Hot streams of molten lava pouring out from the bowels of the Earth, and at the same time clouds of ash, hot steam. The spectacle is, of course, exciting, but where does it come from? What large volcanoes exist on our planet? Where are they located?

The origin and varieties of volcanoes

Under a thick layer of the earth's crust is magma - molten matter of tremendous temperature and under great pressure. Magma contains minerals, vaporous water and gases. When the pressure gets too high, gases push magma upward through the weak points of the earth's crust. The surface layer of the Earth rises in the form of a mountain, and eventually magma breaks out.

The erupting magma is called lava, and the upland with the hole is called a volcano. The eruption is accompanied by emissions of ash and steam. Lava moves at a speed of over 40 km / h, with a temperature of about 1000 degrees Celsius. Depending on the nature of the eruption and related phenomena, volcanoes are divided into numerous types. For example, Hawaiian, Plinian, Peleian and others.

As it flows out, the lava solidifies and builds up in layers, creating the shape of a volcano. So, there are volcanoes of conical shape, gentle, domed, strato- or layered, as well as complex shapes. In addition, they are divided into active, dormant and extinct, depending on the degree of activity of the eruptions.

World's largest volcanoes

There are approximately 540 active volcanoes around the world, with even more extinct volcanoes. All of them are located mainly in the Pacific, East African, Mediterranean fold zones. The greatest activity is manifested in the regions of South and Central America, Kamchatka, Japan, and Iceland.

There are 330 active volcanoes in the Pacific belt alone. Large volcanoes are found in the Andes, on the Asian islands. In Africa, Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, is considered the highest. It is a potentially active volcano that can wake up at any moment. Its height is 5895 meters.

Two world volcanic giants are located in Chile and Argentina. They are considered the tallest on Earth. Ojos del Salado is extinct, erupting in AD 700, although it occasionally emits water vapor and sulfur. Argentine Llullaillaco is considered active, the last time it erupted only in 1877.

The world's largest volcanoes are presented in the table.

Ring of Fire of the Pacific Ocean

The waters of the Pacific Ocean hide three lithospheric plates. Their outer edges go under the lithospheric plates of the continents. The Pacific Ring of Fire is located along the entire perimeter of these junctions - small and large volcanoes, most of which are active.

The Ring of Fire begins from Antarctica, passes through New Zealand, the Philippine Islands, Japan, Kuriles, Kamchatka, stretches along the entire Pacific coast of North and South America. In some places, the ring breaks, for example, near and the state of California.

Large volcanoes of the Pacific belt are located in the Andes (Orizabo, San Pedro, Misty, Cotopaxi), Sumatra (Kerinchi), Ross Island (Erebus), Java (Semeru). One of the most famous - Fujiyama - is located on the island of Honshu. In there is the volcano Krakatoa.

The Hawaiian Islands archipelago is of volcanic origin. The largest volcano is Mauna Loa with an absolute height of 4169 meters. In terms of relative altitude, the mountain bypasses Everest and is considered the highest peak in the world, this value is 10,168 meters.

Mediterranean belt

The mountainous regions of North-West Africa, southern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Indochina, Tibet, Indonesia and the Himalayas make up the Mediterranean. Active geological processes take place here, one of the manifestations of which is volcanism.

The largest volcanoes in the Mediterranean belt are Vesuvius, Santorini (Aegean Sea) and Etna in Italy, Elbrus and Kazbek in the Caucasus, Ararat in Turkey. The Italian Vesuvius consists of three peaks. From its powerful eruption in the first century AD, the cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii, Stabia, Oplontia suffered. In memory of this event, Karl Bryullov painted the famous painting "The Last Day of Pompeii".

The Ararat stratovolcano is the highest point in Turkey and the Armenian Highlands. Its last eruption took place in 1840. It was accompanied by an earthquake that completely destroyed the neighboring village and monastery. Ararat, like the Caucasian Kazbek, consists of two peaks, which are separated by a saddle.

