The most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world. Extinct volcanoes

In ancient times, people thought that volcanic eruptions were sent to them as punishment from the Gods, but today, we know that in fact it is tectonic plates that move and release hot magma from the depths of the earth's crust. The classification of the world's most dangerous volcanoes is the subject of much debate. Nothing and no one can predict the date of a volcanic eruption, it only happens when Mother Nature wishes it. Listed below are some of the world's most dangerous active volcanoes that are located near large settlements.

Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Mauna Loa is considered the largest volcano on Earth, in terms of volume and area covered. Is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the US state of Hawaii. Pacific Ocean. The volcano originated approximately 700,000 years ago.
Last eruption Mauna Loa occurred from March 24 to April 15, 1984. Due to the danger posed by it to nearby settlements, Mauna Loa is under constant surveillance by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Taal, Philippines


Taal Volcano is located on the island of Luzon, Philippines. It is located approximately 50 km. (31 miles) from the capital, Manila. Considered one of the smallest active volcanoes on the planet.
Taal Volcano has erupted approximately 30 times since 1572. One of the most destructive eruptions occurred on January 30, 1911, which claimed 1,335 lives. The last eruption was recorded in 1965, when about 200 people died.
Recently, on June 8, 2010, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology stated that the volcano is experiencing magmatic intrusion, which may eventually lead to an eruption.

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea


Ulawun is one of the most active volcanoes in Papua - New Guinea and one of the most dangerous. This highest point(2334 m) of the Bismarck Archipelago.
The first recorded eruption was in 1700. The next eruption was in 1915, when the small settlement of Toriu, located 50 km from the volcano, was covered with a 10-centimeter layer of ash. The last few years have seen constant activity, with frequent small explosions. On February 14–15, 2010, ash erupted from the crater of the volcano, which reached a height of 3.7 km. In total, 22 eruptions of this volcano were recorded.

Nyiragongo, DR Congo


Nyiragongo volcano in Africa, one of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. It is located near the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Its crater is 2 km wide and 250 meters deep. Sometimes a lava lake forms in the crater.
Since 1882, it has erupted at least 34 times, including one eruption that lasted continuously for many years. Nyiragongo's last destructive eruption occurred on January 17, 2002, when lava flowed down the slope and covered about 40% of the city of Goma. After this eruption, 120,000 people were left homeless.

Merapi, Indonesia


Merapi is translated as “mountain of fire.” It is located on the island of Java, not far from the city of Yogyakarta. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548.
The most destructive eruption took place in 1673; several cities and a very large number of villages that were located at the foot of the volcano were destroyed.
Typically, small eruptions occur every two to three years, and larger ones every 10 to 15 years or so. It is claimed that he volcanic activity, occurring in 1006, destroyed the Javanese-Indian kingdom of Mataram. The last eruption took place in 2010, then 350,000 people were evacuated, but there were no casualties - 353 people died.

Galeras, Colombia


Galeras has been considered an active volcano for at least a million years. It is located in southern Colombia, near the border with Ecuador, near the town of Pasto. Its height is 4276 meters. Currently, it is the most active volcano in Colombia.
On January 14, 1993, an expedition to the volcano’s mouth took place, which ended in disaster as a result of an unexpected eruption, killing six scientists and three tourists.
Galeras has erupted unexpectedly almost every year since 2000. The last volcanic eruption was recorded on January 3, 2010, when about 9,000 people were evacuated.

Sakurajima, Japan


Sakurajima is an active composite volcano located on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It is often called the Eastern Vesuvius. It erupts almost constantly, releasing large volumes of volcanic ash into the environment, up to several kilometers high. Sakurajima is very dangerous due to its location, it is located just a few kilometers from the city of Kagoshima, with 700 thousand inhabitants.
Since 1955, 7,300 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption took place on August 18, 2013.

Popocatepetl, Mexico


Popocatepetl is an active volcano, the second highest (5426 m) in Mexico after Orizaba Peak. The name translates as "Smoking Hill". It is located 40 kilometers from the city of Puebla (inhabited by approximately 1,538,000 people).
The volcano has erupted more than 20 times since 1519. The last major eruption occurred in 2000, fortunately, scientists were able to warn the Mexican government in time, which evacuated the population.

