The highest volcanoes in the world. The highest volcanoes in the world The largest extinct volcano on earth

The ancient Romans believed that the god Vulcan commanded the destructive fire, hence the name of the geological hills. Today, scientific discoveries have made it possible to describe the origin of volcanoes, the nature of eruptions, and the danger to the population living nearby.

Consider the largest active geological elevations and give them a description. On the surface of the land, their number exceeds 900 pieces, hundreds more are located under the waters of the oceans.

The biggest eruption ever

All terrestrial volcanoes are divided into two types:

operating;
extinct.

Depending on the activity of the eruption, it can last either for several days or indefinitely. It is noteworthy that the atmosphere on planet Earth arose due to the strongest eruptions, during which a huge amount of soot, steam and carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere.

Location of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet

Any eruption is assessed as an emergency. The force is calculated according to the VEI (Volcanic Eruption Index) scale and does not depend on the features of the crater and the size of the geological formation itself. The score is given according to two parameters:

the volume of the erupted mass;
ash column height.

When studying the consequences of volcanic activity, it turned out that some supervolcanoes are capable of changing the climate on the planet by their activity. This happened about 75 thousand years ago.

Supervolcano Toba eruption

The exact date of the beginning of the eruption of the Indonesian volcano is unknown, at that time the planet was going through the last ice age. Today, its crater is located in the center of the island of Sumatra, where big lake. Toba is extinct and will never be able to influence the climate again.

The eruption was so powerful that the ashes of Toba were later found in the region of Lake Malawi ( East Africa, Great Rift Valley). The volume of lava exceeded 2800 km 3, this had the most severe consequences:

reduction in human, animal and bird populations;
the release of ash into the atmosphere and the reduction of sunlight;
decrease in the average temperature on the planet by 3 degrees;
destruction of a number of plants and microorganisms.

Toby Crater today is the lake of the same name

Supervolcano eruptions on Earth occur no more than once every 100,000 years.

The largest volcano in North America - Yellowstone

Supervolcano is not exactly a scientific term, it is used to evaluate the largest geological elevations that can cause significant harm to the planet and humanity. The eruption of such a giant can be estimated at 8 points on the VEI scale.

Consider the largest volcano in America and find out if it may erupt in the near future.

Yellowstone is a basin of volcanic origin on a hill called a caldera. It is located in the northwestern part of the United States (Wyoming) on the territory of the Yellowstone Nature Reserve. Geologists have measured the size of the caldera: 55 by 72 kilometers, which is about a third of the protected area. The height of the volcano is 2805 meters.

Since the dimensions of the Yellowstone caldera are huge, they found it relatively recently.

Studies show that a series of three eruptions took place earlier, the first of which is dated 2.1 million years ago. Each of them was weaker than the previous one. The likelihood that Yellowstone will wake up is very small. Meanwhile, it is impossible to predict the beginning of activity. The US government annually invests in a project to cool the magma bubble.

The largest volcano in Europe - Etna

There are 2 supervolcanoes in Europe, their activity is not very high. However, people still remember the aftermath of the Vesuvius eruption that engulfed Pompeii and nearby cities.

To see the largest volcano in Europe, you should go to Italy to the island of Sicily. On the east coast near the town of Messina is Mount Etna with a height of 3295 meters. Studies have shown that the giant has hundreds of side craters, from which lava is knocked out one by one.

The breathtaking sight of the eruption of Etna on about. Sicily

Etna is a dangerous volcano, once every hundred years it floods the Sicilians with hot streams, destroying villages and towns. The ash left after that is rich in minerals and trace elements, so grapes, olives, and tangerines are grown on the slopes. In 2015, Etna ejected a lava flow 1 kilometer high.

The largest volcano in Russia - Elbrus

There are several active volcanoes in Russia that can wake up at any moment. Most are geographically located in Asia, but there is one that is also the most high point Europe.

The largest volcano in Russia is the Caucasian Elbrus, which has been dormant for a long time and is not considered dangerous. The summit is located at an altitude of 5642 meters. Formed 2-3 million years ago, volcanic activity lasted 250 thousand years, after which he fell asleep. Today, hotels have been built in the foothills and on the slopes, tourist bases, rescue center, cable cars.

Do not forget that Elbrus is a sleeping volcano, and one day it will wake up

Studies in 2000-2010 showed that the activity of Elbrus is increasing, moss was found on the slopes near the top in place of glaciers. The volcano may wake up within the next 50-70 years.

TOP 10 largest volcanoes in the world

Active volcanoes are located all over the planet Earth. The largest dangerous areas are Central and South America, Indonesia, Kamchatka, Kurile Islands and Japan, Hawaii, and the US Northwest. Introducing the TOP 10 largest active volcanoes in the world by height.

1. Ojos del Salado (6893 m)

The highest volcano on Earth is the giant Ojos del Salado, located on the border between Argentina and Chile in South America. Considered extinct and not dangerous, but little activity has been observed. The Ojos del Salado crater is home to the most alpine lake planets.

The greatest volcano on the planet, although active, may soon be considered extinct

The Incas, who lived here historically, considered the supervolcano sacred; climbers discovered sacrificial altars on the slopes of the mountain.

2. Lullaillaco (6723 m)

The high plateau of Puna de Atacama is dotted with large volcanoes. Lullaillaco is one of them. A number of volcanologists include Ojos del Salado in the list of extinct ones, in their opinion, Llullaillaco should take first place in the top. Geographically, they are neighbors. Last eruption happened in 1877.

The volcano is located in the driest place on the planet, the Atacama Desert.