Large volcanoes of Russia (list)

On the territory of the Russian Federation, volcanoes are located in the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, the Caucasus and Transbaikalia. They make up approximately 8.5% of all volcanoes in the world. Many of them are considered extinct, although the sudden eruptions of Nameless in 1956 and the Academy of Sciences in 1997 proved the relativity of this term.

The largest volcanoes are located in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. The highest in all of Eurasia (among the existing ones) is considered (4835 meters). Its last eruption was recorded in 2013. There are very small volcanoes in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories. For example, the height of Baranovsky is 160 meters. Over the past decade, Berg (2005), Ebeko (2010), Chikurachki (2008), Kizimen (2013) and others have shown their activity.

The largest volcanoes in Russia are presented in the table.

Conclusion

Volcanoes are the consequences of active processes that take place inside our planet. They are formed in the earth's crust, where the crust cannot withstand the onslaught of pressure and high temperatures. The consequences of a volcanic eruption can be quite serious, since they are accompanied by emissions of ash, gases, sulfur into the atmosphere.

The accompanying phenomena of an eruption are often earthquakes and faults. The outflowing lava has such a high temperature that it instantly affects biological organisms.

However, in addition to the destructive effect, volcanoes also have the opposite effect. Lava that has not come to the surface can lift sedimentary rocks to form mountains. And the result of the eruption of an underwater volcano in Iceland was the island of Surtsey.

04/29/2016 at 04:27 PM · Pavlofox · 26 070

The largest volcanoes in the world

Volcanoes, for all their danger, represent one of the most beautiful and majestic wonders of nature. Active volcanoes look especially beautiful at night. But this beauty brings death to everything around. Lava, volcanic bombs, pyroclastic flows consisting of hot volcanic gases, ash and stones can wipe out even large cities from the face of the earth. Humanity managed to become convinced of the incredible power of volcanoes during the infamous eruption of Vesuvius, which killed the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabia. And there are many such examples in history.

The largest volcanoes in the world - let's talk today about these dangerous, but beautiful giants. Our list includes volcanoes of varying degrees of activity - from conditionally dormant to active. The main selection criterion was their size.

10. Sangay | Height 5,230 meters

An active stratovolcano located in Ecuador opens the rating of the largest volcanoes on Earth. Its height is 5230 meters. The top of the volcano consists of three craters with a diameter of 50 to 100 meters. Sangay is one of the youngest and most restless volcanoes in South America. Its first eruption took place in 1628. The last one took place in 2007. Now the volcanic activity of the giant from the Equator is estimated as moderate. Tourists who have visited the Sangay National Park, on the territory of which the volcano is located, can climb its summit.

9. Popocatepetl | Height 5455 meters

On the 9th place among the largest volcanoes in the world -. It is located in the Mexican Highlands. The height of the volcano is 5455 meters. Even in a calm state, the volcano is constantly shrouded in a cloud of gases and ash. Its danger lies in the fact that there are densely populated areas around the volcano, and Mexico City is located 60 kilometers from it. The last eruption of the giant happened quite recently - on March 27, 2016, it threw out a kilometer-long column of ash. The next day Popocatepetl calmed down. In the event of a violent eruption of the Mexican giant, it will threaten the safety of several million people.

8. Elbrus | Height 5 642 meters

There are also large volcanoes in Europe. In the North Caucasus, there is a stratovolcano with a height of 5642 meters. This is the highest peak in Russia. Elbrus is one of the seven highest mountain peaks on the planet. Scientists differ on the activity of the giant. Some consider it an extinct volcano, while others consider it a dying volcano. Sometimes Elbrus becomes the center of small earthquakes. Here and there on its surface, sulphurous gases come out of cracks. Scientists, who believe that Elbrus may wake up in the future, are of the opinion that the nature of its eruption will be explosive.

7. Orizaba | Height 5,675 meters

Seventh in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is occupied by the highest peak in Mexico. The height of the volcano is 5675 meters. It last erupted in 1687. Orizaba is now considered a dormant volcano. Its top offers stunning panoramic views. In order to protect the volcano, a nature reserve was established.

