The concept of the largest volcanoes of the world. The history of the six most dangerous volcanoes in the world

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

To prevent possible disasters, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth has compiled all dangerous volcanoes in the world into a single list, and they are monitored by scientists around the clock. As soon as the volcano begins to prepare for awakening, local authorities immediately learn about it and begin preparing to take emergency measures. Below is complete information about the most dangerous and famous volcanoes in the world.

Located on south side On the Indonesian island of Java, the famous and fairly young volcano Merapi is also one of the largest and most powerful in the world. Its height is 2914 meters, and it itself has become a real curse for the nearby city of Yoghyart. This “fire mountain” regularly shows its activity. Every 7 years there is a major volcanic eruption, and about once every six months you can expect a minor one.

Plumes of smoke rise up from the crater every day, as if reminding residents of the surrounding area of ​​possible danger. One of the most catastrophic eruptions of the Merapi volcano should be dated to 1672 (1673). The 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 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 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 areas, but casualties could not be avoided; more than 100 people died.

Sakurajima - never sleeps

The active Sakurajima volcano is located on the south side Japanese island Kyushu, near picturesque city 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 poured out from the Sakurajima vent. This isthmus has turned into a kind of trail, famous among tourists and volcanologists who visit from time to time. As for the residents of Kagoshima, they are accustomed to a restless neighborhood with an active volcano and conduct regular exercises in case of emergency 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 American state Wyoming, in the heart of Yellowstone National Park, lies what is believed to be 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 in its entire existence. The approximate time intervals between them are about 600,000 years.

IN last years There is an increase in the activity of the famous American volcano, which manifests itself in the overheating of geysers located on its slopes. Some of them emit powerful streams of geothermal vapor instead of water. Since 2006, there has been a slight rise in soil in several places. This once again confirms the guess that the volcano is becoming active.

Popocatepetl - alluring mystery

In the state of Puebla, in the vast expanses of Mexico, lies one of the most mysterious and unpredictable active volcanoes. Its height is 5452 meters, and its name translated from the original language means “hill that smokes.” Long time this volcano had no idea great danger for a Latin American country and was considered completely extinct. However, since the end of the twentieth century, he has openly declared his imminent awakening.

The ideal shape of a cone, a bottomless elliptical crater, smooth vertical walls - large clouds of smoke periodically appear above all this geometric splendor.

Over the past 600 years, volcanologists have recorded about 25 fairly powerful lava emissions from the depths of Popocatepetl. 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 - a living legend

An active and unusually powerful one is located near the Italian province of Napoli. Its height is 1281 meters. And it itself is considered one of the largest in the Apennines. Visually it represents 3 combined cones, which 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 arc-shaped shaft of Monte Somma and the inner temporary cone, which disappears during 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 surrounding areas.

Nyiragongo - great and merciless

The most active, largest and dangerous volcano on the African continent is Nyiragongo. In just 150 years it has erupted more than 30 times. And in some cases, volcanic activity lasted for several months or even years. In 1977, a famous eruption occurred that claimed the lives of several hundred people. One of the most powerful eruptions was in 2002, 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, which is due to the lack of quartz in its composition. As a result, it moves at lightning speed, about 100 km/h. According to modern research conducted by seismologists, the largest known eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano is still ahead, and it could happen at any moment. The city of Goma will again be under attack from a merciless monster.

Yesterday it became known that the Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka again sharply intensified and threw a column of ash 6 km high into the sky. We decided to give a list of other active volcanoes that can cause big trouble for people.

Etna, Italy

This volcano is the highest and most dangerous in Europe. More than once in the recent history of Italy, lava flows threatened the settlements of Sicily. On average, it erupts lava once every three months. In 2008, Etna's major eruption lasted a whole year. At the top of the volcano there are four permanently active craters. When lava erupts, fragments of lava are thrown thousands of meters into the air and then settle into solid slag on the slopes of the volcano.

It must take approximately half a century for the channel along which the fiery mass flowed to begin to be overgrown with the first grass. Therefore, on Etna, zones of vegetation alternate with zones that are completely lifeless. The land at the foot of Etna is very fertile. Therefore, despite the constant danger threatening local residents, they are in no hurry to move to other regions of Italy. Unique vineyards also grow here, providing the whole country with excellent wine. Therefore, the foot of Etna is a very popular route for travelers, although it is completely unsafe - after all, no one can say exactly when the next major eruption will begin.

Merapi, Indonesia

This volcano, which erupts regularly, regularly causes the death of many people who regularly settle on its slopes. In 2006, five thousand people died and more than two hundred thousand were left homeless as a result of a major eruption. In 2010, a powerful eruption occurred again, but, fortunately, most of the residents managed to evacuate, so there were no major casualties.