Vesuvius, Italy


Volcano Vesuvius is located in southern Italy, near Naples. It is the only active volcano in continental Europe. Vesuvius is the most famous of all volcanoes, for its eruption in 79 AD, which led to the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Oplontis and the Villa Stabius. Vesuvius has erupted many times, but fortunately the last eruption was recorded in 1944.
It is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world.

Yellowstone Caldera, USA


This volcano is the most dangerous in the world, as it is an active supervolcano that is capable of erupting more than 1000 cubic kilometers of emissions, which is thousands of times more than any eruption known in history. Eruptions of such volcanoes usually cover huge areas and can become one of the causes of the “end of the world.”
The probability of a giant eruption in the modern period is estimated by scientists at 0.00014%.
In the disaster movie 2012, the giant eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera was reproduced using special effects.

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 are monitored by scientists, they still pose a huge source of danger for people who choose to live near them. Here is a list of the 10 most active volcanoes:

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10

Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA

The Mauna Loa volcano is one of the most... large 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 likely 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 erupted many times, causing casualties and destruction to nearby settlements around the lake. The last eruption occurred in 1977, but signs of activity have been recorded regularly since 1991, characterized by both high activity and small seismic fracturing.

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8

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

The most active volcano in Papua New Guinea- Ulavun, he is also one of the most dangerous. This is the most high volcano and the most high peak in the Bismarck Archipelago. The very first recorded eruption of Ulawun occurred in 1700. From then until now, 22 eruptions have occurred. Several thousand people permanently 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 along the entire flanks of the volcano and devastated an area of ​​20 square kilometers.

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7

Nyiragongo, Congo

One of the most active volcanoes in Africa and one of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. Nyiragongo has erupted at least 34 times since 1882. The most recent destructive eruption of Mount Nyiragongo occurred on January 17, 2002, when hot lava destroyed 40% of the city of Goma.

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6

Merapi, 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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5

Galeras, Colombia

Galeras has been active for at least about 1 million years. The volcano is located in southern Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. In this country, Galeras is the most active volcano.

After only 10 years of dormancy, Galeras became active again in 1988. In 1993, a terrible disaster occurred 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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4

Sakurajima is an active composite volcano and former island. Often called the Vesuvius of the East, eruptions occur almost constantly. Remnants of eruptions formed highlands in this region from white sand. 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 (elevation 5426 m). Residents of the city of Puebla, which is only 40 km east of the volcano, can enjoy views of the snow-capped and glacier-covered mountain almost all year round. The last major eruption occurred in 2000. Fortunately for the residents, then scientists were able to warn the government in time, and people were evacuated from the disaster area in time.

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Vesuvius, Italy

Mount Vesuvius is located 9 km east of Naples at a short distance from the coast. This is the only volcano in Europe that has been erupting for the last hundred years. Vesuvius has erupted many times, most recently in 1944. Today, Vesuvius is considered one of the most destructive volcanoes in the world due to the 3 million people living nearby and the high probability of its eruptions.

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1

Yellowstone Caldera, USA

This is the most dangerous active supervolcano, which means that the volume of emissions from this volcano could be more than 1000 cubic kilometers, which would have devastating consequences. Volcanic super-eruptions typically cover large areas with lava and volcanic ash, enough to threaten the extinction of entire species. Such a super-eruption could be 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 massive tectogenesis.

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Conclusion

These were the most active and dangerous volcanoes peace. We hope you liked our material.

Ancient people naively mistook volcanic eruptions for the wrath of the gods, however, many people still think so today. But the enlightened part of humanity has long understood that the matter here is not at all about the gods. Under the Earth's mantle there is an ocean of molten magma, which in some places presses harder than usual on the earth's crust and breaks through to the surface, pouring out in the form of lava flows from volcanic vents. Although lava flows burn everything in their path, they are not the worst thing about a volcanic eruption, because there are also deadly pyroclastic flows, clouds of ash, acid rain, volcanic bombs and earthquakes accompanying the eruption. As for the TOP 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world, in a matter of hours after the eruption they can change everything around them beyond recognition.