6. Misty | Height 5,822 meters

On the 6th place in the list of the largest volcanoes is located in the south of Peru. Its height is 5822 meters. Misty belongs to active volcanoes. It last erupted in 1985. In January 2016, an increase in fumarolic activity was observed on the volcano - steam and gas holes appeared. This is one of the signs of an impending eruption. In 1998, six Inca mummies were found near the volcano's inner crater.

An interesting fact - many buildings in the city of Arequipa, located 17 kilometers from the volcano, are built from white deposits of the Misti pyroclastic flows. Therefore, Arequipa is called the "White City".

5. Kilimanjaro | Height 5,895 meters

The fifth largest volcano on the planet is the highest point of the African continent -. Scientists have concluded that this giant stratovolcano, 5895 meters high, is potentially active. Now it periodically emits gases and there is a possibility of the collapse of the volcano's crater, which can provoke its eruption. There is no documentary evidence of the activity of Kilimanjaro, but there are legends of local residents, which speak of an eruption that occurred about 200 years ago.

4. Cotopaxes | Height 5,897 meters

In fourth place in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth is the second largest peak in Ecuador. It is an active volcano with a height of 5897 meters. The first time its activity was recorded in 1534. Since then, the volcano has erupted more than 50 times. The last major eruption of Kotpakhi happened in August 2015.

3. San Pedro | Height 6 145 meters

An active stratovolcano located in Chile, it ranks 3rd among the largest volcanoes in the world. Its height is 6145 meters. The last volcanic eruption occurred in 1960.

2. Mauna Loa | Height 4 205 meters

The second largest volcano in the world is occupied by a volcano located in the Hawaiian Islands. In terms of volume, it is the largest volcano on Earth, containing over 32 cubic kilometers of magma. The giant was formed more than 700 thousand years ago. Mauna Loa is an active volcano. In 1984, its eruption lasted almost a month and caused enormous damage to local residents and the area surrounding the volcano.

1. Llullaillaco | Height 6,739 meters

In the first place among the largest volcanoes in the world is an active starting volcano. It is located on the border of Argentina and Chile. Its height is 6739 meters. The last eruption of the giant took place in 1877. Now it is in the solfatara stage - from time to time the volcano releases sulfurous gases and water vapor. In 1952, during the first ascent of Llullaillaco, an ancient Inca sanctuary was found. Later, on the slopes of the volcano, archaeologists discovered three baby mummies. Most likely they were sacrificed.

It is interesting. The Yellowstone caldera, which is about 55 km by 72 km in size, is called a supervolcano. It is located in the US Yellowstone National Park. The volcano has not been active for 640 thousand years. Under its crater there is a magma bubble more than 8 thousand meters deep. During its existence, the supervolcano has erupted three times. Each time this caused major cataclysms that change the face of the Earth at the site of the eruption. When the supervolcano wakes up again, it is impossible to predict. Only one thing can be said with certainty - a cataclysm of this magnitude can bring our civilization to the brink.

What else to see:

Ojos del Salado is the tallest volcano on the planet. It is located in the Chilean Andes in South America, on the Argentina-Chile border, but it belongs to Argentine territory. Its height reaches 6893 meters. It is the second highest peak on the South American continent. Not far from the volcano lies the Atacama Desert. The volcano did not erupt during the entire observation period and is considered extinct.

The Western Cordillera of the Andes is home to the world's highest active volcano, Llullaillaco. Its absolute height is 6739 meters. The top of the volcano is covered with ice. The snow line of the western slope of Llullaillaco has the highest position on earth - more than 6.5 thousand meters. In 1877, the last volcanic eruption occurred. At this time, he is in the solfatara stage.

In Chile, on the edge of the Atacama Desert, is the active volcano San Pedro. Its height is 6145 meters, its shape is a stratovolcano. It is located in the Antofagasta region of the El Loa province and is adjacent to the Sero Parini volcano. A huge saddle separates San Pedro from the mountain ranges of the Central Andes. The last volcanic eruption was recorded on December 2, 1960.

Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in Ecuador (5911 meters) and the country's second highest peak. It is located in the Cordillera Oriental in South America. The volcano is included in the list of the highest active volcanoes on earth. It has a huge crater with dimensions of 550x800 meters and a depth of 450 meters. Cotopaxi has erupted about 50 times since 1738. The last eruption dates back to 1940.