The Incas, who survived more than one great catastrophe, performed sacrificial rites. So, in 1999, the mummies of three well-preserved children were discovered here; they are stored in the Museum of Argentina.

3. San Pedro (6159 m)

In the central part of the Andes, the largest stratovolcano is San Pedro. Geographically lies in the province of El Loa in Chile. Last operated in 1960. Since there are few settlements in the area, it is not considered dangerous.

Next to San Pedro is the giant San Pablo

It is currently in a state of long dormancy, does not show activity. Climbers have conquered San Pedro more than once; the journey is considered difficult due to the dry climate.

4. Cotopaxi (5911 m)

Cotopaxi Volcano is the second highest peak in Ecuador. Dimensions of the crater: 800 by 550 meters. Stratovolcano is considered not only large, but also dangerous. It has been active over 50 times in the last 300 years.

Cotopaxi - a dangerous volcano

The last eruption occurred in 2015. The top of Cotopaxi is steep, covered with snow and ice, bases for climbers are built on the slopes.

5. Kilimanjaro (5895 m)

One of the most attractive sights of Tanzania, the highest volcano in Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro. The last activity is dated 200 thousand years before today, but a detailed study showed that the red-hot lava is located close, tremors can provoke its release at any moment. It is also interesting that the ice cap at the top has melted significantly over the past 100 years, its volume has decreased by 82%.

Kilimanjaro Kibo crater from above

Despite the concerns of volcanologists, Kilimanjaro is a mecca for climbers. The mountain is considered difficult to conquer. Consists of three peaks covered with glaciers:

Mawenzi (eastern);
Shira (western);
Kibo (central).

The area of Kilimanjaro is 6208 kilometers.

6. Misty (5821 m)

Let's go back to South America. The sixth place in the list is occupied by the Peruvian Misti volcano, the top of which is covered with snow only in winter. 20 kilometers from the hill lies the city of Arequipa, built from white pyroclastic material mined from the mountain.

Center of Arequipa, Misti Volcano in the background to the right

In 1985, the population observed weak activity, at the moment Misty is stable. Inca mummies were also found on its slopes.

7. Orizaba (5700 m)

Orizaba Peak is the highest point in Mexico. For more than 300 years, it has been in a phase of calm, volcanologists are watching it. Next to it is the Sierra Negra stratovolcano, on top of which there is a high-precision telescope. An observatory was built between the two peaks to observe the galaxy.

Trail to Orizaba Peak

The top of Orizaba is a small crater covered by a cork.

8. Elbrus (5642 m)

The largest volcano in Eastern Europe and Russia is Elbrus. It last erupted over 5,000 years ago. History knows hundreds of failures during ascents and not a single death from red-hot lava.

The scheme of climbing Elbrus

A much more dangerous supervolcano in Russia is Klyuchevskaya Sopka, which lies in Kamchatka. In the list of the most big volcanoes on Earth, it takes 12th place, it shows activity approximately every 5 years.

Activity of Klyuchevskaya Sopka

9. Popocatepetl (5422 m)

Translated from the Nahuatl language, the name of the active powerful stratovolcano literally means "smoking hill". It is the second highest peak in Mexico. Not far from it is the largest city in the country - Mexico City.

Threw out ashes and gases in 2019 without causing any harm to the population.

10. Sangay (5230 m)

The Sangay volcanic formation in Ecuador has three craters. The area around it is considered a protected area. Sangai is active, last ejecting lava flows in 2016. The world watched the action in horror, but there were no casualties.

Sangai volcano in 2016

conclusions

The largest eruption studied by volcanologists occurred on the island of Sumatra thousands of years ago. Such a phenomenon can change the climate on the planet and harm humanity.
The largest volcano by area in North America is Yellowstone. If he enters the active phase, it will end in disaster.
largest in Western Europe Etna stratovolcano in Italy.
In Russia, the highest is Elbrus, the largest in area is Klyuchevskaya Sopka.
The largest volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado in Argentina and Chile. He is inactive. If volcanologists recognize it as sleeping, Llullaillaco next to it will rise to the first line.

Volcanoes in our mind represent the boiling of emotions. They are huge and unpredictable, and their action is destructive. In general, a volcano of passions. In fact, how big are they? And do they all continuously boil and smoke, throwing out red-hot lava? For the inhabitants of which regions do they pose a danger? How big is it? When was the world's largest volcano last erupting? What is the name and where is it located? Does activity depend on size?

Volcanoes of the planet

In fact, most of the volcanoes are located in the southern latitudes. Conventionally, the volcanic belts of the earth are divided into three groups: Pacific, Mediterranean-Indonesian and Atlantic. The most active zones are located along these lines, in each of which there are volcanoes - large, relatively small and gigantic. The map of Latin America is literally strewn with them, especially in the middle part, from Mexico in the north to Ecuador in the south. There are many of them in countries Central Africa(Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Eritrea). Southeast Asia is also rich in these wonders of nature, as is island states(Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Fiji Islands), whose names please the ears of exotic lovers. Nevertheless, there are volcanoes in other places, for example, in Kamchatka, in Japan, and also in Alaska, New Zealand and other regions with a cold and temperate climate.

In Europe, Vesuvius and Etna became notorious, causing the death, complete or partial, of entire cities (sometimes to the delight of modern archaeologists). Despite the tragedies, people continue to settle near the towering masses with smoking craters, tourists go to them, rightfully considering them to be real sights. Their sizes range from 350 meters (Taal, Philippines) to almost seven kilometers Ojos del Salado (border of Chile and Argentina). But height is not the main criterion for determining the largest volcano in the world. In America, they believe that he is in the state of Wyoming. And this opinion has serious grounds. The Yellowstone Volcano is considered the largest on the planet in terms of the area occupied on the map. But the criteria for sizing are ambiguous. For example, there are volcanoes much higher.