1. Yellowstone supervolcano, USA


In the 60s of the last century, scientists discovered that a vast area in Yellowstone national park is a giant caldera of an ancient supervolcano. More than 3 million daredevils come every year to see the caldera’s increasing activity every year. Of course, it is very interesting to watch the work of geysers and hot springs, but they are potentially harbingers of catastrophic events.
Scientists have determined that the last time this supervolcano exploded was approximately 640 thousand years ago. If this were to happen again today, 87,000 people living near Yellowstone would likely die. A powerful eruption could completely change the landscape of the western United States, and huge masses of volcanic ash would cause climate change around the world and threaten the lives of people and animals. The explosion of such a volcano would become a full-scale global catastrophe, comparable to the fall of a large meteorite. Scientists suggest that at a depth of 8 kilometers under the caldera, a giant bubble of magma slowly rises, which heats the groundwater to a boil - hence the numerous hot springs and geysers. Unfortunately, science is still unable to make accurate predictions regarding eruptions, so we can only hope that it won't be too soon.


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2. Vesuvius, Italy


The last time Vesuvius, which has a height of 1281 meters, erupted in 1944. All schoolchildren are familiar with this volcano from the famous painting by Karl Bryullov “The Last Day of Pompeii”, which picturesquely depicts the strong eruption of 79 that destroyed all local settlements, the most famous of which were the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The ash of the pyroclastic flow that covered Pompeii preserved everything that did not have time to burn, and after large-scale excavations a very interesting museum open air.
Vesuvius erupts about once every 20 years, although its last eruption was in 1944. Despite this, people continue to actively settle in the immediate vicinity of the mountain and even on it itself. Therefore, any powerful eruption of Vesuvius may again be accompanied by large human casualties.

3. Popocatepetl, Mexico


With a height of 5426 meters, the Popocatepetl volcano last erupted in 2000. It is only about 50 kilometers from Mexico City. During the last eruption, the authorities saved 41 thousand local residents from certain death by evacuating them in time. But with 9 million Mexicans now living within the blast radius of the volcano, a potential explosion could spell disaster. The activity of the volcano and the densely populated surroundings make Popocatépetl very dangerous. The peaks of the volcano are covered with glacier. According to historical data, after 1519 there were over 20 eruptions of this volcano.

4. Sakurajima, Japan


The volcano is not very high (1117 meters), and last erupted in 2015. Due to its high activity, it is called the “eastern Vesuvius”. At one time, the volcano rose from under the water near the coast of Japan, but after the 1914 eruption, lava flows formed a “bridge” connecting the volcano to the “mainland”. Every year, thousands of micro-eruptions of Sakurajima occur, during which ash is ejected from its vent and spread throughout the surrounding area. In the event of a powerful eruption, the city of Kagoshima with a population of 700 thousand people will be in danger.


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5. Galeras, Colombia


The last time this tall (4276 m) volcano erupted was in 2010. It is located on the border with Ecuador. Volcanologists have determined that this volcano has been active for at least a million years. Its first documented eruption took place in 1580. Galeras remained inactive for a decade after 1978, after which it began to erupt regularly again. On the eastern ridge of the volcano is the city of Pasto, where 450 thousand Colombians live, risking their lives.

6. Merapi, Indonesia


The 2,930-meter-high volcano Merapi, which means “mountain of fire,” last staged a show in 2010. In Indonesia, it is the most active of the active volcanoes, pouring out a huge volume of lava, for which it has no equal in the world. The volcano has been active for at least 10,000 years. The latest eruption killed 353 Indonesians and left 320 thousand homeless. The city authorities then finally developed an evacuation plan.

7. Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo


The last time this 3,470 m high volcano erupted was in 2011. It has a very large crater, which periodically fills with lava, and then lava lake disappears. But sometimes things go wrong, for example, in 1977, when under the pressure of lava the crater wall collapsed, and liquid molten stone rushed down to the villages at the speed of a locomotive. As a result, thousands of people were killed and injured by the lava. In 2002, under similar circumstances, another 147 people died, and 120 thousand people were left homeless.

8. Ulawun, Papua New Guinea


The 2,334-meter active volcano last erupted in 2013. Locals They respectfully call him “father.” This symmetrical peak grew on the island of New Britain. Since the beginning of the 18th century, 22 powerful eruptions of the Ulavun volcano have been recorded. Residents living next to it still witness its periodic weak eruptions. Although now the mountain looks impeccable from the point of view of decorating the landscape, after a strong eruption it is unlikely to retain its exterior, and significant areas of the surrounding lands will be destroyed.