In northeastern Tanzania, towering over the Masai Plateau, is the active volcano Kilimanjaro. It reaches 5895 meters and is considered the highest point in Africa. After examining Kilimanjaro, in 2003, scientists found that only 400 meters away the molten lava from the edge of the Kibo crater - the main summit of the volcano. There are fears that a major eruption is approaching.

The El Misti stratovolcano is located in Peru in South America. Its height is 5822 meters. In winter, the top of the volcano is covered with snow. The city of Arequipa with a population of one million is located 17 kilometers west of El Misti. Most of the buildings in it are built from the deposits of the pyroclastic flows of the volcano, due to which Arequipa is also called the "white city".

The highest peak in Mexico is Orizaba. Her middle name is Sitlaltepetl, which translates as "star mountain". It is the third highest point in North America. Its peak is located at an altitude of 5636 meters, and its excess is 4922 meters. In the period from 1537 to 1687, there were 7 eruptions of Orizaba, but the volcano is currently considered dormant.

Elbrus is located in the north of the Caucasus Mountains and is the highest point in Russia. A stratovolcano is a saddle-shaped cone with two peaks located at a distance of 3000 meters from each other. The heights of the western and eastern peaks are 5642 and 5621 meters, respectively. The saddle separating the peaks is 5300 meters high. The date of the last eruption is approximately 50 AD.

The active volcano Popocatepetl rises above the Mexican Highlands. Its name in the Nahuatl language means "smoking hill". It is the second highest stratovolcano in Mexico, its peak reaches 5455 meters. Not far from it is the extinct volcano Istaxihuatl. Popocatepetl last erupted in 2011. Northwest of the volcano is the city of Mexico City with a population of 20 million.

Closes the list of the highest volcanoes "Sangay". The active volcano Sangay is located in Ecuador, on the eastern side of the equatorial Andes. Its height is 5230 meters. This stratovolcano has three craters. According to scientists, Sangay was formed approximately 14,000 years ago. In 1628, an eruption was recorded for the first time. Since 1934, the volcano has been actively erupting, most recently in 2007.

Today you will learn interesting facts about the largest volcano in search of which we will visit the island of Hawaii.

A huge volcano named Mauna Loa, which literally means "Long Mountain" in Hawaiian, occupies most of the island and is one of the most active on the planet. Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since the very first documentary record in 1843.

The most recent eruption of the volcano occurred in 1984, as a result of which 30,000 acres of land were covered with lava, and also increased the island's area by 180 hectares, reclaiming space from the sea.

What is the size of the largest volcano on Earth? The height of the volcano above sea level is 4169 meters, but this is not its true height. If you measure the height of Mauna Loa from the bottom, then its height will be about 9,000 meters, which is higher than Mount Everest.

The famous Hawaiian volcano is not only the largest and most powerful, but also the most massive. If you measure its volume from the base to the top, then an impressive figure will come out - 75,000 cubic kilometers.

In one eruption, Mauna Loa spews out so much lava that its volume is equal to the volume of Vesuvius, the famous volcano in Italy.

There are many legends around this Hawaiian volcano. One of which sounds like this. The queen of volcanoes, the goddess Pele, was banished by her older sister, the goddess of water and the sea. Every time Pele tried to build a house for herself, her sister sent huge waves to destroy everything.

In the end, Pele settled on a large island and made herself a large Mauna Loa home, so large that not a single wave could reach her.

There is also a legend that Pele has a faithful white dog and she sends him to the slopes of the volcano to warn people about the danger. In 1959, while exploring this powerful volcano, a white dog was seen on the slopes. All attempts to tame or catch this white dog were in vain. In December of the same year, one of the craters erupted and the dogs disappeared. In 1966, a white dog was again seen on the mountain, in the same year Mauna Loa exploded in a violent eruption.

19.02.2014

In countries with volcanoes, such as Indonesia, they are located in large provinces such as West Java, East Java or Central Java. One of the worst disasters is a volcanic eruption, which can claim hundreds or even thousands of lives. It is impossible to forget about the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano, the huge damage and thousands of victims. And here we present a list of the most dangerous and active volcanoes in the world. However, not all volcanoes are dangerous. is in great demand among travelers and wildlife lovers.

