Which country has an active volcano? Australia is the smallest continent in area and the lowest in altitude. The only continent where there are no active volcanoes and modern glaciation. How do volcanoes work?

Volcanoes- geological formations on the surface of the earth's crust through which magma emerges. The name comes from the Roman god of fire - Vulcan. Today there are more than 1,000 active volcanoes on the planet. Next we will introduce you to the classification of volcanoes, tell you where most of them are located and which are considered the highest and most famous.

Volcanoes: interesting facts

There is a large classification of volcanoes. So that's it volcanoes of the world are divided into 3 types:
By type (shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, cinder cones, domes);
By location (sub-deer, terrestrial, underwater);
By activity (extinct, dormant, active).

Each volcano consists of the following parts:
Main crater;
Side crater;
Vent.


Some volcanoes do not emit lava. There are also mud volcanoes, geysers also belong to post-volcanic formations.

Where are the volcanoes of the world?

Most volcanoes are located in the Andes, Indonesia, Iceland, Hawaii and Kamchatka. However, they are not located randomly, but in strictly defined zones:
Most of the volcanoes are located in an area called the Pacific Volcanic Ring of Fire: in the Andes, Cordillera, Kamchatka, as well as the Philippines and New Zealand. Almost everything is located here active volcanoes of the terrestrial world - 328 out of 540.
Another location zone is the Mediterranean Fold Belt, which includes the Mediterranean Sea (Santorini, Etna, Vesuvius) and extends to Indonesia, where almost all the powerful eruptions of the world took place: Tambora in 1815 and Krakatoa in 1883.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, forming entire volcanic islands. Vivid examples: Canary Islands, Iceland.

Active volcanoes of the world

Most of the active volcanoes are located in the above zones. Volcanoes often erupt in Iceland, and the tallest volcano in Europe, Etna, periodically reminds itself. Others that are particularly well known:
Popocatepetl, located near Mexico City;
Vesuvius;
Mauna Loa;
Nyiragongo (DR Congo), famous for its huge lake boiling lava located in the crater.

Extinct volcanoes of the world

Volcanoes often end active eruptions. Some of them are considered extinct, others are considered dormant. Extinct volcanoes of the world located throughout the planet, including in the Andes, where the highest volcano in the world is located - (6893 meters), as well as the mountain of volcanic origin Aconcagua ( main peak South America).

Often extinct volcanoes used as observatories, for example, Mauna Kea on the Hawaiian Islands, in the crater of which 13 telescopes are installed. By the way, it is Mauna Kea that is recognized as the highest volcano in general; if you count the underwater part, its height is 10,205 meters.

The most famous volcanoes in the world

Everyone has heard stories about terrible eruptions that destroyed entire cities and destroyed islands. Here we will talk about:
Vesuvius, this one is not big volcano in Italy (1281 m) destroyed the city of Pompeii. This moment is even captured in Bryullov’s painting “The Last Day of Pompeii.”
Etna – highest volcano in Europe, which periodically erupts. The last eruption took place in May 2015.
Krakatoa is a volcano in Indonesia, the eruption of which in 1883 was equivalent to an explosion of 10,000 atomic bombs. Now in its place stands new volcano- Anak-Krakatoa.
Tambora. In 1815, the most powerful eruption of our time took place, which resulted in a volcanic winter (air pollution with ash), and 1816 became a year without summer.
Santorini, which destroyed the Minoan civilization and destroyed the whole island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Mont Pelée in Martinique, which destroyed the port of Saint-Pierre in a matter of minutes. 36,000 people died
The Yellowstone Caldera is a potential supervolcano whose eruption could change the map of the world.
Kilimanjaro – highest point Africa.

Most of the volcanoes on our planet are located in the “ring of fire”, which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. There are about 1.5 thousand volcanoes on Earth, of which 540 are active.

Here is a list of the most dangerous of them.

1. Nyiragongo, altitude 3470 m, Democratic Republic of the Congo

This 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 extremely fluid and its flows can reach speeds of 100 km/h. In 2002, an eruption killed 147 people and left 120,000 people homeless. The last eruption to date occurred in 2016.

