A volcanic eruption, whether it be a whim of nature or divine providence, poses a huge risk to humans. Seething lava flows descending to the nearby plains, toxic volcanic ash that settles on the ground, clouds of smoke hiding the sun - this is not all that awaits the settlements nearby the active volcano. The earth under the frozen lava turns into a deserted, lifeless mass, unsuitable for habitation; and destruction brings catastrophic losses.

To prevent possible disasters, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth all dangerous volcanoes of the world were brought together in a single list, and they were monitored around the clock by scientists. As soon as the volcano begins to prepare for awakening, local authorities instantly learn about it and begin preparations for taking emergency measures. Below is full information about the most dangerous and famous volcanoes in the world.

Located on the south side of the Indonesian island of Java, the famous and fairly young Merapi volcano is also one of the largest and most powerful in the world. Its height is 2914 meters, and it has become a real curse for the nearby city of Jogyarta. This "fiery mountain" is regularly active. Every 7 years there is a major volcanic eruption, and about 1 time in half a year you should expect a small one.

Clouds of smoke rise daily from the crater, as if reminding the inhabitants of the surroundings of possible danger. One of the most catastrophic eruptions of the Merapi volcano should be dated 1672 (1673). A powerful eruption wiped out a huge number of settlements on the island of Java, redirected about 10 rivers and led to the death of a significant number of residents.

A large eruption of Merapi took place in 1906. It was characterized by the destruction of the cone of the volcano itself. The explosion, which broke the integrity of the shell, was heard for hundreds of kilometers. In the 19th century, volcanologists recorded nine major eruptions of Mount Merapi. In the twentieth century, their number exceeded 15.

One of the last famous eruptions of an active volcano occurred at the end of 2010. Due to the state of emergency, about 80,000 people were evacuated from nearby territories, but the victims still could not be avoided, more than 100 people died.

Sakurajima - never sleeping

The active volcano Sakurajima is located on the south side of Japanese island Kyushu, near the picturesque city of Kagoshima. The volcano reaches a height of 1118 meters, and its activity has not stopped since 1955: a powerful eruption can occur at any moment. One of the strongest was recorded in 1914.

From that moment on, the island of Kyushu became connected to the mainland by igneous rock that erupted from the mouth of Sakurajima. This isthmus has turned into a kind of trail, famous among tourists and volcanologists, who from time to time visit the mouth of the volcano. As for the residents of Kagoshima, they are accustomed to the restless neighborhood of an active volcano, conduct regular exercises in case of urgent evacuation.

The crater itself is under continuous video surveillance using high-precision equipment, which sensitively captures all changes in the giant mountain and transmits them to local researchers. In case of any changes, they immediately notify the authorities.

Yellowstone - American super-volcano

In the US state of Wyoming, in the heart of Yellowstone National Park is supposedly the most powerful dormant volcano in the world. Its height reaches 3142 meters.

According to volcanologists, the Yellowstone monster has already had 3 of the largest eruptions of its entire existence. The approximate time intervals between them are about 600,000 years.

AT last years there is an increase in the activity of the famous American volcano, which manifests itself in overheating of the geysers located on its slopes. Some of them, instead of water, throw up powerful streams of geothermal vapors. Since 2006, there has been a slight uplift of the soil in several places at once. This once again confirms the speculation that the volcano is moving into an active state.

Popokatepetl - alluring mystery

In the state of Puebla, in the vast expanses of Mexico, one of the most mysterious and unpredictable active volcanoes is located. Its height is 5452 meters, and the name translated from the original language means "a hill that smokes." long time this volcano did not pose a great danger to the Latin American country and was considered completely extinct. However, since the end of the twentieth century, he has openly announced his imminent awakening.

The ideal shape of a cone, a bottomless elliptical crater, even sheer walls - large puffs of smoke periodically appear above all this geometric magnificence.