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9. Tal, Philippines


This volcano is very small in height - only 311 meters, and its last eruption was observed in 1965. This volcano grew in the middle of Lake Tal on Philippine island Luzon. Manila, the country's capital, is very close, so for its population of 1.6 million people, the volcano is not at all a hypothetical threat. This “baby” has erupted 33 times since 1572. Although many tourists come to this island every year, they are immediately warned to stay away from the volcano. The most powerful eruption of the last century occurred here in 1911. Then the volcano was able to kill more than 1,330 people, and all living creatures within a radius of 10 kilometers died.

10. Mauna Loa, Hawaii


This tall (4,169 meters) volcano last erupted in 1984. In general, it has been active for at least 700 thousand years. But, fortunately, most of its eruptions are weak, only occasionally lava flows acquire high speed and become dangerous for settlements located on the slopes. Basically, the volcano spews viscous lava, which slowly creeps along the surface, so residents have time to evacuate. But volcanologists believe that the likelihood of a catastrophic eruption of this volcano is very high. In addition to eruptions, Mauna Loa is also dangerous due to destructive landslides, which, although rare, are extremely dangerous.

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Volcanic activity is a regular and stark reminder that the planet we live on has an ever-changing geology. Located along the edges of tectonic plates, the volcano erupts through fissures, releasing boiling magma, ash and gases from beneath the earth's surface to explode in response to changes in the alignment of the tectonic plates.

The catastrophic nature of erupting volcanoes in many ancient civilizations was attributed to the violent mood swings of the gods. We now have a more scientific understanding volcanic eruptions, but it can still be unpredictable and dangerous. We present to your attention the ten active and most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

10. Mauna Loa, Hawaii

This volcano in Hawaii has been active for 700,000 years. Fortunately, many of the eruptions are slow, but sometimes the lava flows become fast and pose a danger to nearby towns and villages. There is also the possibility of dangerous earthquakes.

9. Taal, Philippines

The volcano is located on the island of Luzon in the center of Taal Lake. Its proximity to Manila makes it a constant threat to its more than 1.6 million residents. Since 1572, the volcano has erupted 33 times. Visitors are encouraged to view the volcano from afar, although many tourists do not adhere to this recommendation.

8. Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

Ulavun Volcano is one of the most active on the planet. It has had 22 major eruptions recorded since the 1700s, and residents of nearby areas report regularly seeing minor eruptions. The structural integrity of Ulawun is questionable; if collapse occurs, the eruption could destroy hundreds of square kilometers of land.

7. Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo

This dramatic volcano has impressive lava lakes near its crater. These lakes come and go, sometimes with quite devastating consequences. In 1977, an eruption occurred in which lava had a speed of 97 km/h and destroyed nearby villages, killing and injuring thousands of people. 147 people died in the 2002 eruption, and another 120,000 lost their homes.

6. Merapi, Indonesia

Volcano Merapi is considered the most active in Indonesia, and it has produced a record amount of lava. Measuring flow only, Merapi stands out as the most active volcano on the planet. It has been active for at least 10 thousand years. A review of the 2010 eruption recorded 353 dead people, and more than 320 thousand people were left homeless.

5. Galeras, Colombia

This volcano is located near the border of Ecuador. It erupts frequently and has been active for an impressively long time. Scientists estimate that the volcano has been erupting for one million years or more. The first recorded eruption was in 1580, and between 1978 and 1988, Galeras was temporarily dormant. Once active again, it behaves menacingly, erupting almost every year since the start of the new millennium. The city of Pasto on the eastern slope of Galeras is home to 450 thousand inhabitants.

4. Sakurajima, Japan

In the list of active volcanoes, Sakurajima is known as the "Vesuvius of the East", referring to its high activity. It is separated from mainland Japan, but lava flows from the 1914 eruptions have effectively created a bridge of land connecting it to the rest of Japan. Sakurajima produces thousands of small eruptions every year. If a major eruption occurs, 700,000 residents in the city of Kagoshima will be in danger.

3. Popocatepetl, Mexico

Popocatepetl is located just 56 km from Mexico City and broke out recently, in 2000. Forty-one thousand people would have been in danger of losing their lives if they had not been evacuated in time. Nine million people live within the blast radius. If a major eruption ever occurs, it will be a disaster. Therefore, Popocatepetl is one of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet, and the most active.

