The deepest volcano in the world. The largest volcanoes in the world. The largest volcano in Russia - Elbrus

Volcanoes have always evoked a lot of emotions in humans - from panic horror and fear to admiration and admiration for the incredible power of nature. Volcanic peaks are located almost all over the planet and regularly make themselves felt, spewing tons of ash into the air. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the rating of the top 10 highest active volcanoes, each of which is distinguished by its grandeur and unpredictability.

10. Cameroon (Fako), 4100 meters

Fako is the highest point in Cameroon, an active volcano. The last major eruption was recorded in 2000. Richard Francis Burton is the first European to conquer the volcano. This happened in 1895.

9. Mauna Loa, 4169 meters

Highest active volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. Belongs to shield volcanoes, has rather gentle slopes with a weakly expressed flat top.

Greatness and extraordinary beauty mountains leaves few people indifferent. Sometimes the snow-capped ridges inspire fear, sometimes they fascinate, inspire, beckon ...

8. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, 4835 meters

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the highest active volcano on the Eurasian continent, located in Kamchatka. This is a fairly active volcano, eruptions occur here almost every two years. In this regard, the height of Klyuchevskaya Sopka is not constant.

7. Sangay, 5230 meters

Located in Ecuador, on the territory of the park of the same name, it is part of the Andes mountain system. The toponym is translated from the Indian as "to scare", and this is not surprising - Sangay is one of the most restless volcanoes on the continent. Sangay has three huge craters, which is not typical for andesitic stratovolcanoes. According to researchers, the volcano was formed about 14 thousand years ago. Since 1934, Sangay has erupted regularly, last time the maximum peak of activity was recorded in 2016. The rarest representatives of the fauna are found around the volcano: ocelots, cougars, tapirs, Andean bears and porcupines.

6. Popokatepetl, 5426 meters

Is an active volcano, located in Mexico, is part of the Cordillera mountain system. Translated from the local language - "smoking hill" and is located next to another volcano - Istaxihuatl. The most famous ancient literary work is written about these peaks - the legend of Popocatepetl and Istaxihuatl. The first ascent was made in 1519 by Diego de Ordaz.

5. Orizaba, 5636 meters

The second name is Sitlaltepetl, which means "star-mountain". Orizaba is the highest Mexican peak and is located in the Cordillera mountain range. Geographically, the volcano is located in two states - Puebla and Veracruz. The stratovolcano is in a state of relative dormancy today, and the last time it erupted was in 1846. In total, 27 periods of activity were recorded, including in the middle of the 16th and 17th centuries. Orizaba for the Incas has always been sacred mountain, with which many legends and myths were associated. Since 1936, a nature reserve has been established on the volcano with the aim of protecting Orizaba from unauthorized ascents. Hundreds of climbers come here every year, for whom there are many routes of varying degrees of difficulty. The most favorable time to climb to the top is from mid-autumn to early spring.

4. Misty, 5822 meters

Located in South America, territorially belongs to Peru, in the winter months it is almost completely covered with snow. 17 km from the stratovolcano is the small town of Arequipa, with a population of over 1 million people. In the country, the settlement is known as the "White City" due to the fact that most of the buildings were erected from snow-white volcanic deposits. The Chile River flows past Misty, in the south of the summit there is another volcano - Pichu Pichu. The last eruption was recorded in 1985, in just a century, activity manifested itself 5 times. In the 16th century, the inhabitants of Arequipa had to leave the city due to an extremely violent eruption, with huge ash emissions. At the end of the 20th century, mummified remains of the ancient Incas and a number of valuable artifacts were discovered on the slopes of El Misti. All found bodies and household items are kept today in the museum of the Andean sanctuaries.

South America is something unattainable and exotic for us. A lot of literary works have been written about these places, a huge amount has been filmed ...

3. Cotopaxi, 5897 meters

The toponym is translated from the Quechua language as "shining mountain". Cotopaxi is located in South America, in the territory of Ecuador and is the second highest peak in the country. The volcano belongs to the Eastern Cordillera ridge, has a crater measuring 550 by 800 meters, almost half a kilometer deep. For the period from 1738 to the present day, a total of about 50 eruptions were recorded, the penultimate one occurred in 1877. However, 140 years later, on August 15, 2015, Cotopaxi began to show signs of activity again. The first explorer of the volcano was the German Alexander von Humboldt and the Frenchman Aimé Bonpland, but the peak was never submitted to them. A man climbed to the top of Cotopaxi in 1872. This was done by the German geologist Wilhelm Rice, and a year later by the volcanologist and naturalist Moritz Alfons Stubel, also a native of Germany. The history of eruptions looks like this: the first recorded - 1534, then 1742, 1768, 1864, 1877, but until 1940 ash emissions were periodically observed.