Old and young volcanoes

To assess the degree of danger of the proximity to the volcano, you need to understand what it is. After all, it was not just a high mountain that was called that. So, volcanoes are located in those places on the earth's surface where the movement of the upper solid layer occurs. The interior of the Earth is filled with boiling magma, it seethes and sometimes asks to come out. In those places where it comes closest to the upper hardened edge, a volcano can arise under certain conditions. This process is long, sometimes taking millions of years, but it does not stop even for a moment. In this case, the age of the volcano does not really matter. A long-extinct crater may suddenly awaken. It is not always known when the previous eruption occurred. It is believed, however, that young volcanoes are the most active. Eruptions often occur quite unexpectedly.

What is inside?

Both the largest volcano in the world and the relatively small one have a similar internal structure. The mass of previously ejected petrified lava rises above the surface and presses on a layer of granite, basalt and other stone deposits, provoking the release of magma through the main trunk and its side branches. The eruption does not last long (sometimes several hours), then a precarious equilibrium sets in, sometimes leading to the freezing of the surface of the crater, in which a lake often appears. This parity of internal pressure and external conditions can be violated at any moment. And then the sky will darken from the ashes, so much carbon monoxide and other ozone-depleting compounds will rise into the air that all prohibitions on the use of freon in cans will seem completely inappropriate and useless. And all this happens, even if it is not the largest volcano in the world that erupts, but rather a medium or very “small” one.

But it's all on the earth's surface. And under the water passes its own volcanic life. And if "land" volcanoes emit substances harmful to the ozone layer into the atmosphere, then their underwater counterparts, on the contrary, help to restore it. This happens because by their activity they contribute to the vital activity of phytoplankton, which in turn produces oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. Due to the iron emitted by underwater volcanoes, the microelement supply of the food chain of a number of living microorganisms occurs.

Underwater seismic and volcanic activity lead to a change in the topography of the ocean floor, up to the appearance or disappearance of islands, and sometimes even causes the appearance of giant tsunami waves. But underwater volcanoes excite people to a lesser extent than those that can be seen with your own eyes, making your way to the nearest national park or making a tourist voyage.

yellowstone miracle

The USA is a young country, its history is not calculated in many centuries, and even more so in millennia, as in many European or Asian countries. The more Americans love and appreciate everything that can be proud of in their homeland. If there is something very special in the country (better than in the whole world), then the guides do not forget to remind tourists about this, and numerous avenues vied with each other to point to such an attraction. This is what the United States authorities have really succeeded in, so it is in respect for nature. There are wonderful national parks all over the country. They began to be created back in the 19th century, many presidents paid great attention to them, and F. D. Roosevelt believed that they, like nothing else, convey the essence of the whole country.

Any resident of Wyoming knows where the largest volcano is located. "In America, of course!" he says confidently. Moreover, in Yellowstone national park, from which the process of creating reserves in the United States began in 1872. And this reserve is named after the volcano. It is really huge, but somehow flattened. Even having arrived here, not everyone will immediately understand that they are in the crater itself. The area occupied by the largest volcano in the world (and this is four thousand square kilometers) is twenty times the size of the US capital, the city of Washington. The height of the crater, in fact, is also by no means small, more than three kilometers, but, given such a vast base, it is somehow lost in the general landscape of the National Park.

Yellowstone is the largest volcano in the world. The US is very proud of it. It would take at least an hour to cross its extinct crater alone by car. Its dimensions are 72 kilometers long and 55 kilometers wide.

It is the area occupied by Yellowstone that gives grounds for its title. Looking at its cartographic plan, it is easy to conclude that although it is not the highest, it is still the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume. What is the name of his Ecuadorian competitor, who has risen to almost seven kilometers in height? More on this later. In the meantime, you can speculate about the potential danger posed by Yellowstone.

One of the threats to the US

Modern geodetic science allows with a high degree It is reasonable to assume that it erupted infrequently, only a hundred times in its entire life. And its age is quite respectable, seventeen million years. The last time he showed his temper about 6400 centuries ago. A simple arithmetic calculation leads to the frightening thought that an eruption may soon begin again. And every year the probability of this event increases more and more. The data obtained using the means of objective control is alarming, since the beginning of the new millennium, the internal activity of the mountain has been growing. Inside a gigantic flattened cone with a collapsed center-crater, lava is noisy, and louder and louder. This hum scares not only the inhabitants of Wyoming and neighboring states. Pessimists argue that no thermonuclear war can be compared in terms of consequences with the destruction that the largest volcano in the world can cause. In the United States, life will become impossible, and not in some figurative, political or economic sense, but in the most literal, physical sense, and throughout the country. If you imagine that the largest volcano in the world woke up, there is something to be horrified. Sunlight will cease to flow, ash raised into the air will close the luminary. The greenhouse effect will lead to a sharp decrease in temperature. The overall picture is reminiscent of a futuristic horror film in which the consequences of a nuclear war are plotted.

However, not all scientists are so pessimistic. In fact, no one knows exactly how events will develop in the event of a new eruption, and how serious the catastrophe will be if the largest volcano in the world begins to erupt. On the other hand, if something like this does happen, then no security measures will be effective. Evacuate to safe place the entire population of the United States (and it is possible that Canada and Mexico will also suffer) is simply impossible. So you should not be afraid in any case, what to be, that cannot be avoided.