No. 10. Hawaii, Mauna Loa volcano

Mauna Loa is one of the five mountains that form the island of Hawaii. Despite the fact that it is not the tallest mountain, a volcanic eruption poses a high danger, as its lava is basically a liquid consistency, which can lead to serious fires. Mauna LOA is the largest volcano in the world (by volume and area), with the volume of lava, it reaches 18,000 cubic miles. The last eruption took place on April 15, 1984.

No. 9. Philippines, Taal volcano

About 50 km (31 miles) from the capital city of Manila is one of the the most dangerous Volcanoes, Taal. This mountain is an island in Lake Taal, which is located inside a caldera formed as a result of very strong previous eruptions (this process is similar to Lake Toba). Taal Volcano is a complex of volcanoes on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. This volcano has erupted several times, including one of the most powerful eruptions, which claimed more than a thousand people.

No. 8. Papua New Guinea, Ulavun volcano

Ulavun volcano is located in Papua New Guinea, in the Bismarck archipelago, and is one of the the most active and dangerous volcanoes New Guinea. Several eruptions have been recorded, one of the most violent in 1980, with the ash column erupting from Ulawun reaching 60,000 feet in height, and its pyroclastic flows engulfing the mountains on all sides.

No. 7. Congo, Nyiragongo volcano

Since 1882, it has erupted at least 34 times. One of the worst eruptions occurred on September 17, 2002, when the lava that flowed down the slopes of Nyiragongo covered about 40% of the city of Goma and left almost 120,000 people homeless. Nyiragongo is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa, its activity never stops.

No. 6. Indonesia, Merapi volcano

Mount Merapi is a conical volcano located in Indonesia on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta. Most of the Merapi eruption, including lava, continues to descend, at times accompanied by hot smoke that can travel at speeds of up to 120 km per hour. This is the most active and dangerous volcanoes in Indonesia, they became active 10,000 years ago, and since 1548 their activity has not stopped.

No. 5. Colombia, Galeras volcano

This mountain the most active volcano in Colombia. Since 2000, its eruptions have occurred almost every year. This is dangerous because the frequency of eruptions is unpredictable. Volcano Galeras has been active for at least a million years. Its location close to the South Colombian border with Ecuador could lead to the descent of hot lava down the slope of Mount Galeras for 3.5 km. The last eruption on January 3, 2010 forced the government to evacuate 8,000 people.

No. 4. Japan, Sakurajima volcano

Sakurajima Volcano is located on the island of Kyushu in Japan and is one of the the most dangerous volcanoes... On March 10, 2009, a terrible eruption occurred when the volcano threw rocks and other rocks up to 2 miles away. The intensity of the Sakurajima eruption is one of the strongest not only in Japan, but also in the world. Over the past 45 years, 73 eruptions have been recorded.

No. 3. Mexico, Popocatepetl volcano

The active volcano Popokatepetl is located at an altitude of 5426 meters above sea level. Beginning in December 1994, the volcano's dangerous activity continued until in 2000 there was such a powerful eruption, which is only known to history. Since 1519, 20 eruptions have been recorded. The explosion was so powerful that it threw ash over a fairly long distance.

No. 2. Italy, Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano in the Gulf of Naples, Italy, about 9 miles east of Naples. Mount Vesuvius is the only volcano in Europe that has erupted in the past 100 years. This volcano could explode at any moment and severely punish people living in its vicinity. The eruption of lava from the volcano can reach great heights, so in March 1994 lava splashed to a height of up to 1000 meters. The famous eruption of 79 AD destroyed the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

No. 1. USA, Yellowstone volcano

Volcano Yellowstone - the most dangerous and active volcano in the world... Stones and rocks ejected from this volcano can fly up to 1000 km. The volcanic eruption of lava and ash from this mountain threatens the extinction of the living and can cause a massive disaster, because it will entail other volcanic activity, determined by tectonic fluctuations, which will cause other explosions.