Volcanoes are attractive due to their beauty, but they can harbor destructive power, causing massive loss of life and severe destruction. Although volcanic eruptions themselves are relatively rare and controlled by scientists, they still pose a huge source of danger to people who have chosen to live near them. Here is a list of the 10 most active volcanoes:
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10Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA
The Mauna Loa volcano is one of the largest volcanoes on our earth in terms of height and area covered. It is also one of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii in America. Mauna Loa is an active volcano that has probably been erupting for 700,000 years. The most recent eruption occurred relatively recently from March 24 to April 15, 1984.
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9
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 Philippine volcanoes, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. It has erupted many times, bringing sacrifice and destruction to nearby communities around the lake. The last eruption took place in 1977, but signs of activity have been regularly observed since 1991, characterized by both high activity and small seismic fractures.
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8Ulawun, Papua New Guinea
The most active volcano in Papua New Guinea is Ulavun, which is also one of the most dangerous. It is the tallest volcano and the highest peak in the Bismarck archipelago. The very first recorded eruption of Ulawun occurred in 1700. Since then and until now there have been 22 eruptions. Several thousand people constantly live near the volcano. During a major eruption in 1980, ash was thrown up to a height of 18 kilometers, producing pyroclastic flows that swept all the flanks of the volcano and devastated an area of \u200b\u200b20 square kilometers.
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7Nyiragongo, 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 the Nyiragongo volcano occurred on January 17, 2002, when hot lava destroyed 40% of the city of Goma.
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6Merapi, Indonesia
Merapi is the most famous and active volcano in Indonesia, erupting regularly 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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5Galeras, Colombia
Galeras has been active for at least about 1 million years. The volcano is located in the south of 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 struck when an expedition of several scientists went to the Galeras crater. The eruption happened 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 a former island. It is often called Eastern Vesuvius, and eruptions occur almost constantly. Remnants of the eruptions have formed highlands of white sand in this region. The volcano is dangerous due to its location in a densely populated area - near the city of Kagoshima, which is very close to the volcano.
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3
Popocatepetl is an active volcano and the second highest peak in Mexico (5426 m). Residents of the city of Puebla, which is 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 the scientists were able to warn the government in time, and people were evacuated from the disaster area on time.
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2Vesuvius, Italy
Mount Vesuvius is located 9 km east of Naples, a short distance from the coast. It is the only volcano in Europe to have erupted over the past hundred years. Vesuvius has erupted many times, the last one in 1944. Today, Vesuvius is considered one of the most destructive volcanoes in the world due to the 3 million population living nearby and the high probability of its eruptions.
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1Yellowstone Caldera, USA
It is the most dangerous active supervolcano, which means that the volume of emissions from this volcano can be over 1000 cubic kilometers, and this will have devastating consequences. Super volcanic eruptions usually cover vast areas with lava and volcanic ash, enough to threaten the extinction of entire species. Such a super-eruption can become one of the reasons for the death of our civilization, because when this volcano erupts, it causes the activity of other volcanoes, which leads to mass tectogenesis.
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Conclusion
These were the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world. We hope you enjoyed our material.
The most recent mention of active volcanic activity on the planet occurred on August 16 this year, when a series of mini-earthquakes occurred in the vicinity of the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland. On August 28, the eruption itself began, marked by the outpouring of lava from a long crack on the Holuhrain lava plateau. It was not as dramatic as the eruption that occurred in 2010, when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano emerged from a long hibernation, whose ash prevented flights for two weeks. This time, the pilot of the plane flying by, on the contrary, made a small detour and approached the ash clouds so that the passengers could better see this grandiose phenomenon. The Icelandic Meteorological Office, in turn, only raised the level of threat to air travel to red, without fanning it out of unnecessary hype. According to James White, a volcanologist at the University of Otago in New Zealand, there is little that society can do about large volcanic eruptions, so their rarity is encouraging.
10. Mount St. Helena, Washington, USA - 57 victims
On May 18, 1980, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake caused a series of explosions on Mount St. Helena. The process culminated in a violent eruption that released a record wave of rock debris, killing 57 people. In total, the volcanic eruption caused $ 1 billion in damage to the country, destroying roads, forests, bridges, houses and recreational areas, not to mention logging and rural areas. "Indirect human losses" as a result of this eruption made it one of the worst cataclysms in the world.
9. Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo - 70 victims
Located in the Virunga Mountains along the Great Rift Valley, Nyiragongo volcano has erupted at least 34 times since 1882. This active stratovolcano reaches an altitude of 1,100 meters and has a two-kilometer crater filled with a real lava lake. In January 1977, Nyiragongo began to erupt again, lava flowing down its slopes at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, as a result of which 70 people died. The next eruption occurred in 2002, when lava flows headed for the city of Goma and the shores of Lake Kivu, luckily no one was hurt this time. Scientists believe that the increased level of volcanism in the area has caused oversaturation of Lake Kivu with carbon dioxide to a dangerous level.
8. Pinatubo, Philippines - 800 victims
Located in the Qabusilan Mountains on Luzon Island, Mount Pinatubo has been dormant for over 450 years. In June 1991, when they forgot about the danger of this volcano, and its slopes were covered with dense vegetation, he suddenly woke up. Fortunately, timely monitoring and forecasts made it possible to safely evacuate most of the population, however, 800 people died as a result of this eruption. It was so strong that its effects were felt all over the world. A layer of sulfuric acid vapor settled in the planet's atmosphere for some time, which caused a decrease in global temperature by 12 degrees Celsius in 1991-1993.
7.Kelud, East Java, Indonesia - 5,000 victims
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Kelud Volcano has erupted over 30 times since 1000 AD. One of its deadliest eruptions occurred in 1919. More than 5,000 people died from hot and fast-moving mudflows. The volcano later erupted in 1951, 1966 and 1990, causing a total of 250 deaths. In 2007, 30,000 people were evacuated after his awakening, and two weeks later there was a huge explosion that destroyed the top of the mountain. Dust, ash and debris covered the nearby villages. The last eruption of this volcano occurred on February 13, 2014, when 76,000 people were evacuated. The volcanic ash ejection covered an area of \u200b\u200b500 square kilometers.
6. Lucky volcanic system, Iceland - 9000 victims
Iceland is a sparsely populated country located between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Circle, famous for its waterfalls, fjords, volcanoes and glaciers. Iceland got its nickname "The Land of Fire and Ice" because there is a whole system of 30 active volcanoes here. The reason for this is the location of the island on the border of the collision of two tectonic plates. We all remember the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010, when thousands of tons of ash and debris eclipsed the sky over the island and for several weeks air travel over Europe was banned. However, this eruption fades in the face of the 1784 eruption in the Lucky volcanic system. It lasted eight months, spewing more than 14.7 cubic kilometers of lava and releasing into the atmosphere an unthinkable amount of harmful gases, among which were carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and fluoride. A cloud of toxins spilled in acid rain, poisoning livestock and soil, and killed 9,000 people.
5. Mount Unzen, Japan - from 12,000 to 15,000 victims
Located near the city of Shimabara, in Nagasaki Prefecture, on the Japanese island of Kyushu, Mount Unzen is part of a group of intersecting stratovolcanoes. In 1792, Mount Unzen began to erupt. A huge explosion triggered an earthquake that caused the eastern part of the volcano's dome to break apart, resulting in a huge tsunami. On that memorable day, from 12 to 15 thousand people died. This eruption is considered the deadliest in the history of Japan. Mount Unzen subsequently erupted again in 1990, 1991 and 1995. In 1991, 43 people died, including three volcanologists.
4. Vesuvius, Italy - from 16,000 to 25,000 victims
Located 9 kilometers east of Naples, Mount Vesuvius is one of the most infamous volcanoes in the world. His notoriety was caused by the eruption in 79 AD, which destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The lava flow then reached 20 miles in length and consisted of molten rock, pumice, stones and ash. The amount of thermal energy released during this eruption was 100,000 times greater than the energy released during the bombing of Hiroshima. According to some estimates, the death toll ranges from 16,000 to 25,000. The last eruption of Vesuvius occurred in 1944. Today, Mount Vesuvius is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, since more than 3 million people live in its vicinity.
3. Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia - 25,000 victims
Nevado del Ruiz, also known as La Messa de Jurveo, is a stratovolcano located in Colombia. It is located 128 kilometers west of Bogota. It differs from an ordinary volcano in that it consists of many alternating layers of lava, hardened volcanic ash and pyroclastic rocks. Nevado del Ruiz is famous for its deadly mudflows that can bury entire cities beneath them. This volcano erupted three times: in 1595, 635 people died as a result of falling into a hot mudflow, in 1845 1,000 people died, and in 1985, which turned out to be the deadliest, more than 25,000 people died. Such a large number of victims is explained by the fact that the village of Armero appeared in the path of the lava flow, rushing at a speed of 65 kilometers, per hour.