In general, all these fears are reminiscent of the concern of a listener of a lecture on the future of the universe, who was very frightened when he heard that in a hundred million years the Sun would go out and life on Earth would end, but calmed down, realizing that the speaker misspoke. It turns out that there is still a hundred billion years ahead, not a hundred million. Quite another matter!

Despite the monstrous threat to national security, any American student knows which is the largest volcano in the world and where it is located. And he is very proud that Yellowstone is an American landmark.

Other Greatest Volcanoes in the World, Active and Dormant

Despite its huge size, Yellowstone cannot boast of worldwide fame. It is known in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the inhabitants of the Old World, visiting America, are more often interested in other wonders, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood and the skyscrapers of New York, Dallas or San Francisco. Not every tourist will remember where the largest volcano in the world is located. Photos of Fujiyama, Vesuvius, Popocatepetl and other eternal masses are replicated in tourist brochures much more widely. These volcanoes have become a kind of visiting cards of the countries in which they are located, and often even cultural and national symbols. They compose songs, write poems about them, since ancient times they have become inanimate (and sometimes living) characters of folk sagas, legends and traditions. Perhaps, in addition to deep folklore roots, the fact that from time to time, unlike Yellowstone, they smoke, make noise and show other signs of “aliveness”, usually unpleasant, contributed to the popularity of these natural attractions. So where are the largest active volcanoes in the world and what is the secret of their popularity?

Calm Vesuvius

You can start from anywhere in the world. For example, from the old woman of Europe. Vesuvius is not the largest volcano. Its height would not make much impression on America, it is almost three times lower than Yellowstone. But this does not prevent him, decorating the Neapolitan landscape, from being considered the highest in Europe. It was Vesuvius that destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii. In previous centuries, the volcano erupted at different intervals, but quite often according to volcanic concepts. Sometimes a century and a half passed between revivals, and sometimes only fifty years. In 1631, four thousand Neapolitans became victims of the elements, and the crater, as a result of the rapid outflow of red-hot magma, fell by almost 170 meters.

The last eruption happened during World War II, in 1944. Then the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano became victims of destruction not related to the actions of the Allied bomber aircraft. A column of ash and smoke rose to a nine-kilometer height, showing mankind the full power of nature, in comparison with which the explosions of all bombs pale, at least as of 1944. In 1945, people used weapons commensurate with the forces of the earth's interior. It was in Japan.

Fujiyama: extinguished fire deity

Volcanoes are beautiful. Their silhouettes evoke poetic emotions, they make you think about the frailty of human life, eternity and many other philosophical issues that people rarely address in everyday life. Of course, people as prone to contemplation as the Japanese could not help but succumb to the charm of such a majestic spectacle as Mount Fuji. But in addition to purely aesthetic pleasure, the islanders also showed a completely practical mindset, using the image for commercial purposes. sacred mountain. Perhaps the same fate awaits the other largest volcanoes in the world. Photo, video and other products of the Japanese corporation Fuji are widely known all over the world.

Fujiyama itself is considered an extinct volcano, the last time she spewed lava and ash back in 1707. This symbol of Japan is really very beautiful, both Japanese and foreigners go to admire it. Artists often depict the snow-capped peak of the volcano in combination with cherry blossoms, another "visiting card" of the Land of the Rising Sun. Mount Fuji is 3,776 meters high.

Volcanoes of Ecuador and the largest active volcano in the world

There are more than six hundred active volcanoes on our planet. They are located on lines along which tectonic plates press each other with their edges. It is on these frontiers that revolutionary changes in the relief take place. mountain ranges. An example is the Andes. Here, according to Ecuador, is the largest active volcano in the world, it is called Cotopaxi. Its height exceeds 5911 meters. This, of course, is a lot, but the reasons for such a high title of this volcano remain a mystery. The fact is that its neighbors in the Andes - Lullaillaco and Ojos del Salado - are higher than it (6739 and 6887, respectively). This discrepancy can only be explained by commercial considerations. It’s just that a developed tourist infrastructure has been created around Cotopaxi, which prompts visiting guests to inspire that they have visited the largest volcano in America, this time Latin. To see Ojos del Salado, you need to make a long and difficult journey.

Volcano in the country - happiness or sorrow?

Many countries of the world somehow do without volcanoes. No, and don't. Neighborhood with a fire-breathing mountain always threatens with unpredictable consequences. If the element rages, destruction and casualties are inevitable, and humanity has not yet learned to counter these threats. The most that can be done in this case is to try to leave the dangerous territory in a timely manner. However, since such a natural formation does exist in a number of countries, it should be treated as something useful.

Tens of thousands of tourists, climbers and climbers climb the craters, descend into them, sometimes risking their lives. Takova human nature, although they say that "smart will not go uphill."

Eric Peterson, a Swedish climber, died on Batur in Bali. Kamchatka volcano The stone took the lives of three Belarusian travelers. The Japanese volcano Ontake, located two hundred kilometers from Tokyo, suddenly woke up, throwing a huge amount of ash into the sky, which led to the death of at least three dozen tourists. And all these tragedies happened literally for Last year. Not the largest volcanoes in the world pose a mortal danger, although they cannot be called small either. The luckiest countries are those in which volcanoes are dormant, and even better if they are completely extinct.

There are hundreds of volcanoes on the surface of the Earth. Among them are the most high volcanoes, the most powerful volcanoes, the largest volcanoes. And they are united by one thing - each rises to tens and hundreds of meters and frightens with its power: it is possible that the volcano will begin to release steam and ash.