2. Taal, height 311 m, Philippines


This is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet. It has erupted 34 times since 1572. Located on the island of Luzon, on Taal Lake. The most powerful eruption of this volcano in the 20th century occurred in 1911 - in 10 minutes, 1335 people died and, in general, all living things at a distance of up to 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 them all. Since 1832, 39 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption occurred in 1984, the last major 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 last eruption Vesuvius happened in 1944.

5. Merapi, altitude 2,930 m, Indonesia


This most active active volcano in Indonesia is located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. "Merapi" is translated as "mountain of fire." The volcano is young, so it puffs with enviable regularity. Major eruptions occur on average every 7 years. In 1930, about 1,300 people died, in 1974, two villages were destroyed, and 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. This active volcano's most famous eruption occurred in 1980, killing 57 people. The eruption was of a rare type - a “directed explosion”. The process of the volcanic eruption and the spread of the ash cloud was filmed by photographer Robert Landsburg, who died in this eruption, but saved the film. The last activity to date was recorded in 2008.

7. Etna, height 3,350 m, Italy


Volcano Etna is located on east coast Sicily. This is the highest active volcano in Europe. Throughout 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 central crater of the volcano ejected a fountain of lava to a kilometer height. The last eruption was 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 above the volcano. Eruptions were recorded on August 18, 2013, in March 2009. The last eruption was recorded on July 26, 2016.

9. Galeras, altitude 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 the research work Six volcanologists and three tourists died in the crater (then the eruption also began). Latest recorded eruptions: January 2008, February 2009, January and August 2010

10. Popocatepetl, altitude 5426 m, Mexico


The name translates as "smoking hill". The volcano is located near Mexico City. It has erupted 20 times since 1519. The last eruption was recorded in 2015.

11. Unzen, altitude 1,500 m, Japan


The volcano is located on the Shimabara Peninsula. The eruption of Mount Unzen in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in human history in terms of the number of casualties. The eruption caused a tsunami 55 meters high, which killed more than 15 thousand people. And in 1991, 43 people died during an eruption. No eruptions have been observed 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 much higher and was one big Island. However, a powerful eruption in 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Today Krakatoa is still active and small eruptions occur quite regularly. Last activity - 2014.

13. Santa Maria, altitude 3,772 m, Guatemala


The first recorded eruption of this volcano occurred in October 1902, before which 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. This is the largest active volcano in Russia. Over the past 270 years, more than 50 eruptions have been recorded, the last one in April 2016.

15. Karymskaya Sopka, height 1468 m, Russia


Also located in Kamchatka. Since 1852, more than 20 eruptions have been recorded. Eruptions recent years: 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015. A very restless volcano.

10 largest and most dangerous volcanoes on Earth.

A volcano is a geological formation that arose due to the movement of tectonic plates, their collision and the formation of faults. As a result of collisions between tectonic plates, faults form and magma comes to the surface of the Earth. As a rule, volcanoes are a mountain, at the end of which there is a crater, which is where lava comes out.


Volcanoes are divided into:


- active;
- sleeping;
- extinct;

Active volcanoes are those that erupted in the near future (approximately 12,000 years)
Dormant volcanoes are volcanoes that have not erupted in the near future, but their eruption is practically possible.
TO extinct volcanoes include those that have not erupted in the near historical future, but the top has the shape of a crater, but such volcanoes are unlikely to erupt.

List of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes on the planet:

1. (Hawaiian Islands, USA)



Located in the islands of Hawaii, it is one of the five volcanoes that make up the islands of Hawaii. It is the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume. It contains more than 32 cubic kilometers of magma.
The volcano was formed about 700,000 years ago.
The volcano's last eruption occurred in March 1984, and it lasted for more than 24 days, causing enormous damage to people and the surrounding area.

2. Taal Volcano (Philippines)




The volcano is located on the island of Luzon, belonging to Philippine Islands. The crater of the volcano rises 350 meters above the surface of Lake Taal and is located almost in the center of the lake.

The peculiarity of this volcano is that it is located in the crater of a very old extinct mega volcano, now this crater is filled with lake water.
In 1911, the most powerful eruption of this volcano occurred - then 1335 people died, within 10 minutes all life around the volcano died at a distance of 10 km.
The last eruption of this volcano was observed in 1965, which resulted in 200 casualties.