2. Sang, West Indies - 30,000 victims
The Peli volcano is located at the northern tip of Martinique. Until recently, it was considered a dormant volcano. However, a series of eruptions that began on April 25, 1902 and ended with an explosion on May 8, proved otherwise. This eruption was called the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century. Pyroclastic flows destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre - the largest on the island. More than 30,000 people died as a result of this disaster. According to some reports, only two of the residents of the city survived: one of them was a prisoner, whose cell was poorly ventilated, and the second turned out to be a young girl who disappeared in a small boat in a small cave near the coast. She was later discovered drifting in the ocean, two miles from Martinique.
1. Tambora, Indonesia - 92,000 victims
The eruption of the Tambora volcano began on April 10, 1816, killing 92,000 people. The volume of lava, at more than 38 cubic miles, is considered the largest in the history of all eruptions. Before the eruption began, Mount Tambora reached 4 kilometers in height, after which its height decreased to 2.7 kilometers. This volcano is considered not only the deadliest of all, but also had the most powerful impact on the Earth's climate. As a result of the eruption, the planet was hidden from the rays of the Sun for a whole year. The eruption was so significant that it caused a series of weather anomalies around the world: it snowed in New England in June, crops were poor everywhere, and cattle died from starvation throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This phenomenon has become widely known as "volcanic winter".
Volcanic eruptions have claimed millions of lives and continue to frighten people. This is a real disaster, which can start suddenly and lead to sad irreparable consequences. There are volcanoes on the planet that can be safely called the most dangerous.
Top 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world:
- In the Yellowstone National Park of America, there is a volcano of the same name, which in ancient times was a supervolcano that swept away all life in its path. And although the last time activity manifested itself, as scientists have established, about six hundred thousand years ago, it can resume at any time. Today, millions of tourists visit these spectacular sites every year to witness stunning phenomena: hot springs and geysers. And this is not only beautiful, but also dangerous. The researchers found that the heating of the water coming out of the bowels of the earth could signal that a huge clot of magma is gradually rising to the surface from the center of the volcano. And if it breaks out, it will become a catastrophe on a planetary scale. The eruption can destroy the nature of the surrounding area, claim the lives of 90 thousand local residents and radically change the landscape of the USA.
- When listing the most dangerous volcanoes, Vesuvius is worth mentioning. It has a relatively low height (1281 meters) located in Italy and is the only European volcano that has erupted over the past hundred years. It was he who destroyed Pompeii, and Karl Bryullov reflected the death of this city in his painting. Also Herculane fell under the pressure of the mountain. Moreover, the city of Pompeii was completely destroyed and instantly buried: most of it burned down under the influence of lava, and everything else was buried in ash. As a result, a unique open-air museum appeared in Italy, reminiscent of sad events. The last peak of activity fell on the 44th year of the last century, and the volcano is still “sleeping”. But scientists suggest that an explosion can occur at any time, because the frequency of eruptions previously was once every twenty years. And yet, some daredevils populate the neighborhood.
- The volcano with the complex name Popocatepetl is located in Mexico, and its height exceeds five kilometers! It is active but last erupted in 2000. Then, the local authorities, who noticed something wrong in time, managed to evacuate more than forty thousand people, thereby saving them from certain death. But people still live in the vicinity of the mountain, and the radius of action in a strong large-scale explosion could affect a huge territory, which houses more than 9 million Mexicans. And this may well happen, because in five hundred years Popocatepetl has erupted twenty times!
- In Japan, there is a not very large, but dangerous volcano Sakurajima. The height is a little more than 1100 meters, but due to its high activity and unpredictability, the mountain is sometimes called “Eastern Vesuvius”, which is quite justified. Once upon a time Sakurajima rose from the water and for a long time was a separate island, but at the beginning of the last century an eruption occurred, which formed a kind of bridge between the mountain and the territory of the country. The volcano is recognized as one of the most active, because over the past forty-five years there have been more than seventy eruptions! Although not all of them were powerful, a huge explosion with a splash of boiling lava could wipe the surrounding area from the face of the Earth. The last time activity was observed several years ago, and in 2009, rocks from the crater flew two miles.
- The Colombian Galeras is quite high (over 4200 meters) and last showed itself in 2010, and then the local authorities had to urgently evacuate three thousand people living near the slopes. By the way, activity has been manifested for about a million years, and the frequency of eruptions is unpredictable: Galeras can "sleep" for several years, but then explode every year. It is such a nasty character that makes the volcano one of the most dangerous on the planet and makes the population of Colombia and Ecuador worry (the mountain is located on the border with this country, therefore, lava flowing down the slopes and ash flying in all directions may well affect the state and cause huge damage to it).