2. Vesuvius, Italy

Vesuvius is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world. Anyone who studied history at school knows about the famous catastrophic eruption in 79 AD. e., which destroyed the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Volcanic ash has preserved the two sites, making them one of the most famous archaeological sites on earth. Vesuvius erupts cyclically, approximately every 20 years. The last recorded eruption dates back to 1944, so the next eruption is not far off. Three million people are not only within the blast radius, but also close to the crater. This is another volcano that poses a serious danger to incredible amount of people.

1. Yellowstone Volcano, USA

The number one active volcano on our list is the Yellowstone Caldera. Active volcanic caldera in National Park attracts about three million visitors a year. Its geysers and hot springs are beautiful, but they are also potentially deadly. Yellowstone is a supervolcano. Indeed, the famous major supervolcano eruption occurred at Yellowstone 640,000 years ago. If Yellowstone exploded, it is estimated that 87,000 people would be killed instantly. The entire western United States will be devastated, and the ash will impact the environment and health of people across the country and the world. The explosion would be a global catastrophe of unprecedented proportions, and there is no way to predict how far its effects will spread.

We no longer associate volcanic explosions with the whims of angry gods, but we believe that it is necessary to treat them with respect, at least we must, to protect the people who live within the radius of possible action. The amount of damage from volcanoes can be enormous. The best geologists have come to understand volcanoes and have determined that it is better to predict their explosions and protect large populated areas.

According to a register of active volcanoes compiled by scientists from the University of North Carolina, it was found that out of 1,500 dangerous craters, 50 erupt and 11 are of special concern. Surprisingly, Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, whose eruption paralyzed the sky over all of Europe for several days, is considered a “supporting character” in the world.

In just three days, it released 140 million cubic meters of gas and dust into the atmosphere. The column of smoke rose to a height of 10 km, in which the air is so electrified that incredible lightning can be observed every 15 minutes.


In the list of the most dangerous volcanoes, scientists included the Philippine Pinatubo, which in 1991 released so much gas and ash into the atmosphere that changes were noted in the planet’s climate over the next two years. Also included here are the Italian volcanoes Stromboli and Etna.


As the Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports, according to the European Space Agency, up to 500 million people live in the immediate vicinity of volcanoes. 90% of the 1,500 active volcanoes are concentrated in the 40,000-kilometer "ring of fire" in the Pacific Ocean.


The publication recalled that a week ago the deepest volcanic eruption took place at a depth of 1,500 meters under water in the area of ​​Fiji and Samoa. To observe the volcano, it was necessary to construct a camera that could withstand the melting temperature of lead. But the “coldest” vent is located above the ice shell in the Antarctic region.


Eruptions usually begin with deep "breathing". The earth around the volcano seems to be retracted. Then the mountain begins to tremble, special sensors record the shaking of the soil. Then there is a dull sound that comes from the depths.


However, the most dangerous eruption a volcano could happen very soon, scientists worry. The recently awakened Eyjafjallajökull is not so scary (his behavior already seems stable). However, the Katla volcano located 20 km away is of concern: it is five times larger and 100 times more powerful than Eyjafjallajokull, capable of erupting up to a billion cubic meters of lava per second. Data obtained from observation equipment indicate that the volcano will soon awaken. A rapid eruption is also indicated by a change in the direction of flow of local rivers.
“History indicates that it is very rare that Eyjafjallajökull comes to life without awakening the Katla volcano,” says a report from the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction at the University of North Carolina.


In the event of an eruption, scientists predict, we can expect a phenomenon called “volcanic winter”: a cloud of ash reflects the sun’s rays at a height, preventing them from reaching the surface of the earth.
Experts see the reason for such massive manifestations of volcanic force in the melting of ice, which probably weakened the pressure of the surface layers of the Earth, allowing magma to rise to the top.
"We expect more frequent and more powerful eruptions in Iceland in the coming years. Global warming is leading to melting of the ice. This phenomenon also affects the movement of magma under the surface of the Earth," explained geologist Freysteinn Sigmundsson.


But the current eruption is not capable of affecting the Earth's climate, even if someone believes that the cloud released by the volcano could contribute to a decrease average temperature on the planet. Because the Icelandic volcano is much weaker than the Philippine one, which ranks 6th out of 8 possible.

"We don't expect anything like this from Eyjafjallajokull. Its eruption level is too low to influence the climate," explained Olav Hija from the Norwegian Institute of Meteorology.
At the same time, it is possible that the next 12-14 months Northern Europe will observe unusual sunsets of an intensely red color.

 

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