2. San Pedro, 6145 meters

Considered one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, it is located in the Atacama Desert, in the El Loa province, Antofagastan region of Chile. Not far from the summit there is another attraction - the volcano San Pablo, connected to San Pedro by a high saddle. By the type of formation, San Pedro is a stratovolcano and is represented by such formations as dacites, andesites and basalts. The relative height of the peak is 2014 meters, the most recent recorded eruption was in 1960. For the first time, a man climbed San Pedro on July 16, 1903. The Chilean Philemon Morales and the Frenchman George Corti became mountain climbers.

TO late XIX for centuries, people began to understand that if they do not protect the environment, but only mercilessly exploit it, then in a fairly short time ...

1. Llullallaco, 6739 meters

Llullallaco - The highest active volcano in the world, located in the Peruvian Andes, on the border between Argentina and Chile, on the plateau of the world's highest volcanoes - Puna de Atacama. At the very top, there is eternal glaciation, and the last eruption was observed here in 1877, and today Llullaco is in a state of relative rest. The volcano is a cone that continues to grow. The first ascent was made on December 1, 1952 by Billon Gonzalez and Juan Harzeim. The summit is an archaeological site, on the territory of which the burials of Inca children were discovered at the end of the 20th century. Three mummies, supposedly 4, 5 and 13 years old, were sacrificed about 5 centuries ago.

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 enormous 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 overlaps 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 the South and Central America, Kamchatka, Japanese, 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, it was last erupted only in 1877.

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

Ring of Fire of the Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean hides 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 the 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 absolute height 4169 meters. By relative altitude the mountain bypasses Everest and is considered the most high peak 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".

Ararat stratovolcano is the highest point in Turkey and 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)

Within the territory of 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. In the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, there are not at all large volcanoes... 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. Effects 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 flowing 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.

There are more than one hundred volcanoes on the surface of the Earth. Among them there are the highest volcanoes, the most powerful volcanoes, the largest volcanoes. And they have one thing in common - each rises by tens and hundreds of meters and frightens with its power: it is possible that the volcano will start releasing steam and ash.

Where are the most active volcanoes

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

The largest number of active volcanoes is located in 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. In this part, about 60 volcanoes erupt every year. But there are data on 627 volcanoes that showed signs of life in the last 10 thousand years.

The largest volcano

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 lord of the volcanoes Pele was expelled from the house. older sister who was the goddess of water and sea. When Pele tried to build her own home, 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

However, on the question of what is the highest active volcano in the world, the opinions of scientists differ. Some believe that Cotopaxi is the tallest. It is located in the South American Andes, Ecuador. Its height is less than that of the previous one, only 5 thousand 897 meters. But the last major eruption was recorded in 1942. Cotopaxi can rightfully be called the most beautiful in Ecuador. This is thanks 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, which destroyed the city of Latacunga (it lies very close to Cotopaxi).

The most famous volcanoes

Vesuvius is located in the south of 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, mankind knows more than 80 eruptions, and the most famous happened 2 millennia ago - in 79. It was then that the cities of Pompeii, Stabia, Herculaneum were destroyed. The last eruption was recorded in 1944, lava destroyed the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano.

The highest volcano in Africa and generally the highest point on 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 estimate that Kilimanjaro is over a million years old. And what is most surprising, although the volcano is located almost at 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 almost perfect conical outlines and has been a cult object since ancient times. local residents... The height of the mountain is 3776 meters. Now the volcano is weakly active, the last time experts recorded an eruption in 1707.

The most powerful volcanic eruption

On August 27 of the same year, there was a strong volcanic eruption that has ever been seen by man. The rumble was heard even 5 thousand kilometers from the epicenter. The ash rose to a height of up to 30 kilometers. The volcanic structure scattered over a huge area, within a radius of 500 kilometers. The ash-and-gas column rose 70 kilometers, that is, it rose as far as the mesosphere. The ash covered over 4 million square kilometers and covered a total of 18 cubic kilometers. The force of the explosion was estimated at 6 points. According to experts, this is 200 thousand times the force of the explosion that destroyed Hiroshima.