Over the past 600 years, volcanologists have recorded about 25 fairly powerful lava ejections from the depths of Popokatepetl. One of the last weak eruptions of an active volcano occurred in June 2011. In the event of a more serious explosion, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Vesuvius is a living legend

The active and unusually powerful volcano Vesuvius is located near the Italian province of Napoli. Its height is 1281 meters. And he himself is considered one of the largest in the Apennine mountain system. Visually, it is 3 combined cones that can tell a lot about the past of this famous European volcano.

The main cone was created by the mutual layering of tuff and hardened lava. It is located in the middle between the outer arcuate shaft of Monte Somma and the inner temporary cone, which disappears with new powerful eruptions and then reappears. Vesuvius is a volcano that went down in history as the cause of the destruction of Stabia, Herculaneum and Pompeii in 79. Over the entire period of its existence, more than 80 powerful eruptions have been recorded. The last time the famous volcano was active was in 1944, which brought serious destruction to the nearby territories.

Nyiragongo - great and merciless

The most active, largest and most dangerous volcano on the African continent is Nyiragongo. In just 150 years, it erupted more than 30 times. And in some cases volcanic activity lasted several months and even years. In 1977 there was a famous eruption that claimed the lives of several hundred people. One of the most powerful was the 2002 eruption, when lava, sweeping away everything in its path, destroyed half the territory of the nearby city of Goma.

The lava of the volcano is quite liquid and extremely fluid, due to the lack of quartz in its composition. As a result, she moves lightning speed, about 100 km/h. According to modern research conducted by seismologists, the largest of all known eruptions of the Nyiragongo volcano is yet to come, and it can happen at any moment. The city of Goma will again be under attack from a merciless monster.

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:

- operating;
- 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. This is the most big 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 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. average speed 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.

The beauty and grandeur of a large volcano has always attracted man. The power of the acting giant is not exaggerated - ash enveloping for many kilometers and fiery lava, burning everything in its path, are described in many books and shown on TV. The larger and higher the volcano, the more destruction can he bring in case of an eruption.

AT modern world scientists can predict the activity of an active volcano, thereby avoiding many victims, but the strength and duration of the “fiery breath of nature” is sometimes impossible to calculate. People are most interested in the highest, largest volcanoes created at the junction of tectonic plates. This list includes those who have highest altitude above sea level.

Tungurahua

The height of the giant volcano, located on the territory of Ecuador, is 5023m. above sea level. The name stands for "fire throat". Since 1999, the volcano has become especially active, in connection with which it was decided to evacuate all nearby villages. A major eruption was recorded in 2012 and 2014, which is why local authorities have introduced an orange alert level. Throwing ashes to a height of almost 10 km. fell asleep several large settlements located at a distance of more than 150 km. A small activity of Tungurahua occurs at the present time.

Another giant from Ecuador. In the local dialect, it means "awe-inspiring". This majestic and beautiful volcano has a height of 5230m. According to scientific data, a volcano with three craters, the diameter of which is more than 100 meters, was formed more than 14,000 years ago. The very first major eruption was recorded in 1628. Since the 30s of the last century, Sangai has been constantly erupting. Last Activity was in 2007. To date, only a few offer to climb to the top of the volcano. travel companies, since the volcano is considered active and erupts from time to time. Nevertheless, there are always those who like to add adrenaline to life. Part of the way is overcome by car, the rest by special mules. The rise takes 2-3 days.

The volcano with a height of 5426m is active. Location - Mexico. The difficult funny name translates as "smoking hill". Around the volcano are densely located villages and cities with a total population of 20 million. human. The last mention of any activity of the volcano was in 1994. But in 1947, a volcanic eruption threw out so much ash that it covered everything within a radius of 30 km. It is very popular with tourists and lovers of real, virgin nature.