Where are the most active volcanoes?

Volcanoes are geological formations that appear in the earth's crust above cracks. And it is through them that ash, lava, loose rocks, water vapor and gases break through to the surface.

A volcano is called active if it showed signs of activity (for example, emitted gas and steam) in a historical time for a person.

The largest number of active volcanoes is located on the territory of the Malay Archipelago. It is the largest on the planet, located between the continents of Australia and Asia. And in Russia, a large cluster of volcanoes is located in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. About 60 volcanoes erupt every year in this part. But there is evidence of 627 volcanoes that have shown signs of life in the last 10,000 years.

The largest volcano

One of the largest volcanoes in the world is called Mauna Loa. It literally translates to "Long Mountain" in Hawaiian. The volcano occupies most of the island of Hawaii and is considered perhaps the most active in the world. Mauna Low has erupted exactly 33 times since it was first recorded in 1843. The last time the volcano came to life was in 1984. Then about 30 thousand acres of land were covered with lava, and the area of the island itself increased by 180 hectares. Mauna Low rises to 4169 meters above sea level. But if you measure the height of the volcano from the bottom, then the figure will be twice as large - 9 thousand meters. This is even higher than famous mountain Everest.

Hawaiian is not only the largest and most powerful volcano, it is also the most massive. Its volume from the base to the top is 75 thousand cubic kilometers. By the way, there are many legends around Mauna Low. According to one of them, the mistress of the volcanoes Pele was expelled from the house by her older sister, who was the goddess of water and the sea. When Pele tried to build her own house, her sister sent waves to destroy it. As a result, Pele settled on the island and made herself a house called Mauna Low, it was so massive that the waves could not overwhelm it.

Tallest active volcano

The highest active volcano is considered by some to be Llullaillaco. It is located in the Chilean-Argentine Andes. Its height is 6 thousand 723 meters. The eruption of the largest volcano was last recorded in 1877.

However, on the question of which is the highest active volcano in the world, the opinions of scientists differ. Some believe that the highest is Cotopaxi. It is located in the South American Andes, in Ecuador. Its height is less than that of the previous one, only 5,897 meters. But the last major eruption was recorded in 1942. Cotopaxi can rightly be called the most beautiful in Ecuador. This is due to the riot of greenery at the foot and the graceful crater. However, the picture is deceiving. Cotopaxi, like a number of others, are the most dangerous volcanoes. In Ecuador, since 1742, 10 fairly large eruptions have been recorded that destroyed the city of Latacunga (it lies very close to Cotopaxi).

The most famous volcanoes

However, all of the above volcanoes are hardly known to the general public. The most famous volcanoes in the world are Vesuvius, Mount Fuji or, for example, Etna.

Vesuvius is located in southern Italy near Naples and is active. True, the volcano is not very large, its height is only 1281 meters. Vesuvius is one of three active volcanoes in the country. And one of the most dangerous in the world. To date, more than 80 eruptions are known to mankind, and the most famous occurred 2 millennia ago - in 79. It was then that the cities of Pompeii, Stabiae, Herculaneum were destroyed. The last eruption was recorded in 1944, the lava destroyed the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano.

The highest volcano in Africa and in general the highest point of the continent is Kilimanjaro. The volcano is located in Tanzania, 300 kilometers south of the equator. One of the peaks of Kilimanjaro - Kibo - reaches 5895 meters. Uhuru Peak is the highest point of the volcano. Scientists suggest that the age of Kilimanjaro is more than a million years. And what is most surprising, although the volcano is located almost on the equator, many glaciers have accumulated on its slopes.

The largest volcanoes can be seen in Asia. The famous Fujiyama is located on Japanese island Honshu, which is 150 kilometers from Tokyo. The volcano has an almost perfect conical shape and has been the subject of a cult for local residents since ancient times. The height of the mountain is 3776 meters. Now the volcano is weakly active, the last time experts recorded an eruption in 1707.

The strongest volcanic eruption

But the most powerful volcanic eruption in history occurred in 1883. May 20 began to show the activity of Krakatau. It was on this day that the inhabitants of the capital of Indonesia began to hear the first peals: people began to feel the shaking from the volcano, which is located 50 kilometers from the capital. Such phenomena lasted three months, the volcano calmed down, then became more active. Layers of floating pumice accumulated on the surface.

On August 27 of the same year, there was a strong volcanic eruption that a person has ever seen. The rumble was heard even 5 thousand kilometers from the epicenter. Ashes rose to a height of up to 30 kilometers. The volcanic structure scattered over a vast territory, within a radius of up to 500 kilometers. The gas-ash column towered 70 kilometers, that is, it rose right into the mesosphere. The ash covered over 4 million square kilometers and occupied a total of 18 cubic kilometers. The strength of the explosion was rated at 6 points. According to experts, this is 200,000 times the force of the explosion that destroyed Hiroshima.

As a result of the eruption, about 300 villages and cities in Indonesia were wiped off the face of the earth. Outcome: 37 thousand dead, most of the people were overwhelmed by a tsunami about 30 meters high.

The highest volcano in the world

The highest volcano in the world is translated from Spanish as "salty eyes". Ojos del Salado is located on the border of Argentina and Chile, and rises to 6891 meters. The record peak is in Chilean territory.

The volcano is said to be inactive. This is because not a single case of an eruption has been recorded in the history of mankind. However, sometimes Ojos del Salado reminds of itself. For example, in 1993, the release of water vapor and sulfur was noticed.