3. Volcano Merapi (Java Island)




The name of the volcano is literally Mountain of Fire. The volcano has been erupting systematically for the last 10,000 years. The volcano is located near the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the city's population is several thousand people.
It was the most active volcano among the 130 volcanoes in Indonesia. The eruption of this volcano was believed to have led to the decline of the Hindu Kingdom of Matarama. The peculiarity and horror of this volcano is the speed of spread of magma, which is more than 150 km/hour. The volcano's last eruption occurred in 2006 and claimed 130 lives and made more than 300,000 people homeless.

4. Volcano Santa Maria (Guatemala)


This is one of the most active volcanoes of the 20th century.
It is located at a distance of 130 kilometers from the city of Guatemala, and is located in the so-called Pacific. Ring of Fire. The Santa Maria crater was formed after its eruption in 1902. About 6,000 people died then. The last eruption occurred in March 2011.

5. Ulawun Volcano (Papua - New Guinea)


The Ulawun volcano, located in the New Guinea region, began erupting at the beginning of the 18th century. Since then, eruptions have been recorded 22 times.
In 1980, the largest volcanic eruption occurred. The ejected ash covered an area of ​​more than 20 square kilometers.
Now this volcano is the highest peak in the region.
The last volcanic eruption occurred in 2010.

6. Galeras Volcano (Colombia)




The Galeras Volcano is located near the border of Ecuador in Colombia. One of the most active volcanoes in Colombia, it has erupted systematically over the past 1000 years.
The first documented volcanic eruption occurred in 1580. This volcano is considered the most dangerous because of its sudden eruptions. Along the eastern slope of the volcano is the city of Paphos (Pasto). Paphos is home to 450,000 people.
In 1993, six seismologists and three tourists died during a volcanic eruption.
Since then, the volcano has erupted every year, claiming thousands of lives and making many people homeless. The last volcanic eruption occurred in January 2010.

7. Sakurajima Volcano (Japan)




Until 1914, this volcanic mountain was located on separate island in close proximity to Kyushu. After the volcano erupted in 1914, a lava flow connected the mountain to the Ozumi Peninsula (Japan). The volcano was named Vesuvius of the East.
He serves as a threat to the 700,000 people of Kagoshima City.
Since 1955, eruptions have occurred every year.
The government even built a refugee camp for the people of Kagoshima so they could find shelter during the volcanic eruption.
The last eruption of the volcano occurred on August 18, 2013.


8. Nyiragongo (DR Congo)




It is one of the most active, active volcanoes in the African region. The volcano is located in Democratic Republic Congo. The volcano has been monitored since 1882. Since the start of observations, 34 eruptions have been recorded.
A crater in the mountain serves as a holder for magma fluid. In 1977, a major eruption occurred, neighboring villages were burned by streams of hot lava. The average speed of the lava flow was 60 kilometers per hour. Hundreds of people died. The most recent eruption occurred in 2002, leaving 120,000 people homeless.



This volcano is a caldera, a formation of a pronounced round shape with a flat bottom.
The volcano is located in Yellow national park U.S.A.
This volcano has not erupted for 640,000 years.
The question arises: How can it be an active volcano?
There are claims that 640,000 years ago, this super volcano erupted.
This eruption changed the terrain and covered half of the United States in ash.
According to various estimates, the volcanic eruption cycle is 700,000 - 600,000 years. Scientists expect this volcano to erupt at any time.
This volcano could destroy life on Earth.

Earth is a hot planet. Beneath the thin crust is a core of hot magma. In some places, through cracks in the earth's crust, the heat of the earth's core breaks out, bringing lava, gases and ash to the surface. Over time, at the sites of such emissions, huge masses of ejected matter accumulate and special geological forms - volcanoes - are formed.

The largest volcanoes are those that formed particularly large cones, although not necessarily the tallest, and therefore had a particularly large crater or were active for a very long time. Those that continue to act are dangerous for humans. Fortunately, the largest terrestrial volcano, Tamu Massif, discovered in 2013, has long been extinct, otherwise its eruption would have been disastrous for all life on our planet.