Small eruptions occur here twice a year, and large ones every seven to eight years. At the foot of the volcano there are wonderful temples and other attractions that are interesting for tourists who are ready to try their luck and visit these places. For example, on the southern slope there is a complex of medieval Hindu and Buddhist temples, which is recognized by UNESCO as a monument World Heritage, royal palace Ratu Boko.

Popocatepetl, Mexico

This slumbering killer is located just 70 kilometers from Mexico City, home to nine million people. This volcano is the most dangerous of the others large volcanoes Mexico. The last eruption in 2000 forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and even led to the melting of glaciers. In the Nahuatl language, the name of the Popocatepetl volcano is translated as Smoking Hill.

There were times when the volcano was considered to have calmed down forever, however, the giant always reminded of itself with a menacing grumble and steam escaping from the crater. Local residents have always treated the volcano with great respect, obviously because the land around, abundantly strewn with volcanic ash, has always been very fertile, and the main crop - maize - has an amazing taste. Popocatepetl attracts tourists, climbers and simply romantics who want to touch the secrets of the ancient volcano.

Sierra Negra, Galapagos Islands

This active volcano rises more than a kilometer above sea level and has the second largest crater in the world, with a diameter of 11 kilometers. The volcano's last major eruption occurred in 2005. Tourists are attracted here by the beauty of the nature surrounding the volcano, as well as the opportunity to climb to the crater of the volcano and ride on horseback along its edge and get acquainted with the amazing flora and fauna of the slopes of the volcano, the diversity of which contrasts sharply with the lifeless crater.

Volcanoes play a huge role in creating the landscape of our earth, and since I am quite fascinated by them, it is nice to know that there are active volcanoes that you can visit. Exciting, exciting and adventurous... What could be better than climbing an active volcano? Here are some of the active volcanoes scattered around the world that you can visit.

Since 1983, Kilauea Volcano has been constantly awakening, and today it is one of the most active volcanoes that can be visited. This is the youngest of the 5 volcanoes that form Hawaii, it is located in the southern part of the island. The Hawaiian name for the volcano, Kilauea, translates to “strongly spreading.” It was named so because of its constant eruption. Only experienced people can count on being able to climb there, as there are certain risks, and the requirements for preparing tourists are high. You can take boat and helicopter tours to see the volcanic activity, especially how lava flows into the sea.

In 79 AD this volcano erupted and destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Today, tourists are offered a very popular tour of the ruins of Pompeii. The volcano is considered inactive in the fall and spring, so this is a great time to visit it. 1944 was the last time Vesuvius erupted. But the volcano is still closely monitored, as about three million people live close enough to be affected if it erupts.

The Sicilian volcano Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, with a height of about 3350 m. The ancient Greeks believed that deep inside the core of the volcano, the Cyclops forged lightning for Zeus. Located in the Regional Park of Etna, Mount Etna is one of the most amazingly picturesque active volcanoes you can see. IN winter period You can go skiing here, and in summer you can go hiking on this mountain. The last major volcanic eruption was in 2001, and this is a fairly popular volcano among volcanologists.

In 1980, a catastrophic eruption of this volcano occurred, which lasted 9 hours. It was the most destructive eruption in the United States. The damage caused was: 57 dead, 250 people left homeless, 298 km of roads, 24 km of rails were destroyed, 47 bridges were destroyed. Stable for now, St. Helens is one of the volcanoes you can visit and see the aftermath of the recent eruption. You can climb to the top of the mountain and look at the damage done to the forests and landscape. The moon-like landscape is one of the reasons why you should visit this active volcano.

Located in the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo is a volcano with a height of 1780 m. In 1991, after 600 years of hibernation, this volcano erupted with catastrophic results. During the nine-hour eruption, more than 800 people died and about 100,000 were left homeless. It was the second largest eruption of the 20th century. The eruption released millions of tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, affecting global temperatures in subsequent years. The volcano's crater now houses Lake Pinatubo, and one of the great volcano tours allows you to see the beauty of this lake.

Located in Guatemala, this volcano has erupted regularly since 1965. In some cases, eruptions required the evacuation of numerous villages. This is one of the volcanoes that people love to climb, but before you can climb there, you need to pay for training courses, since several people have already died due to the eruption. A safer option is to take a tour of this active volcano. You can find many tour operators in Guatemala. On a clear day in Guatemala City, you can enjoy stunning views of a volcanic eruption.

The island of Stromboli, which is part of the Aeolian Islands, has the world's longest period of activity, spanning over 2,000 years. Due to its frequent eruptions, the Stromboli volcano is called the “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean”. Eruptions are caused by small gas explosions that create "bubbles" of lava. These small eruptions can occur several times every hour. When this type of eruption occurs in other volcanic chains, they are called "strombolic eruptions." There are ongoing tours that provide a glimpse of how such eruptions occur.