Active volcano with a height of 5822m. located in Peru. The volcano has three huge craters, the diameter of the largest is 130m. Especially strong activity in the 15th century brought a lot of trouble to the nearby city of Arequipa, later called the "white city". The local population call the mountain sacred, the mountain of the gods. In 1998, at the foot of the volcano, archaeologists discovered several Inca mummies and valuable artifacts. Many are associated with the volcano. mystical stories. Periodic explosive eruptions over the past hundred years have not scared away, but rather attracted a lot of tourists. The peak of the tourist season falls on May-September, when the top of the volcano is not covered with snow. For the most fearless, a descent into one of the craters is provided.

The highest point in Africa (5895m above sea level) belongs to an active volcano. Kilimanjaro is mentioned in many feature films and literature, and is considered one of the most beautiful and popular.

There are no officially recorded eruptions of the giant giant, but local residents claim that the volcano behaved quite aggressively 200 years ago. Kilimanjaro enjoys in great demand tourists, as climbing the mountain is quite simple and does not require special skills. Unfortunately, the famous "snow cap" in recent times melts strongly, over the past 100 glaciers have decreased by 80%, which is certainly alarming.

Volcano with a height of 5911m. included in the list of the largest active volcanoes in the world. Since 1738, the volcano has erupted a little less than 50 times, and the last strong eruption was recorded last year on August 15th. From the archives of descriptions of the Cotopaxi volcano, a devastating eruption of 1768 is mentioned - “in the middle of spring, a huge column of steam and ash rose from the breathing vent of the volcano, and a few days later fiery lava poured. At the same time, a terrible earthquake began. The nearby city of Latacunga was completely destroyed.” Today Cotopaxi is called " calling card Ecuador". To conquer the top of the volcano, hundreds of avid climbers come here. But local authorities do not welcome this, due to the constant melting of glaciers, many accidents have been recorded.

San Pedro

A giant active volcano is located on the edge of the Atacama Desert in Chile. The height of the volcano above sea level is 6145m. The last activity was in 1960. There are no tourist routes. Every moment can create real danger for residents of nearby villages.

Height - 6310m. The highest point in Ecuador. Today it is considered extinct, but around the 5th-7th century AD it spewed out tons of fiery lava. Absolutely the entire top of the volcano is covered with glaciers. As a result of the impact global warming The glacier has been greatly reduced in size. In clear weather, the volcano can be seen at a distance of 150 km. Chimborazo is very popular among hikers and climbers. Some of them claim that in some places they hear the seething inside the volcano. You can conquer the peak of Chimborazo at any time of the year, as the air temperature on the slopes remains the same in winter and summer.

Leader among active volcanoes. Height above sea level 6739m. Recorded in 1877, the eruption was the last. The top of the volcano is covered with glaciers, and it is located among the driest desert on earth - Atacama. Unique excavations carried out at the top of the volcano helped to determine that the found corpses of Inca children, buried more than 500 years ago, speak of the sacredness of this mountain. The local Indians called the volcano "deceiver", not trusting its calmness. The snow line of the volcano is located at the highest point in the world, overcoming a height of 6.5 tons. meters. The lucky ones who managed to climb to the top of the volcano are given the opportunity to enjoy the enchanting and majestic views of mountain ranges and unique landscapes.

The highest volcano on earth geographically covers both Chile and Argentina. The height of the champion of our rating is 6887m. above sea level. The volcano is also unique in that it is in the crater itself, at an altitude of 6390m. is the highest lake in the world. Over the entire history of observation, there has not been much activity of the volcano, although several emissions of sulfur and water vapor have been recorded in the last century. From Chile, near the volcano is the city of Copiano. The city fully breathes with tourist life, meeting every year a large number of climbers and ordinary travelers. At the foot of the very peak, which can only be reached by the most experienced tourists, traces of the habitation of the Incas were found. This find again reminds of the special attitude of the ancient Indians to the greatness and sacredness of nature.

The record for the most terrible, destructive volcanic eruption belongs to Tambora, located in Indonesia. In 1815, after a powerful explosion, the eruption lasted almost two weeks. Within a radius of 500 kilometers, there was pitch darkness for four days due to the ejected ash. More than 70,000 people died in that crash, according to the Indonesian government.