By the way, as the editors of the site managed to find out, some geographers have already reclassified the volcano into an active one. Thus, displacing Llullaillaco from the first place in the list of the highest active volcanoes. However, the controversy has not subsided yet.

Also interesting is the fact that the highest mountain in Russia, Elbrus, is also a volcano.
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Volcanoes of the world are of great interest not only to geologists, but also to ordinary people. Their role is very important both for climate and for various processes occurring inside the earth's crust. The largest volcanoes are scattered around the globe.

The volcano is a mountain with a hole at the top - a crater. A volcano is formed when a powerful flow of magma erupts from the deep layers of the planet. This movement of magma is called a volcanic eruption. Often eruptions are accompanied by explosions due to the presence of combustible gases in the magma.

Planet Earth consists of several layers:

Earth's crust;
upper mantle;
lower mantle;
core.

In the direction from the earth's crust to the core, the temperature increases and reaches such high levels at which the rocks begin to melt, forming liquid magma. The upper mantle is the layer in which magma is formed. The lithospheric plates of the earth's crust move along the surface of these liquid rocks.

When they move, faults are formed at the boundaries of the plates, which leads to the emergence of volcanoes. Therefore, the formation of volcanoes occurs precisely in places of active internal movements of the Earth.

Volcanoes are divided into the following categories according to their shape:

Thyroid- flat volcanoes: frozen spreading lava resembles the shape of a shield.
Stratovolcanoes- volcanoes with the classical form of a mountain with a hole at the top - a crater.
Cracks and cracks- faults in the earth's crust with the release of liquid lava from them.
Calderas (supervolcanoes)- depressions formed by the failure of a volcano mountain into the earth's crust.
domed volcanoes- Volcanoes with solidified pieces of lava above the mouth in the form of a dome.
cinder cones- cone-shaped volcanoes. Pieces of slag solidify around the vent, forming a cone. Thus, the volcano "grows" higher and higher.
Complex volcanoes- combinations of several varieties of volcanoes.

There is also a conditional division of all volcanoes according to the degree of their activity:

operating;
conditionally active;
sleeping.

There is also a classification according to the place of origin.

They are:

ground;
underwater.

Large volcanoes in Russia

Volcanoes of the world (the largest are easy to find on a special map) are scattered over many countries. Russia is no exception: many volcanoes are located here.

Here are just a few of them:

Information about the volcanoes of Russia is given in the table:

The name of the volcano	Location	Height above sea level, m
Karymskaya Sopka	Kamchatka	1468
Nameless	Kamchatka	2882
Klyuchevskaya Sopka	Kamchatka	4835
Zhupanovskaya Sopka	Kamchatka	2923
Elbrus	Caucasian mountains	5642
Shiveluch	Kamchatka	3307
Kronotskaya Sopka	Kamchatka	3528
Tolbachik	Kamchatka	3682
Ichinskaya Sopka	Kamchatka	3621
Karymshina	Kamchatka	1829
Sarychev	Kurile Islands	1496
tyatya	Kurile Islands	1819
Chikurachki	Kamchatka	1816

The largest active volcanoes on different continents of the Earth

Active volcanoes pose a great danger to humanity. Several tons of fiery lava can bury entire cities. In addition, the volcanic gases accompanying the lava flow have a toxic effect on living organisms. Eruptions change the terrain, affect the climate, and can cause tsunamis.

The largest active volcanoes are located on different continents of the Earth:

South America;
Africa;
North America;
Antarctica.
Eurasia.

Examples of the largest active giants:

Llullaillaco;
San Pedro;
El Misty;
Popocatepetl;
Volcano Sangay;
Klyuchevskaya Sopka;
Mauna Loa;
Cameroon;
Kerinci;
Erebus;
Etna;
Kilauea.

Which continent has no active volcanoes?

Volcanoes of the world, the largest and even very small, are distributed on almost all the continents of the planet.

Australia is a continent where there are no active, conditionally active, or extinct volcanoes.

The reason for this lies in the relatively flat surface of the earth's crust, without cracks and faults. Australia is located almost in the central part of the Australian tectonic plate. Plate shift processes do not occur here. Accordingly, there is no way out for magma: faults in the crust cannot arise.

The largest volcanoes on the planet. Description, history

Volcanoes of the world of various sizes and shapes are distributed throughout the planet. If you do not take into account the likelihood of their eruptions and sad consequences, these giants are undoubtedly the most majestic creations of nature. The largest of them have huge dimensions: height and volume.

Since ancient times, volcanoes have been a special place for people. No wonder the word itself is translated from Latin as "the god of Fire" - Vulcan. People worshiped him, honored and feared. Songs were written about the most destructive and formidable, pictures were written. One of the famous paintings is "The Last Day of Pompeii" by the great artist Karl Bryullov.

Sangay

One of the largest volcanoes Sangay is located in South America, Ecuador.

Its height is 5230 m. Representative of stratovolcanoes, Sangay has 3 active craters. The name translates as "terrible", "frightening".

This is due to the high activity of the volcano and the destructiveness of eruptions, the first was noted in 1628. The age of this volcano is considered small - 14 thousand years. The activity of the volcano remains very high. The last eruption happened in 2016. At the foot of the Sangai spread beautiful park with the same name.

popocatepetl

Another largest operating giant is Popocatepetl. It means "smoking hill". Located in Mexico, not far from the capital - Mexico City. Height - 5426 m. It has a classical shape, a stratovolcano. In the same area there is another one - Istaxihuatl (sleeping). There are many romantic legends about these two giants: for the inhabitants, they personify two unfortunate lovers.