- Merapi is located in Indonesia, and its name literally translates as "mountain of fire", which fully reflects the behavior of this volcano. It has a height of less than three kilometers and last showed itself in 2010. Moreover, scientists have proven that Merapi has been acting and regularly erupting for more than ten thousand years, and each eruption is accompanied by the outpouring of huge streams of incandescent lava, burning everything in its path. In Indonesia and the surrounding area, the volcano simply has no equal, it keeps all local residents in awe. Several years ago, more than 350 people died at the foot of the mountain, and more than three hundred thousand were left homeless. And after this disaster, the government finally developed an evacuation scheme.
- Nyiragongo is a 3.47 km high mountain located in the Congo. Over the past 135 years, there have been at least thirty-four eruptions, the worst of which happened in September 2002. Hot lava, which was rapidly descending along the slopes of the mountain, affected almost half of the territory located at the foot of the city of Goma and killed one hundred and forty-seven people. More than 120 thousand residents lost their homes due to the eruption, and many received serious burns and injuries. Terrible events took place in the 77th year of the last century, when part of the crater fell off, and a hot stone rolled down the villages, destroying everything around. It's incredibly dangerous to live here.
- Papua New Guinea is home to the Ulavun volcano, which was last active just a few years ago. The mountain is more than 2.3 kilometers high, it has regular shapes and looks very majestic, so the locals treat it with great respect and consider it the father of their lands. But the volcano has erupted more than twenty times since the eighteenth century, and some of the explosions were very powerful. The last burst of activity was observed in the 80th year of the last century, and then a huge column of ash burst out of the crater, which literally covered the entire mountain with its pyroclastic flows. To this day, the Papuans observe weak eruptions, but at any moment the most terrible and irreparable can occur.
- In the Philippines, there is a volcano with a beautiful and melodic name Taal. The mountain is located on an island in the lake of the same name and barely exceeds three hundred meters in height, but the Filipinos have already managed to be convinced of its danger and difficult nature. Although Taal last erupted in the 65th year of the last century, no one can guarantee the preservation of calm. A powerful surge in activity was observed at the beginning of the twentieth century, and then more than 1,300 people died. In addition, the incandescent lava flowing down the slopes almost completely destroyed all life within a radius of ten kilometers.
- The Mauna Loa volcano is located in Hawaii and is not only one of the most dangerous, but also has an impressive size - more than 4160 meters in height. The last time an eruption was observed in the 84th year of the XX century, and the volcano became active more than seven hundred thousand years ago. But it is reassuring that liquid magma comes out and flows down the slopes rather slowly, so residents, noticing the danger in time, will be able to evacuate and avoid death. And yet, nature is unpredictable, so volcanologists are confident that a catastrophic eruption is likely to cause serious destruction.
These were the most dangerous volcanoes, keeping millions of people living nearby at bay.
Most of the volcanoes of our planet are located in the "ring of fire", which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. There are about 1,500 volcanoes on Earth, 540 of which 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 extraordinarily 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 in general all living things died at a distance of 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 occurred 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 1300 people died, in 1974 two villages were destroyed, in 2010 353 people died. Last eruption - 2011
6. St. Helens, altitude 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. During 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 were killed 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 significantly higher and was one large island. However, the most powerful eruption of 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Today Krakatoa is still active and small eruptions occur fairly regularly. 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.
Volcanic eruptions are dangerous primarily for their direct impact - the release of tons of burning lava, under which entire cities can perish. But, in addition, such side factors as the suffocating effect of volcanic gases, the threat of a tsunami, isolation from sunlight, distortion of the terrain and local climatic changes are also dangerous.
Merapi, Indonesia
Merapi is one of the largest volcanoes in the islands of Indonesia. It is also one of the most active: large eruptions occur once every seven to eight years, and small - once every two years. At the same time, smoke from the top of the volcano appears almost daily, preventing local residents from forgetting about the threat. Merapi is also famous for the fact that in 1006 the whole medieval Javanese-Indian state of Mataram was seriously damaged by his activities. The volcano's particular danger is that it is located near the large Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, which is home to about 400 thousand people.
Sakurajima, Japan
Sakurajima has been in constant volcanic activity since 1955, with the last eruption occurring in early 2009. Until 1914, the volcano was located on a separate island of the same name, but frozen lava flows connected the island with the Osumi Peninsula. The residents of the city of Kagoshima are already accustomed to the volcano's hectic behavior and are constantly ready to take refuge in shelters.
