craters with a diameter of 50 to 100 meters. Sangay is one of the youngest and most restless volcanoes in South America. Its first eruption took place in 1628. The last one took place in 2007. Now the volcanic activity of the giant from the Equator is estimated as moderate. Tourists who have visited the Sangay National Park, on the territory of which the volcano is located, can climb its summit.
9. Popocatepetl | Height 5455 meters
On the 9th place among the largest volcanoes in the world -. It is located in the Mexican Highlands. The height of the volcano is 5455 meters. Even in a calm state, the volcano is constantly shrouded in a cloud of gases and ash. Its danger lies in the fact that there are densely populated areas around the volcano, and Mexico City is located 60 kilometers from it. The last eruption of the giant happened quite recently - on March 27, 2016, it threw out a kilometer-long column of ash. The next day Popocatepetl calmed down. In the event of a violent eruption of the Mexican giant, it would threaten the safety of several million people.
8. Elbrus | Height 5 642 meters
There are also large volcanoes in Europe. In the North Caucasus, there is a stratovolcano with a height of 5642 meters. This is the highest peak in Russia. Elbrus is one of the seven highest mountain peaks on the planet. Scientists differ on the activity of the giant. Some consider it an extinct volcano, while others consider it a dying volcano. Sometimes Elbrus becomes the center of small earthquakes. Here and there on its surface, sulphurous gases come out of cracks. Scientists, who believe that Elbrus may wake up in the future, are of the opinion that the nature of its eruption will be explosive.
7. Orizaba | Height 5,675 meters
Seventh in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is occupied by the highest peak in Mexico. The height of the volcano is 5675 meters. It last erupted in 1687. Orizaba is now considered a dormant volcano. From its top, stunning panoramic views open up. In order to protect the volcano, a nature reserve was created.
6. Misty | Height 5,822 meters
On the 6th place in the list of the largest volcanoes is located in the south of Peru. Its height is 5822 meters. Misty belongs to active volcanoes. It last erupted in 1985. In January 2016, an increase in fumarolic activity was observed on the volcano - steam and gas holes appeared. This is one of the signs of an impending eruption. In 1998, six Inca mummies were found near the inner crater of the volcano.
An interesting fact - many buildings in the city of Arequipa, located 17 kilometers from the volcano, are built from white deposits of the Misti pyroclastic flows. Therefore, Arequipa is called the "White City".
5. Kilimanjaro | Height 5,895 meters
The fifth largest volcano on the planet is the highest point of the African continent -. Scientists have concluded that this giant stratovolcano, 5895 meters high, is potentially active. Now it periodically emits gases and there is a possibility that the volcano's crater will collapse, which could trigger its eruption. There is no documentary evidence of the activity of Kilimanjaro, but there are legends of local residents, which speak of an eruption that occurred about 200 years ago.
4. Cotopaxes | Height 5,897 meters
In fourth place in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is the second largest peak in Ecuador. It is an active volcano with a height of 5897 meters. The first time its activity was recorded in 1534. Since then, the volcano has erupted more than 50 times. The last violent eruption of Kotpakhi happened in August 2015.
3. San Pedro | Height 6145 meters
An active stratovolcano located in Chile, it ranks 3rd among the largest volcanoes in the world. Its height is 6145 meters. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 1960.
2. Mauna Loa | Height 4 205 meters
The second largest volcano in the world is occupied by a volcano located in the Hawaiian Islands. In terms of volume, it is the largest volcano on Earth, containing over 32 cubic kilometers of magma. The giant was formed more than 700 thousand years ago. Mauna Loa is an active volcano. In 1984, its eruption lasted almost a month and caused enormous damage to local residents and the area surrounding the volcano.
1. Llullaillaco | Height 6,739 meters
In the first place among the largest volcanoes in the world is an active starting volcano. It is located on the border of Argentina and Chile. Its height is 6739 meters. The last eruption of the giant took place in 1877. Now it is in the solfatara stage - from time to time the volcano emits sulfurous gases and water vapor. In 1952, during the first ascent of Llullaillaco, an ancient Inca sanctuary was found. Later, on the slopes of the volcano, archaeologists discovered three baby mummies. Most likely they were sacrificed.
It is interesting. The Yellowstone caldera, which is about 55 km by 72 km in size, is called a supervolcano. It is located in the US Yellowstone National Park. The volcano has not been active for 640 thousand years. Under its crater there is a magma bubble more than 8 thousand meters deep. During its existence, the supervolcano has erupted three times. Each time this caused major cataclysms that change the face of the Earth at the site of the eruption. When the supervolcano wakes up again, it is impossible to predict. Only one thing can be said with certainty - a cataclysm of this magnitude is capable of bringing our civilization to the brink of existence.
What else to see:
Ojos del Salado is the tallest volcano on the planet. It is located in the Chilean Andes in South America, on the Argentina-Chile border, but it belongs to Argentine territory. Its height reaches 6893 meters. It is the second highest peak on the South American continent. Not far from the volcano lies the Atacama Desert. The volcano did not erupt during the entire observation period and is considered extinct.
