MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES IN THE WORLD
Volcanoes are inarguably nature’s most fearsome wonder. They feature in tales of ardour and heroism, tower terrifyingly above humble settlements and whisper threats of violence and destruction. They are overwhelming in both sight and sound and uniquely exhilarating for the intrepid observer.
Technically, scientists define an ‘active volcano’ as one that has erupted in the last 10,000 years. By this definition, there are 1,500 active volcanoes in the world today, 75% of which are located along the evocatively-named Pacific Ring of Fire. Of course, some active volcanoes erupt far more frequently than the definition may imply.
KĪLAUEA
Location: Hawaii, USA Continuous eruption: From 1983 Explosivity Index: 4
Image: Ivan Vtorov, CC BY-SA 3.0
Kīlauea’s eruptions have claimed parts of the island’s highways, rainforests, homes and even lives. Locals leave leis as offerings to the Fire Goddess Pele who is believed to reside in the lava lakes of Halema‘uma‘u crater.
MOUNT ETNA
Location: Sicily, Italy Continuous eruption: 3,500 years Explosivity Index: 5
Mount Etna is Europe's tallest active volcano and is located in Sicily, Italy.
Etna has erupted many times during recorded history and is still very active.
There are towns and villages surrounding the mountain, including Catania. In the past, the Italian authorities have used explosives, concrete dams, and ditches to divert lava flow.
PITON DE LA FOURNAISE
Location: La Réunion Island (French) Continuous eruption: From 1920 Explosivity Index: 5
Piton de la Fournaise is a typical example of a hot-spot volcano. The volcano is about 530,000 years old and during much of this time, its activity overlapped with eruptions of its older neighbor, the deeply dissected Piton des Neiges shield volcano to the NW.
STROMBOLI
Location: Stromboli, Italy Continuous eruption: 2,000 years Explosivity Index: 3
Stromboli is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth and has been erupting almost continuously since 1932. Because it has been active for much of the last 2,000 years and its eruptions are visible for long distances at night, it is known as the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean". It is among the world's most visited volcanoes.
Stromboli is widely known for its spectacular eruptionswhich jet fountains of molten rock from its lava-filled central crater. Because these eruptions are so distinctive and well known, geologists use the word "Strombolian" to clearly describe similar eruptive activity at other volcanoes.
MOUNT YASUR
Location: Tanna Island, Vanuatu Continuous eruption: 800 years Explosivity Index: 3
The glow of the volcano was apparently what attracted Captain James Cook on the first European journey to the island in 1774. Today the mountain is a sacred area for the John Frum cargo cult. Members of the cult revere John Frum, a deified messenger who foretold the bringing of wealth to the island by American forces, and believe he resides in Mount Yasur with his countrymen. The village of Sulphur Bay, the center of the movement, claims the volcano as part of their territory.
AMBRYM
Location: Ambrym Island, Vanuatu Continuous eruption: From 1935 Explosivity Index: 6+
General map of Ambrym showing the main volcanic features (caldera, cones, maars, and fissures). Ambrym is the most voluminous active volcano in Vanuatu. Marum and Benbow are post-caldera cones. The caldera is similar in size to calderas associated with large Plinian eruptions. From Robin and others (1993).
MOUNT MERAPI
Location: Indonesia Continuous eruption: From 1967 Explosivity Index: 4
Merapi is a stratovolcano with an active summit lava dome. It is located ~30 km immediately north of Yogyakarta, a city with a population of 500,000. Merapi has the unfortunate distinction of producing more nuee ardentes than any other volcano on Earth. The nuee ardentes result from collapse of the lava dome at the summit. Of the 67 historic eruptions 32 have had nuee ardentes associated with them. Eleven of these eruptions resulted in fatalities. Merapi is closely monitored by the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia. Shortly before this photograph was taken Merapi was generating up to 40 nuee ardentes per day.
ERTA ALE
Location: Ethiopia Continuous eruption: From 1967 Explosivity Index: 1
Known by the Afar as the “smoking mountain” and “the gateway to hell,” Erta Ale is a 2,011-foot-high constantly active basaltic shield volcano. It is one of only a handful of continuously active volcanos in the world, and a member of an even more exclusive group: volcanos with lava lakes. While there are only five known volcanos with lava lakes globally, Erta Ale often has two active lava lakes – making it a unique site.
PACAYA
Location: Guatemala Continuous eruption: From 1965 Explosivity Index: 3
Pacaya is an active complex volcano in Guatemala, which first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish invasion of Guatemala. Pacaya rises to an elevation of 2,552 metres (8,373 ft). After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965 and has been erupting continuously since then. Much of its activity is Strombolian, but occasional Plinian eruptions also occur, sometimes showering the area of the nearby Departments with ash.
MOUNT EREBUS
Location: Antarctica Continuous eruption: From 1972 Explosivity Index: 4
Currently the most active volcano in Antarctica and the southernmost active volcano on Earth, the Mt. Erebus volcano features a 1,700-degree Fahrenheit lava lake, a swirling pool of magma that may be many miles deep: one of only five such lava lakes that exist in the world.
AestheticxScience
2017
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references:
https://www.atlasandboots.com/most-active-volcanoes-in-the-world/ https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/pitondelafournaise.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/collections/mount_etnahttp://geology.com/volcanoes/stromboli/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Yasur
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/ambrym
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/erta-ale