Volcanoes are considered active if they are known to have erupted within the last 10 thousand years or have shown signs of volcanic activity, such as emissions of gases and water vapor. The presence of volcanic activity means that a given volcano may begin to erupt again, and therefore requires careful monitoring by volcanologists. There are currently 627 such volcanoes. 4 out of 5 largest volcanoes the planets are located in the Pacific Ocean (these are parts of the “Ring of Fire” of Pacific volcanoes and seismic zones), and 1 in Africa.

It is located in the central part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, has a volume of 480 cubic kilometers and is the largest active volcano in Kamchatka, as well as the second highest ( 3613 m above sea level), after Klyuchevskaya Sopka. The top of the Ichinskaya Sopka is covered with eternal glaciers.

This is the youngest among the largest active volcanoes, its age is estimated at 10-15 thousand years. Its cone has a complex structure: a shield-type base, on top of which is the cone of a younger stratovolcano. The last eruption was recorded in 1740, since then volcanic activity has been weak: small amounts of high-temperature water vapor and volcanic gases are released.

The Galapagos Islands, like the Hawaiian Islands, arose as a result volcanic activity. The largest volcano is the Sierra Negra (“black mountain”), 580 cubic meters. kilometers is located on the island of Isabela. This is a shield volcano, tall 1,124 m above sea level, and its crater has a diameter 11 km.

The last eruption of Sierra Negra occurred in 2005. Then the volcano released such an amount of gases and ash that the volcanic cloud reached a height of 7 kilometers or more.

Volume – more 3,200 cu.m. kilometers. The second largest volcano on the island of Hawaii. Its highest point is 4,205 m above sea level. But if you count from the foot, which is under water, then its height reaches 10,203 m, which makes Mauna Kea the most high mountain on the ground. (For comparison, Everest has a height of 4,150 m from its base to its summit). Unlike its neighbor Mauna Loa, is a stratovolcano, and its viscous lava has formed steep slopes. The last eruption occurred 4,500 years ago, and since then the state of the volcano has been considered “normal” on the danger scale.

Among the aborigines, “White Mountain” (as the name is translated) was considered sacred. Only the highest leaders had the right to climb to its top. The natives collected fruits and hunted in the dense forests on the slopes of the mountain, and made tools and weapons from volcanic basalt.

The altitude, dry climate and constant wind force make the summit of Mauna Kea one of the best areas on Earth for astronomical observations. Since 1964, 13 telescopes have been installed here. Observations are made at all frequencies, from visible light to radio waves, and Mauna Kea Astronomy Park is one of the largest in the world. However, protests against its location in a unique ecological zone and in a place sacred to indigenous people continue.

Cone volume – 4,800 cubic kilometers. This volcano erupted with thick and viscous lava, which led to the formation of an almost regular steep cone. This type is called a stratovolcano. highest mountain African continent ( 5,895 m above sea level), located in East Africa, between Kenya and northern Tanzania. In Swahili its name means " white mountain": the top of this gigantic two-headed cone, the only one in the equatorial zone of the Earth, is covered eternal ice. Many rivers originate in its glaciers, including the Nile, the greatest river in Africa. In recent decades, they have been melting faster and steadily decreasing.

Europeans discovered this volcano in 1848, since then no activity has been recorded, but Aboriginal legends speak of its eruption about 200 years ago. In 2003, it was discovered that there was molten lava beneath one of its two peaks, with its upper level rising just 400 meters from the surface. Gas emissions, landslides and rock shifts also occur.

The largest active volcano on Earth is located on the island of Hawaii. This volcano is of the shield type: wide, with sloping slopes. Such volcanoes are formed as a result of a long eruption of liquid, flowing lava. The volume of its cone is approximately 75,000 cubic kilometers, of which 84% are under water. Actually, the island itself appeared as a result of eruptions of this and its neighboring volcanoes.

In the Aboriginal language its name means "long mountain". Its mass is so enormous that the earth’s crust at its location bends inward for several kilometers.

Mauna Loa is one of the most active volcanoes. Its last eruption occurred in 1984, and since then it has gradually shown more signs of activity, and another eruption is considered very likely in the foreseeable future.

 

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