On the territory of our country, the champion in height is the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano. Its height is 4835m. above sea level. The last small eruption was recorded in August 2013.

Volcano is a wonder of the world, created by nature itself. You can constantly admire the majestic mountain, with its snow-capped peaks and bottomless craters. The likely danger posed by an active volcano has long been a subject of curiosity and popularity among tourists. But beauty and power natural phenomena should be respected, it was not for nothing that the ancient Indians called the volcanoes the "sacred mountain".

2016.06.02 by

Volcano is a geological formation that is located on cracks earth's crust. Through it, volcanic rocks, lava, ash, steam and poisonous gases come to the surface. Scientists are sure that every year 3 new volcanoes appear on our planet. Them total huge. More than 600 of them are active active volcanoes. They are located in different parts of the world and pose a serious danger to all living things.

Active volcanoes in Russia

Not all fire-breathing mountains are on land. Often they are located under water. This does not prevent their eruption at all. Fortunately, the most dangerous volcanoes are far beyond the borders of our country, but we also have such dangerous hills. In this article, we will introduce you to the lava-spewing mountains located in our country and abroad, which can be dangerous for people's lives.

Klyuchevskiy Volcano

It is located on the Bering Sea. This is the largest volcano in Russia. This is a whole complex consisting of 12 cones. The height of the volcano is 4750 meters. It has a crater with a diameter of more than half a kilometer. A mountain of perfect cone shape. Active volcanoes constantly emit acrid smoke, which can be seen above the Klyuchevskoy crater. Sometimes you can see bursts of lava. Volcanologists believe that it appeared more than 5,000 years ago. It has come to life more than 50 times over the past three centuries. The most powerful eruptions date back to the 19th century.

Volcano Tolbachik

The Klyuchevskaya group includes several volcanoes. One of them is Tolbachik. Its height is 3682 meters. Experts attribute it to the Hawaiian type of volcanoes. It has two cones - Sharp and Flat. Its diameter is about 2 kilometers. The last eruption was in 1976. It is considered the highest in Eurasia.

Ichinskaya Sopka

There are also active volcanoes in Russia in Kamchatka. In the center of the peninsula is Ichinskaya Sopka. This volcano has three cones, they are covered with glaciers, except for one, which is active. Its height reaches 3621 meters.

Kronotskaya Sopka

The next lava-spewing mountain is located in the east of Kamchatka. Its height is 3528 meters. It is believed that this is one of the largest volcanoes in Russia. It erupts quite rarely. At its very top you can see ice, and forests grow at the base. Near the volcano is the famous Valley of Geysers and Lake Kronotskoe.

Koryaksky volcano

Its highest cone reaches a height of 3456 meters. According to its type, it belongs to stratovolcanoes. Until now, the remains of lava and loose rocks have been found in the valley of the Koryakskaya Sopka.

Volcano Shiveluch

In the north of Kamchatka there is another volcano known to specialists. It is called Shiveluch. The mountain has two cones - Old Shiveluch and Young Shiveluch. The last one is still active. Its height is 3283 meters. This large volcano erupts quite often. The last time it happened was in 1964. Volcanologists are sure that the age of this mountain is more than 60 thousand years.

Volcano Avacha

It is located near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Its height is 2741 meters, the diameter of the crater is four hundred meters. The top of Avach is covered with glaciers, dense forests grow at its base. Its last eruption was recorded in 2001.

Volcano Shishel

It is also located in the north of Kamchatka. Shield volcano with a height of 2525 meters. To this day, it is considered active, but the date of the last eruption is not known for certain.

Active volcanoes of the world

These mountains, which spew fire and ash, are dangerous due to their direct impact - the release of thousands of tons of burning lava that can destroy entire cities. In addition, suffocating volcanic gases, the threat of tsunamis, distortion of the terrain and cardinal climate change pose a great danger.