The Cordillera West of the Andes is home to the world's highest active volcano, Llullaillaco. Its absolute height is 6739 meters. The top of the volcano is covered with ice. The snow line of the western slope of Llullaillaco has the highest position on earth - more than 6.5 thousand meters. In 1877, the last volcanic eruption took place. At this time, he is in the solfatara stage.
In Chile, on the edge of the Atacama Desert, is the active volcano San Pedro. Its height is 6145 meters, it is a stratovolcano in shape. It is located in the Antofagasta region of the El Loa province and is adjacent to the Sero Parini volcano. A huge saddle separates San Pedro from the mountain ranges of the Central Andes. The last volcanic eruption was recorded on December 2, 1960.
Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in Ecuador (5911 meters) and the country's second highest peak. It is located in the Cordillera Oriental in South America. The volcano is included in the list of the highest active volcanoes on earth. It has a huge crater 550x800 meters in size and 450 meters deep. Cotopaxi has erupted about 50 times since 1738. The last eruption dates back to 1940.
In northeastern Tanzania, towering over the Masai Plateau, is the active volcano Kilimanjaro. It reaches 5895 meters and is considered the highest point in Africa. After exploring Kilimanjaro, in 2003, scientists discovered that only 400 meters away the molten lava from the edge of the Kibo crater - the main summit of the volcano. There are fears that a major eruption is approaching.
The El Misti stratovolcano is located in Peru in South America. Its height is 5822 meters. In winter, the top of the volcano is covered with snow. The city of Arequipa with a population of one million is located 17 kilometers west of El Misti. Most of the buildings in it are built from the deposits of the pyroclastic flows of the volcano, due to which Arequipa is also called the "white city".
The highest peak in Mexico is Orizaba. Her middle name is Sitlaltepetl, which translates as "star mountain". It is the third highest point in North America. Its peak is located at an altitude of 5636 meters, and its excess is 4922 meters. In the period from 1537 to 1687, there were 7 eruptions of Orizaba, but the volcano is currently considered dormant.
Elbrus is located in the north of the Caucasus Mountains and is the highest point in Russia. The stratovolcano is a saddle-shaped cone with two peaks located at a distance of 3000 meters from each other. The heights of the western and eastern peaks are 5642 and 5621 meters, respectively. The saddle separating the peaks is 5300 meters high. The date of the last eruption is approximately 50 AD.
The active volcano Popocatepetl rises above the Mexican Highlands. Its name in the Nahuatl language means "smoking hill". It is the second highest stratovolcano in Mexico, its peak reaches 5455 meters. Not far from it is the extinct volcano Istaxihuatl. Popocatepetl last erupted in 2011. Northwest of the volcano is the city of Mexico City with a population of 20 million.
Closes the list of the highest volcanoes "Sangay". The active volcano Sangay is located in Ecuador, on the eastern side of the equatorial Andes. Its height is 5230 meters. This stratovolcano has three craters. According to scientists, Sangay was formed approximately 14,000 years ago. In 1628, an eruption was recorded for the first time. Since 1934, the volcano has been actively erupting, most recently in 2007.
Located on the southern side of the Indonesian island of Java, the famous and fairly young Merapi volcano is one of the largest and most powerful in the world. Merapi is the most active active volcano in Indonesia. It is located near the city of Yogyakarta. The height of the volcano is 2914 meters.
The name translates as "mountain of fire". Merapi is the youngest in the group of volcanoes in the south of Java. It is located in a subduction zone where the Australian Plate sinks beneath the Eurasian Plate. It is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, part of the volcano is located in the southeastern Pacific Ring of Fire - on a fault line extending from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia.
Large eruptions of the Merapi volcano are observed on average every 7 years, small - about twice a year, and the volcano smokes almost every day. In 1006, the Javanese-Indian kingdom of Mataram was destroyed by an eruption. One of the most destructive eruptions was recorded in 1673, when several cities and many villages at the foot of the volcano were destroyed. In the 19th century, 9 eruptions were recorded, in the first half of the 20th century - 13.
The great eruption of Merapi also took place in 1906. It was characterized by the destruction of the cone of the volcano itself. The explosion, which violated the integrity of the shell, was heard for hundreds of kilometers. In 1930, the eruption killed about 1,300 people. During the eruption in 1974, two villages were destroyed, and in 1975 - a large village and five bridges, 29 people died.
In 2010, the eruption of Merapi evacuated 350,000 people, but some returned, killing 353 people trapped in the pyroclastic flow.
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. Made from many layers of lava, monstrous in size, the largest volcanoes in the world lurk under the water surface or hang over the 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 - what to consider is the area over which the lava flows are spreading, forming a new surface. Still others - that the human factor is important first of all: 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 nasty character - its slopes are dotted with craters, from where once every couple of months lava is steadily pouring out. About once a century, eruptions are larger, posing a direct threat to 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 that allow you to harvest large harvests.