Aso volcano, Japan
The last time the volcanic activity of the volcano was recorded quite recently, in 2011. Then the ash cloud spread over an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 100 km. From that time to the present, about 2500 tremors were recorded, which indicates the activity of the volcano and its readiness to erupt. Despite the direct danger, about 50 thousand people live in its immediate vicinity, and the crater is a popular tourist attraction for daredevils. In winter, the slopes are covered with snow and in the valley there is skiing and sledding.
Popocatepetl, Mexico
One of the largest volcanoes in Mexico is located literally fifty kilometers away. It is a city with a population of 20 million who are in constant readiness for evacuation. In addition to Mexico City, large cities such as Puebla and Tlaxcala de Jikotencatl are located nearby. Popocatepetl also gives them a reason to get nervous: emissions of gas, sulfur, dust and stones occur literally every month. Over the past decades, the volcano has erupted in 2000, 2005 and 2012. Many climbers strive to climb to the top. Popocatepetl is famous for the fact that in 1955 he was conquered by Ernesto Che Guevara.
Etna, Italy
This Sicilian volcano is interesting in that it has not only one main wide crater, but also many small craters on the slopes. Etna is in constant activity, and small eruptions occur at intervals of several months. This does not prevent the Sicilians from densely populating the slopes of the volcano, since the presence of minerals and trace elements makes the soil very fertile. The last major eruption was in May 2011, and small emissions of ash and dust were in April 2013. By the way, Etna is the largest volcano in: it is two and a half times larger than Vesuvius.
Vesuvius, Italy
Vesuvius is one of the three active volcanoes in Italy, along with Etna and Stromboli. They are even jokingly called "hot Italian family". In 79, the eruption of Vesuvius destroyed the city of Pompeii with all the inhabitants who were buried under layers of lava, pumice and mud. In one of the last violent eruptions, which occurred in 1944, about 60 people died and the nearby cities of San Sebastiano and Massa were almost completely destroyed. According to scientists, Vesuvius destroyed nearby cities about 80 times! By the way, this volcano has set many records. Firstly, it is the only active volcano in the mainland, secondly, it is the most studied and predictable, thirdly, the territory of the volcano is a nature reserve and a national park where excursions are held. You can climb only on foot, as the lift and funicular have not yet been restored.
Colima, Mexico
The volcanic mountain consists of two peaks: the already extinct Nevado de Colima, which is covered with snow most of the time, and the active volcano Colima. Colima is particularly active: since 1576 it has erupted more than 40 times. A violent eruption occurred in the summer of 2005, when the authorities had to evacuate people from nearby villages. Then the ash column was thrown to a height of about 5 km, spreading a cloud of smoke and dust. Now the volcano is fraught with danger not only for local residents, but for the whole country.
Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA
Scientists have been observing the volcano since 1912 - a volcanological station is located on its slopes, as well as a solar and atmospheric observatory. The height of the volcano reaches 4169 m. The last powerful eruption of Mauna Loa destroyed several villages in 1950. Until 2002, the seismic activity of the volcano was low, until its increase was recorded, which indicates the possibility of eruptions in the near future.
Galeras, Colombia
Volcano Galeras is very powerful: its diameter at the base exceeds 20 km, and the crater width is about 320 m. The volcano is very dangerous - every few years, due to its activity, the population of the nearby town of Pasto has to be evacuated. The last such evacuation took place in 2010, when about 9 thousand people were in the shelters due to the threat of a strong eruption. Thus, the restless Galeras keeps the locals in constant tension.
Nyiragongo, Republic of the Congo
Volcano Nyiragongo is considered the most dangerous in the whole: it accounts for about half of all cases of volcanic activity recorded on the continent. Since 1882, 34 eruptions have occurred. Nyiragongo's lava has a special chemical composition, so it is unusually liquid and fluid. The speed of the erupted lava can reach 100 km / h. In the main crater of the volcano there is a lava lake, the temperature of which heats up to 982 C º, and the bursts reach heights of 7 to 30 m. The last largest eruption occurred in 2002, then 147 people died, 14 thousand buildings were destroyed, and 350 thousand people left homeless.
It is worth noting that scientists have been studying the activity of volcanoes for many years and modern technology recognizes the onset of their seismic activity. Many volcanoes have webcams that can be used to monitor what is happening in real time. People living nearby are already accustomed to this behavior of volcanoes and know what to do when an eruption begins, and emergency services have the means to evacuate local residents. So every year the probability of casualties from volcanic eruptions becomes less and less.