Popocatepetl is located on the mountain system - the Cordillera. The foot of the volcano is densely covered with a coniferous forest with rare and valuable trees. The middle zone of the volcano is conditionally called "dead", and the top is covered with permafrost ice.

Popocatepetl - favorite place tourists who prefer extreme views recreation.

Elbrus

The largest volcano Elbrus is located in the Caucasus, is the highest point in Russia and Europe. Its height is 5642 m. The age of this stratovolcano is more than 1 million years. Thanks to glaciers, the color of the volcano at the top is dazzling white. Alpine meadows stretch below, and in the lowest part - coniferous forests.

Whether it is an active volcano or an extinct one, no one can say with accuracy. Someone says that he died out a long time ago, someone claims the opposite. And the main evidence that the volcano is just sleeping is that thermal springs, heated by a volcano, have a fairly high temperature.

From the bowels of Elbrus flow mineral water resort towns such as:

Pyatigorsk;
Zheleznovodsk;
Kislovodsk.

Orizaba

Orizaba (Sitlaltepetl) is one of the highest peaks in North America, located in Mexico. Its height is 5636 m. It has not erupted since 1846. However, the volcano did not completely die out. Orizaba is a representative of stratovolcanoes.

The top of the volcano is covered with glaciers that form a snow cap. Below are forests and alpine meadows: a variety of shrubs and plants. Orizaba is a well-known tourist center that attracts millions of tourists every year.

El Misty

Another stratovolcano is El Misti, it is located on the territory South America in Peru. Its height is 5822 m. It is considered an active volcano, you can observe smoke flowing from its craters. But most of the time he sleeps. Misty has 3 craters, the largest of which is over 100 m in diameter.

The last eruption was in 1985. Despite this, some geologists believe that a great danger threatens nearby cities in the near future. However, this does not stop the flow of tourists and thrill-seekers. There are many hiking trails to the top of this volcano.

kilimanjaro

Volcanoes of the world, the largest in particular, are known to many lovers of natural phenomena. Probably, everyone has heard at least once about the famous stratovolcano in Africa - Kilimanjaro. Its height is 5895 m, length - 97 km, width - 64 km. The age of the volcano is about 1 million years.

Kilimanjaro is considered an extinct volcano. However, scientists say that at any moment the volcano can wake up. Studies have shown that lava is very close to the earth's crust: at a distance of about 400 m. The last eruption was recorded about 200 years ago.

Interestingly, when climbing a volcano, a person will cross all 7 climatic zones of the Earth.

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world, located in Ecuador. Its height is 5897 m. It is also a stratovolcano. Around the volcano is a national park with the same name. The last eruption was in August 2015.

The eruption that happened in 1768 caused great damage to nearby settlements. It was accompanied by a strong earthquake, as a result of which the entire city of Latacunga was destroyed.

Cotopaxi is often referred to as the "face" of Ecuador. Crowds of tourists, photographers and travelers come here. The ideal shape of the volcano in the form of a cone with a smooth crater is the reason for frequent visits to this place.

San Pedro

The San Pedro Volcano, located in Chile, is one of the ten largest. Its height is 6145 m. It belongs to stratovolcanoes and is active. Consists of basalt and andesitic rocks. The last eruption occurred about 60 years ago. Located next to another volcano - San Pablo. They are called twin brothers.

San Pedro attracts many tourists every year. But it should be remembered that when climbing to the top, you must wear a mask that protects against toxic gases. The volcano does not doze: constantly there is an emission of gases outside.

mauna loa

Volcanoes of the world, especially the largest, are of great interest to scientists and geologists. Mauna Loa is an example of such a volcano. It is an active shield volcano located in Hawaii. Its dimensions are amazing: if you stand on top, it is impossible to see the borders, as they are hidden behind the horizon. Height - 4169 m. There are 3 craters.

Age - about 1 million years. The last eruption was noted in 1984. The eruptions of this giant are distinguished by their scale and destructiveness. Erupted fiery streams cause huge material damage to the surroundings. Therefore, the activity of the volcano is monitored by the Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory.

Llullaillaco

The giant stratovolcano Llullaillaco is located between Chile and Argentina. The height of the volcano reaches 6739 m. It is considered active. The last activity was recorded in 1877.

In 1999, when climbing to the top, researchers discovered 3 mummies of children. It has been suggested that they were sacrificed by the Inca tribes more than half a century ago. The find was transferred to the museum, and the status of the volcano itself increased and acquired historical value.

Vesuvius

The only active volcano in Europe (the continental part) is Mount Vesuvius, located in southern Italy.

Height - 1281 m. Information about 80 eruptions was confirmed, the last was recorded in 1944. Eruptions are especially destructive: the lava fountain rises more than 800 m.

Vesuvius destroyed such famous cities as:

Pompeii;
Herculaneum;
Stabia.

After 1944, the volcano is relatively calm, but the streaming smoke from the crater can still be observed today. Vesuvius is the "calling card" of Italy. Vacationers consider it their duty to visit this volcano and the national park located on its slopes.

Fujiyama

Fujiyama is an active stratovolcano in Japan. Its height reaches 3776 m. It has the correct shape of a cone with a large crater (diameter - 500 m). The last eruption was in 1707. The volcano is not active today. It has the shape of a perfect cone.

Fujiyama is the main attraction of Tokyo and the most high mountain Japan. She brought inspiration to many cultural figures, thanks to which many works of art were born. picturesque places its slopes attract crowds of tourists every year.