As a result of the eruption, about 300 villages and towns in Indonesia were razed to the ground. Result: 37 thousand dead, most of the people were swept by a tsunami with a height of about 30 meters.

The highest volcano in the world

The volcano is called inactive. This is because not a single case of 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 retrained the volcano into an active one. Thus, having displaced from the first place the list of the highest active volcanoes Llullaillaco. However, the controversy about this has not yet subsided.

It is also interesting that the highest mountain in Russia, Elbrus, is also a volcano.
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The ancient Romans believed that the god Vulcan commands 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.

Let's consider the largest active geological elevations and give them a characteristic. On the surface of the land, their number exceeds 900, hundreds more are located under the waters of the World Ocean.

The biggest eruption in history

All terrestrial volcanoes are divided into two types:

• acting;
• extinct.

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

The location of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet

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

1. the volume of the ejected mass;
2. 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.

Toba supervolcano 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 Sumatra, where spilled big lake... Toba has gone out and will never be able to influence the climate again.

The eruption was so strong that Toba's ashes were subsequently found in the area of ​​Lake Malawi (East Africa, Great Rift Valley). The lava volume exceeded 2800 km 3, this had dire consequences:

• reduction in the population of humans, animals and birds;
• ash release into the atmosphere and reduction of sunlight;
• a decrease in the average temperature on the planet by 3 degrees;
• destruction of a number of plants and microorganisms.

Today the Toba crater is the lake of the same name.

Eruptions of supervolcanoes on Earth occur no more often than once every 100,000 years.

The largest volcano in North America - Yellowstone

Supervolcano is not quite a scientific term, it is used to assess 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 an elevated volcanic basin called a caldera. It is located in the northwestern part of the United States (Wyoming) on ​​the territory of the Yellowstone Reserve. Geologists 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 size of the Yellowstone caldera is huge, it was found relatively recently.

Research shows that there have previously been a series of three eruptions, 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 onset of activity. The US government invests annually in a magma bladder cooling project.

The largest volcano in Europe - Etna

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

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

A breathtaking sight of the eruption of Etna on the island. 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 this is rich in minerals and trace elements, therefore grapes, olives, tangerines are grown on the slopes. In 2015, Etna threw up a 1 kilometer high lava flow.

The largest volcano in Russia - Elbrus

There are several active volcanoes in Russia that can wake up at any moment. Most of geographically located in Asia, but there is one, which is at the same time the highest point in Europe.

The largest volcano in Russia is the Caucasian Elbrus, which has been sleeping 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, in the foothills and on the slopes, hotels, tourist centers, a rescue center have been built, cable cars.

Do not forget that Elbrus is a dormant 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 at the summit 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 hazardous areas are Central and South America, Indonesia, Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and Japan, Hawaii and the northwest of the United States. We present the TOP 10 largest active volcanoes in the world in terms of height.

1. Ojos del Salado (6893 m)

The highest volcano on Earth is considered the giant Ojos del Salado, located on the border between Argentina and Chile in South America. It is considered extinct and not dangerous, but little activity is observed. In the crater Ojos del Salado is the highest mountain lake on the planet.

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

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

2. Llullaillaco (6723 m)

The high mountain plateau of Puna de Atacama is dotted with large volcanoes. Llullaillaco is one of them. A number of volcanologists attribute Ojos del Salado to the list of extinct ones, in their opinion it is Llullaillaco who should take first place in the top. Geographically, they are neighbors. The last eruption took place in 1877.

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

The Incas, who survived more than one major catastrophe, performed sacrificial rites. So, in 1999, the mummies of three children were found here, well-preserved, they are kept in the museum of Argentina.

3. San Pedro (6159 m)

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

Next to San Pedro is the giant San Pablo

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

4. Cotopaxi (5911 m)

Volcano Cotopaxi is the second highest peak in Ecuador. Crater dimensions: 800 by 550 meters. The stratovolcano is considered not only large, but also dangerous. It has been active over 50 times over the past 300 years.