Of course, visiting active volcanoes is an adventure, but, of course, safety should be your main concern. Guided tours - the best choice, because local residents usually always know what is happening to their mountain. Have you ever climbed an active volcano?

The eruption of the Grímsvötn volcano in southeast Iceland entered the active phase on May 21, 2011. Active volcanoes, along with earthquakes, can pose a great danger, and Indonesia is the undisputed world record holder both for the number of volcanic activity and for the earthquakes occurring on its territory. The planet's largest archipelago is part of the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire" - a horseshoe-shaped strip of volcanoes and tectonic faults 40 thousand kilometers long. She girdles Pacific Ocean, running along the coast of South and North America to southern Alaska, then turns to Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia and ends in the island area New Guinea, New Zealand and southwest Oceania. It is in the “Ring of Fire” that almost 90% of the approximately one and a half thousand known volcanoes on the planet are located.

90% of all earthquakes on Earth take place there.

Volcano Merapi in the central part of the Indonesian island of Java, whose height is about 3000 meters, is one of the ten most active volcanoes on the planet. Its name is translated in several versions: “place where the fire burns”, “fire mountain”, “red fire”. At the end of October 2010, Merapi entered the active eruption stage.

In the west of the island of Java there is a 2,622-meter active volcano, Papandayan, which last erupted in 2002.

AFP/ Mario Laporta

Vesuvius is the only active volcano in continental Europe. The height of Vesuvius is 1281 meters, the crater is about 750 m in diameter. It is not without reason that Vesuvius is considered one of the most dangerous and famous volcanoes world, because it was he who, almost 2 thousand years ago, destroyed one of the cities of the Roman Empire, known to everyone as Pompeii.

AFP/ Fabrizio VILLA

Etna is an active volcano located on east coast Sicily, near the cities of Messina and Catania. Its height cannot be indicated accurately, as it is constantly changing as a result of eruptions. Etna's area covers 1250 square kilometers. As a result of lateral eruptions, Etna has 400 craters. On average, the volcano erupts lava once every three months.

Yellowstone Caldera, located in Yellowstone national park in the USA - the largest volcanic system in North America.

It is often called a “supervolcano”, as it was formed as a result of a catastrophic eruption 640 thousand years ago. There are about three thousand geysers in the park, which is two-thirds of all geysers in the world. Besides Yellowstone, there are only four geyser fields— The Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka, as well as fields in Iceland, Chile and New Zealand. In addition to geysers, the park contains about ten thousand different geothermal springs, including hot and hydrogen sulfide springs, mud volcanoes and many others. This is half of all geothermal sources in the world. In May 2001, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory was established. Its tasks include not only monitoring volcanic and geothermal activity, but also assessing the possible dangers associated with this activity.

The Sakurajima volcano is located on the island of Kyushu in the Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima, its height is 1117 meters. Sakurajima is a stratovolcano and belongs to the first category volcanoes, that is, it can begin to erupt at any time. Sakurajima almost constantly causes anxiety among local residents, the volcano was last active in March 2009.

AFP/Marco Longari

Nyiragongo is an active volcano with a height of 3469 meters, located in the Virunga Mountains in central Africa and is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes on the African continent.

Nyiragongo overlaps with two older volcanoes, Baratu and Shaheru, and is surrounded by hundreds of small smoldering side volcanic cones. Nyiragongo, together with neighboring Nyamuragira, accounts for 40% of all observed eruptions in Africa.

AFP/ Omar Torres

Mexico's most famous volcano, Popocatepetl, is located just 40 kilometers southeast of the country's capital. The height of Popocatepetl above sea level is 5 thousand 452 meters. For a long time it was considered extinct, but in the mid-90s Popocatepetl began to show the first signs of activity, displaying a formidable disposition and justifying its name, which translated from the Aztec Nahuatl language means “Smoky Mountain”. Since 1519, more than 20 large eruptions of the Popocatepetl volcano have been recorded.

Sierra Negra is an active volcano on the island of Isabela (Galapagos Islands). Sierra Negra has the second largest crater in the world with a diameter of 11 kilometers, its height above sea level is 1124 m. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 2006.

AFP/ Desire Martin

Teide is a volcano on the island of Tenerife, the most high point Spain. The height of the volcano is 3718 m, relative height above the bottom Atlantic Ocean— 7500 m, is highest peak in this ocean. The island of Tenerife is the third largest volcanic island in the world. Teide is currently dormant, having last erupted in 1909.