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 south polar region. Despite the lifeless ice spaces surrounding it, Erebus leads a very active life. And its geographical position - exactly over several faults in the earth's crust - contributes a lot to this.
Despite the fact that people do not live near Erebus, it still affects their lives in a negative sense. From the depths of the volcano, streams of gases contained inside the Earth periodically burst outward, 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 the volcano.
8. Klyuchevskaya Sopka - 4835 meters
Like Etna, the height of the Klyuchevskoy volcano is constantly changing. Although it lost about 15 meters after an eruption five years ago, it still remains the tallest active volcano in Russia and Asia.
Although, in comparison with other peaks of Kamchatka, the Klyuchevsky volcano loses in frequency, it successfully compensates for this with its power. For example, the 1938 eruption lasted 13 months and caused the appearance of several craters up to 1900 m high. And the 1980 eruption tore off and threw a block of ice with an area of at least half a kilometer into the air to a height of more than 500 m.
But the most spectacular and most terrible was the eruption of 1994, when an impressive column of ash with a height of more than 12 km rose above the volcano, and a plume of volcanic ash extended from the ejection site for many tens of kilometers and disappeared somewhere in the ocean.
7. Orizaba - 5636 meters
“It must be that the top of the volcano touches the sky itself,” the ancient Incas probably thought and gave it the name Sitlaltepetl, or “Star Mountain”. It is the tallest active volcano in North and Central America and the third largest peak in the region. It can be seen from afar - many miles before the coast, the cone of Orizaba can be seen from the side of the ship following through the Gulf of Mexico to the port of Veracruz.
Although now the volcano is asleep, its calmness is deceiving - 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 highest mountain is also 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, the snow-white cone with two peaks and a small saddle between them has 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 outward severity, climbing Elbrus is easy and simple - climbing routes to the top of the sleeping patriarch are one of the most uncomplicated.
5. Kilimanjaro - 5885 meters
The magnificent handsome Kilimanjaro is the visiting card of 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 of the rated volcanoes, Kilimanjaro is the most famous volcano in the world, a typical stratovolcano. If you ask a child to depict him, most likely, he will draw a conical mountain, from the top of which ash, burning gases and very viscous lava are erupting, which quickly solidifies, building a cone higher and higher. This is a stratovolcano. The size of Kilimanjaro is 4800 km3, and its height is 5885 m. The volcano was last active at the dawn of mankind - 360,000 years ago.
4. Ojos del Salado - 6,893 meters
If the second and third places in the rating 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 m above the ground. The giant mountain is located on the border between Argentina and Chile.
Although the last active eruption of the volcano occurred even before the invention of writing by mankind - no data about it survived - however, Ojos del Salado cannot be called sleeping in the full sense of the word. In the depths of a huge mountain, as if a mysterious hidden work is taking place, the echo of which reaches the terrestrial inhabitants in the form of clouds of steam and ash. The last such activity took place quite recently - in 1993.
3. Mauna Loa - 9800 meters
Mauna Loa is an underwater volcano whose summit (along with five others) gave rise to the Big Island of the Hawaii Archipelago. 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 - 10,058 meters
"Sister" Mauna Loa rises almost 4267 meters above sea level. It seems to be a little, right? However, there is more potential hidden in Mauna Kea than it seems at first glance - its base is located deep under the water column at a depth of more than 6,000 m. This is what Mauna Kea does. If it were located entirely on land, it would break the record of all the highest volcanoes in the world, beating the "land" favorite Ojos del Salado by almost 3000 m.
At the top of Mauna Kea, humidity is very low and there are almost never clouds - now there is one of the largest observatories in the world.
Mauna Kea arose over a hot spot of the earth - a place where hot and molten magma rises from the mantle layer of the Earth. For millions of years, molten rock escaping outward has created the surface of the entire Hawaiian archipelago. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano; this means that it has been inactive for over 4,000 years, and the hot spot of magma outcropping 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 very impressive. But let's take a closer look at it from all sides.
Most of the largest natural objects in the world were discovered by mankind long ago, at the dawn of its existence. But the Tamu massif - the largest volcano on planet Earth - has managed to hide from people for many years.
It is striking that humanity knew more about the huge volcanoes on Mars than about the giant mountain under its very nose. The reason for this is both its remote location (it is more than 1,600 km east of Japan) and its depth. Its summit is immersed in the thickness of the World Ocean for 2000 km. It was only in 2013 that scientists discovered that the striking lava mountain at the bottom of the ocean is in fact one and only volcano.
Its volume is approximately 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
Supervolcano Yellowstone is considered the most active and dangerous today. Located in a US National Park, it poses a huge threat not only to Wyoming, but to the entire planet. It is believed that the eruption of the Yellowstone Volcano could 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 pellets will cover the area with a 3-meter layer. The losses will amount to more than 10 million lives, and the territory will turn into uninhabited due to the high level of radiation.
Today, visits to the park are limited; in some areas, entry is completely prohibited. Scientists are carefully examining the caldera, and the eruption could begin in the coming decades.