Cotopaxi is a dangerous volcano

The last eruption took place in 2015. The summit of Cotopaxi is steep, covered with snow and ice; bases for climbers have been 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 to the present day, but a detailed study has shown that hot lava is located close, tremors can provoke its release at any time. It is also interesting that the ice cap at the top has significantly melted over the past 100 years, its volume has decreased by 82%.

Kilimanjaro Kibo crater from above

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

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

Kilimanjaro's area is 6208 kilometers.

6. Misty (5821 m)

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

Center of Arequipa, on the right in the background the volcano Misti

In 1985, the population saw little 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, watched by volcanologists. Next to it is the Sierra Negra stratovolcano, at the top of which there is a high-precision telescope. An observatory has been built between the two peaks to observe the galaxy.

Orizaba Peak Trail

The summit of Orizaba is a small crater closed with a plug.

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 in climbing and not a single death from hot lava.

Climbing Elbrus

A much more dangerous supervolcano in Russia is Klyuchevskaya Sopka, located in Kamchatka. It ranks 12th in the list of the largest volcanoes on Earth, showing 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.

He threw out ash 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. Sangay is active, last ejecting lava flows in 2016. The world watched the action with horror, but there were no casualties.

Sangay volcano in 2016

conclusions

1. 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.
2. The largest volcano by area in North America is Yellowstone. If he enters the active phase, it will end in disaster.
3. The largest in Western Europe is the Etna stratovolcano in Italy.
4. In Russia, the highest is Elbrus, the largest in area is Klyuchevskaya Sopka.
5. The largest volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado in Argentina and Chile. He is inactive. If volcanologists recognize him as sleeping, Llullaillaco, next to him, will rise to the first line.

The volcanoes of the world are of great interest not only among geologists, but also among ordinary people. Their role is very important both for the climate and for various processes taking place inside the earth's crust. The largest volcanoes are scattered across the globe.

The volcano is a mountain with a hole at the top - a crater. A volcano is formed when a powerful stream of magma erupts from the deep layers of the planet. This movement of magma is called a volcanic eruption. Eruptions are often 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 rocks begin to melt, forming liquid magma. The upper mantle is the layer in which the formation of magma takes place. 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.

According to their shape, volcanoes are divided into the following categories:

• Thyroid- flat volcanoes: the solidified spreading lava resembles the shape of a shield.
• Stratovolcanoes- volcanoes with a classic mountain shape with a hole at the top - a crater.
• Crevices 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.
• Dome volcanoes- volcanoes with frozen pieces of lava above a vent in the form of a dome.
• Slag cones- volcanoes with a conical shape. Pieces of slag solidify around the vent, forming a cone. Thus, the volcano "grows" higher and higher.
• Complex volcanoes- combinations of several types of volcanoes.

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

• acting;
• conditionally active;
• sleeping.

There is also a classification by place of origin.

They are:

• terrestrial;
• underwater.

Large volcanoes of Russia

Volcanoes of the world (the largest are easy to find on a special map) are scattered across 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 largest active volcanoes on different continents of the Earth

Active volcanoes pose a huge 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 operating giants:

• Llullaillaco;
• San Pedro;
• El Misty;
• Popocatepetl;
• Sangay volcano;
• Klyuchevskaya Sopka;
• Mauna Loa;
• Cameroon;
• Kerinchi;
• Erebus;
• Etna;
• Kilauea.

Which continent has no active volcanoes?

The volcanoes of the world, the largest and even very small ones, are spread over almost all continents of the planet.

Australia is a continent with 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 shearing processes do not occur here. Accordingly, there is no way out for magma: faults in the crust cannot appear.

The largest volcanoes on the planet. Description, history

Volcanoes of the world of all sizes and shapes are found all over the planet. If you do not take into account the likelihood of their eruptions and sad consequences, these giants are undoubtedly the most magnificent creations of nature. The largest of them have enormous dimensions: height and volume.

Since ancient times, volcanoes have been a special place for people. It is not for nothing that the word itself is translated from Latin as "the god of Fire" - Vulcan. People worshiped him, honored him and feared him. Songs and pictures were written about the most destructive and formidable ones. One of famous paintings- "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. A representative of stratovolcanoes, Sangay has 3 active craters. The name translates as "scary", "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 Sangay is 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 classic 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 conventionally called "dead", and the top is covered with permafrost ice.

Popocatepetl is a favorite place for tourists who prefer extreme views recreation.