Merali (Indonesia)

Active volcanoes on the islands of Indonesia are very dangerous. One of them is Merapi. It is the most active: powerful eruptions occur here every six to seven years, and small ones occur almost every year. Smoke over the crater appears almost every day, reminding local residents about an imminent threat.

Merali is famous for the largest eruption that occurred in 1006. The medieval state of Mataram suffered from it. The danger of the volcano lies in the fact that it is located near the densely populated city of Yogyakarta.

Sakurajima (Japan)

Often readers are interested in the most active volcanoes. It would be more correct to call them the most active. These include Sakurajima, which has been in a state of activity since 1955. The last eruption occurred in early 2009. Until last year (2014), the volcano was located on a separate island of the same name, but the lava flows froze and connected it to the Osumi Peninsula. The people living in Kagoshima City are used to Sakurajima's behavior and are always ready to take shelter.

Cotopaxi (Ecuador)

The highest active volcanoes are in America. The record holder in this is Cotopaxi, located 50 km from the city of Quito. Its height is 5897 m, depth is 450 m, the crater is 550x800 m in size. At an altitude of 4700 m, the mountain is covered with eternal snow.

Etna (Italy)

This volcano is well known. It has not one main crater, but many small ones. Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, which is in constant activity. Its height is 3380 meters, its area is 1250 square kilometers.

Small eruptions occur after a few months. Despite this, the Sicilians densely populate the slopes of the volcano, since these places are very fertile soil(due to the presence of minerals and trace elements). The last eruption occurred in May 2011, with minor emissions of dust and ash in April 2013.

Vesuvius (Italy)

The active volcanoes of Italy are two more large mountains, except for Etna. Vesuvius and Stromboli.

In 79, the strongest eruption of Vesuvius destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. Their inhabitants were buried under layers of pumice, lava and mud. The strongest eruption occurred in 1944. Then 60 people died, and the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano were completely destroyed. Scientists have calculated that Vesuvius destroyed nearby cities 80 times. Many active volcanoes in the world are not as well studied as this one. Due to this, researchers consider it the most predictable.

The territory of the volcano is protected. This is a national park that tourists from all over the world like to visit.

Colima (Mexico)

The active volcanoes of this country in our article are Nevado de Colima. Most of the time the mountain is covered with snow. Colima is very active - since 1576 it has erupted 40 times. The strongest eruption occurred in the summer of 2005.

Residents of nearby villages had to be evacuated. A column of ash shot up to a height of 5 km, causing a cloud of dust and smoke behind it.

Volcanoes - geological formations on the surface of the crust of the Earth or another planet, where magma comes to the surface, forming lava, volcanic gases, stones (volcanic bombs and pyroclastic flows).

The word "volcano" comes from the name of the ancient Roman god of fire, Vulcan.

The science that studies volcanoes is volcanology, geomorphology.

Volcanoes are classified according to their shape (shield, stratovolcanoes, cinder cones, domes), activity (active, dormant, extinct), location (terrestrial, underwater), etc.

Volcanoes are divided depending on the degree of volcanic activity into active, dormant and extinct. An active volcano is a volcano that has erupted in historical period time or Holocene. The concept of "active" is rather inaccurate, since a volcano that has active fumaroles is classified by some scientists as active, and some as extinct. Dormant volcanoes are considered inactive, on which eruptions are possible, and extinct - on which they are unlikely.

However, among volcanologists there is no consensus on how to define an active volcano. The period of volcano activity can last from several months to several million years. Many volcanoes showed volcanic activity several tens of thousands of years ago, but are not currently considered active.

Astrophysicists, in a historical aspect, believe that volcanic activity, caused, in turn, by the tidal influence of other celestial bodies, can contribute to the emergence of life. In particular, it was volcanoes that contributed to the formation earth's atmosphere and hydrosphere, throwing out a significant amount carbon dioxide and water vapor. Scientists also note that too active volcanism, such as on Jupiter's moon Io, can make the planet's surface uninhabitable. At the same time, weak tectonic activity leads to the disappearance of carbon dioxide and sterilization of the planet. "These two cases represent potential habitable boundaries for planets and exist alongside traditional life zone parameters for low-mass main-sequence star systems," the scientists write.