Etna

Etna is another major active stratovolcano located on the eastern coast of Sicily. Its height is 3350 m. It was formed on the border of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.

In addition to the main crater at the top, there are side ones located on the slopes, from which eruptions also occur. The age of the volcano is about 600 thousand years. A volcano formed on the site of the sea, literally "rising" from the water. The last eruption happened in 2017.

Approximately once a century, the activity of the volcano destroys nearby villages. But despite the great danger that this volcano carries, the Sicilians are in no hurry to leave their homes on the slopes of the volcano. This is explained primarily by the presence of very fertile lands at the foot of the mountain.

Eyyafjallajokull

The Eyjafjallajökull stratovolcano is located in Iceland. Its height is 1666 m. It is composed of basalt and andesitic rocks. The last eruption was observed in 2010. considered valid.

The upper part of the volcano is covered with glaciers with an area of more than 100 square meters. km. Hence the name of the volcano, meaning "glacier". According to scientists, less than 1% of the world's population is able to pronounce the name of this volcano correctly.

Ojos del Salado

This is one of the highest volcanoes on Earth, located on the border between Argentina and Chile. Its height is 6893 m. At the foot of the mountain lies the Atacama Desert.

On one of the slopes is the highest lake in the world. Representative of complex volcanoes: the thyroid base at the bottom passes into a cone at the top. The volcano is considered extinct, but emissions of gases and sulfur are still observed. The last eruption was supposedly about 700 years ago.

It is noteworthy that in 2007 one of the Chilean athletes climbed to the mark of 6688 m in a car. This was recognized as a world record.

yellowstone caldera

Yellowstone caldera is a supervolcano. Based in USA, Wyoming. Unlike classical volcanoes, it is a caldera - a huge depression that arose due to previous eruptions.

Eruptions are also different in such volcanoes: the supervolcano is located above the fiery point of liquid magma, which melts all the surrounding rocks. The pressure rises, an explosion occurs. The Yellowstone caldera had 3 giant eruptions, the last of which was about 600 thousand years ago.

Yellowstone Caldera is the largest underground supervolcano in the world, which could destroy the United States in the event of an eruption.

Today, a huge caldera is fraught with the danger of another explosion or eruption. The probability is very small, but still there. This could threaten enormous damage to the United States. Therefore, special projects have been created to prevent such situations.

Tamu massif

The Tamu Massif is an underwater shield volcano in Pacific Ocean. The extinct Tamu Massif is one of the largest on Earth and in the entire solar system. Its height is about 4 km, and its dimensions are 600 by 450 km. Such huge dimensions have given rise to a number of assumptions that the Tamu Massif is not a volcano, but a volcanic system.

However, the hypothesis was not confirmed: the entire lava flow erupted from one crater. The last eruption was about 145 million years ago. The activity of the volcano was not long: shortly after its formation, it died out.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is one of the largest volcanoes in Kamchatka. It is an active stratovolcano. Its height is 4750 m. It was formed about 7 thousand years ago. It belongs to the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes. It has 1 main crater with a diameter of more than 600 m, and 80 additional small ones.

The frequency of eruptions is 1 time in 3-5 years. Erupted lava has a high viscosity index, so eruptions are not particularly destructive. The initially conical shape acquires a layered structure, thanks to new eruptions: viscous lava solidifies with a new layer.

Until 1932, eruptions occurred from the central upper crater, after that the side ones, located on the slopes of the mountain, also joined. The last eruption was recorded in 2016, which lasted several months.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the most active and highest volcano in Eurasia.

Cameroon

Cameroon is an active stratovolcano in West Africa. It is located in the Republic of Cameroon of the same name in the Gulf of Guinea. Its height is 4040 m. The last eruption was in 2000. The shape of the volcano is dome-shaped, on the slopes there are additional craters and cones. It is composed of basalt and trachybasaltic rocks. It is the highest point in the state of Cameroon.

Volcanic activity causes great destruction. This forces the peoples inhabiting the foot of the mountain to leave their homes. Over the centuries, many peoples have changed here.

Kerinci

Kerinci is a large volcano in Indonesia. Located on the island of Sumatra. Its height is -3805 m. It consists of andesitic rocks. It has a crater with a diameter of more than 600 m, in which a temporary lake arose. The last eruption was noted in 2013. Phreatic eruptions occur almost every year: solid rock fragments come out.

At the foot of the mountain lies the Kerinci-Seblat National Park, which is a protected area. It is home to many species of birds and animals that are at risk of extinction.

Erebus

Erebus is one of the largest volcanoes located in Antarctica. Its height is 3794 m. It is the southernmost active volcano. An unusual and one of a kind lava lake is located on the territory of Erebus.

The volcano belongs to the stratovolcanoes. Its eruptions are accompanied by an explosion, and the lava has a high viscosity, which prevents it from spreading, and it freezes on the slopes. The last major eruption happened in 2011.

Kilauea

It is an active shield volcano on the island of Hawaii. Its height is 1247 m. It has many side active craters. It is the youngest volcano. The volcano has been erupting continuously since 1983 with varying degrees of intensity. The main part of the volcano is part of the Hawaii-Volkeynos National Park.

To prevent explosions and eruptions, the volcano is constantly monitored by the Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory.

Volcanoes of the world play a huge role for the planet and humanity as a whole. The largest of them determine the terrain and change the climate. And if we do not take into account the danger that threatens during their eruptions, volcanoes can be attributed to the most majestic and powerful natural phenomena.

Article formatting: Vladimir the Great

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