Elbrus

The largest volcano Elbrus is located in the Caucasus and 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 the glaciers, the color of the volcano at the top is dazzling white. Alpine meadows stretch below, and coniferous forests in the lowest part.

Whether it is an active volcano or an extinct one, no one can say with certainty. Someone says that it has long gone out, someone claims the opposite. And the main proof that the volcano is just asleep is that thermal springs heated by the volcano, have a fairly high temperature.

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

• Pyatigorsk;
• Zheleznovodsk;
• Kislovodsk.

Orisaba

Orizaba (Sitlaltepetl) - one of the highest peaks in North America, it is located in Mexico. Its height is 5636 m. There have been no eruptions since 1846. However, the volcano did not go out until the end. Orizaba is a representative of stratovolcanoes.

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

El Misti

Another stratovolcano is El Misti, located in South America in Peru. Its height is 5822 m. It is considered active volcano, you can watch the smoke streaming 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 nearby cities will be in great danger 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 volcano is about 1 million years old.

Kilimanjaro is considered 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.

It is interesting that 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 located national park with the same name. The last eruption was in August 2015.

The eruption that happened in 1768 caused enormous damage to nearby settlements. Was accompanied by a strong earthquake, as a result of which it was destroyed whole city Latacunga.

Cotopaxi is often called 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 volcano San Pedro, 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 andesite rocks. The last eruption took place 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 sleep: gases are constantly emitted outside.

Mauna loa

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

Age - about 1 million years. The last eruption was recorded in 1984. The eruptions of this giant are distinguished by their scale and destructiveness. The erupting streams of fire cause enormous material damage to the surroundings. Therefore, the activity of the volcano is being 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, while climbing to the top, researchers found 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 (mainland) is Vesuvius, located in southern Italy.

Height - 1281 m. Information about 80 eruptions has been confirmed, the last one was recorded in 1944. The eruptions are particularly destructive: the lava fountain rises more than 800 m.

Vesuvius destroyed such famous cities, how:

• Pompeii;
• Herculaneum;
• Stabia.

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

Fujiyama

The active stratovolcano Fujiyama is located in Japan. Its height reaches 3776 m. It has a regular cone shape with a large crater (diameter - 500 m). The last eruption was in 1707. Today the volcano is not active. 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. Scenic spots its slopes attract crowds of tourists every year.

Etna

Etna is another large 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 on the top, there are also side ones, located on the slopes, from which eruptions also occur. The age of the volcano is about 600 thousand years. A volcano was 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 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 land at the foot of the mountain.

Eyjafjallajökull

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

The upper part of the volcano is covered with glaciers with an area of ​​over 100 sq. 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

It 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.

The world's highest lake is located on one of the slopes. A representative of complex volcanoes: the thyroid base at the bottom turns 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 6688 m mark by car. This was recognized as a world record.

Yellowstone caldera

Yellowstone Caldera is a supervolcano... Located in the USA, Wyoming. Unlike classical volcanoes, it is a caldera - a huge depression that has arisen due to previous eruptions.

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

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

Tamu massif

Tamu Massif - 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: soon after its formation it went out.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is one of the largest volcanoes Kamchatka. It is an active stratovolcano. Its height is 4750 m. It was formed about 7 thousand years ago. 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 once every 3-5 years. The erupted lava has a high viscosity index, so the eruption is not particularly destructive. The initially conical shape acquires a layered structure due to new eruptions: the viscous lava solidifies in a new layer.

Until 1932, eruptions occurred from the central upper crater, after which the lateral ones located on the slopes of the mountain joined in. 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 eponymous republic of Cameroon in the Gulf of Guinea region. Its height is 4040 m. The last eruption was in 2000. The volcano is domed, with additional craters and cones on the slopes. It is composed of basaltic and trachybasaltic rocks. It is the highest point of the state of Cameroon.

The activity of the volcano carries great destruction... This forces the peoples inhabiting the foot of the mountain to leave their homes. Over the centuries, many nationalities have changed here.

Kerinci

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

At the foot of the mountain is 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 in the territory of Erebus.

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

Kilauea

It is a thyroid active volcano on the island of Hawaii. Its height is 1247 m. It has many lateral 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 included in the Hawaii Volkeinos National Park.

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

The 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 you 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 design: Vladimir the Great

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