Volcanoes, for all their danger, are 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 big cities. Mankind managed to be convinced of the incredible power of volcanoes during the infamous eruption of Vesuvius, which killed the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae. 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 5230 meters

The active stratovolcano Sangay, 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. Sangai is one of the youngest and most restless volcanoes. South America. Its first eruption occurred 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 visited national park Sangai, on the territory of which the volcano is located, can climb to its summit.

9 Popocatepetl Height 5455 meters

2

On the 9th place among the largest volcanoes in the world is Popocatepetl. 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 column of ash. The next day, Popocatepetl calmed down. In the event of a strong eruption of the Mexican giant, it will threaten the safety of several million people.

8 Elbrus Height 5642 meters

3

There are large volcanoes in Europe as well. The Elbrus stratovolcano is located in the North Caucasus, the height of which is 5642 meters. This is the highest peak in Russia. Elbrus is one of the seven highest mountain peaks on the planet. Regarding the activity of the giant, the opinion of scientists differs. Some consider it an extinct volcano, while others consider it to be fading. Sometimes Elbrus becomes the center of small earthquakes. In some places on its surface, sulfurous 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 5675 meters

4

Seventh place in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico. The height of the volcano is 5675 meters. It last erupted in 1687. Now Orizaba is considered a dormant volcano. From its top, stunning panoramic views open up. In order to protect the volcano, a reserve was created.

6 Misty Height 5,822 meters

5

On the 6th place in the list of the largest volcanoes is Misti, located in the south of Peru. Its height is 5822 meters. Misty is an active volcano. It last erupted in 1985. In January 2016, an increase in fumarolic activity was observed on the volcano - steam and gas holes. This is one of the signs of an impending eruption. In 1998, six Inca mummies were found near the inner crater of the volcano. 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 Altitude 5,895 meters

6

The fifth place among the largest volcanoes on the planet is occupied by the highest point of the African continent - Kilimanjaro. Scientists have concluded that this giant stratovolcano with a height of 5895 meters is potentially active. Now he periodically emits gases and there is a possibility of the collapse of the crater of the volcano, which can provoke its eruption. There is no documentary evidence of the activity of Kilimanjaro, but there are legends of local residents that speak of an eruption that occurred about 200 years ago.

4 Cotopaxi Height 5,897 meters

7

In fourth place in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is Cotopaxi - the second largest peak in Ecuador. This is an active volcano, whose height is 5897 meters. The first time its activity was recorded in 1534. Since then, the volcano has erupted more than 50 times. The last strong eruption of Kotpahi happened in August 2015.

3 San Pedro Height 6,145 meters

8

Active stratovolcano San Pedro, located in Chile, 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 4205 meters

9

The second largest volcano in the world is Mauna Loa, located on Hawaiian Islands. In terms of volume, it is the largest volcano on Earth, containing over 32 cubic kilometers of magma. A 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 great damage to the locals and the area surrounding the volcano.

1 Llullaillaco Height 6,739 meters

10

In first place among the largest volcanoes in the world is the active start volcano Llullaillaco. It is located on the border of Argentina and Chile. Its height is 6739 meters. The giant's last eruption took place in 1877. Now it is in the solfataric stage - from time to time the volcano releases 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 child mummies. Most likely, they were sacrificed. It is interesting. yellowstone caldera, whose size is approximately 55 km by 72 km, is called a supervolcano. It is located in Yellowstone national park USA. The volcano has not been active for 640 thousand years. Beneath its crater is a magma bubble over 8,000 meters deep. During its existence, the supervolcano erupted three times. Each time, this caused major cataclysms that changed 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 putting the existence of our civilization on the brink.