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Volcanoes come in many shapes and sizes, and their eruptions vary hugely in both frequency and intensity. Many volcanoes are tourist attractions and are worth a visit provided you take due care, in particular keeping a safe distance from eruptions.
Eruptions are extremely dangerous; the worst of them cause complete devastation over wide areas, sometimes with a large death toll. Despite the risk, due to the renowned fertility of volcanic soil, there are often large agricultural settlements close to volcanoes.
Understand
[edit]Neither volcanoes nor eruptions are particularly common. A list at the Smithsonian shows 1319 volcanoes which have erupted in the Holocene Epoch (since the end of the last Ice Age, about 10,000 BCE). Another shows eruptions per year 1960-2022; the range is 52 to 90 eruptions a year, most of them small. After an eruption most volcanoes will be calm for a while before pressure builds up enough for another blast; the interval can be anything from a few weeks to many centuries, depending on the local geology.
- Pacific Ring of Fire. This is a group of active tectonic areas, including more than half the world's active volcanoes, around the Pacific Ocean. On the east, this means the Andes and several ranges along the Pacific coast of North America, notably the Cascades. On the north, the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands. On the west, the ring runs through Russia's Kamchatka, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Melanesia and all the way to New Zealand.
If you want to plan a trip to see many volcanoes, one option would be a Round-the-Pacific flight.
- Decade Volcanoes. These are 16 active volcanoes selected by scientists as particularly worthy of study because they both have a history of large eruptions and are located near populous areas. These may be the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth in terms of potential to create large disasters.
There are hundreds of active volcanoes around the world, but many more that are dormant or extinct. One can still appreciate the awesome power of nature from these volcanoes, without the hazards that go with active ones.
Measurement scale
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There is a scale for the force of eruptions called the Volcanic Explosivity Index or VEI; the main factor is the volume of ejecta, the amount of material spewed out. The scale is logarithmic; a VEI-5 eruption produces at least 1 km3 of ejecta, VEI-6 10 km3, VEI-7 100 km3, and VEI-8 1000 km3.
Really large eruptions are quite rare. The 20th century had three VEI-6 eruptions, ten VEI-5, and a few thousand smaller ones, but none of VEI-7 or above. As of the end of 2023, the 21st century has had two VEI-5 events and nothing larger.
There have been only five VEI-7 events in the last 2,000 years – Lake Taupo (New Zealand) in 180 CE, Ilopango (El Salvador) around 431, Mount Paektu (on the Korean-Chinese border) around 946, Mount Rinjani (Indonesia) in 1257, and Mount Tambora (Indonesia) in 1815. As for VEI-8, there has not been such an event in recorded history; the most recent was at Lake Taupo about 26,500 years ago.
The VEI-7 Tambora eruption of 1815 put out 160 km3 (38 cubic miles) of ejecta, including enough dust and ash to cause "the year without a summer", widespread crop failure and some famine as far away as the US and Europe. Said "year without a summer" led the German Karl Drais to invent a "walking machine" which is today considered the first ancestor of the modern bicycle.
Classifying volcanoes
[edit]According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the major volcano monitoring organization based in Washington, DC, volcanoes can be classified as follows:
- active if
- it has erupted within the last 10,000 years (recently in geological terms)
- or it shows considerable activity – hot springs, fumes, earthquakes, etc.
- dormant (French for sleeping) if it is considered active but is currently quiet
- extinct if it is no longer active
However, there is no international consensus on these definitions; each organisation may use somewhat different terms or different definitions. In any case, the terms are not precise; a volcano classed as active may do nothing interesting for hundreds of years, and volcanoes considered dormant sometimes erupt. A volcano classed as extinct is quite unlikely to come back to life, but there is no absolute guarantee.
Perhaps the best-known type of volcano is the stratovolcano which is built up from multiple layers of ash and lava over centuries, giving a conical shape. Several of the world's most famous volcanoes, such as Mount Fuji, Krakatoa, Vesuvius and Mount Etna, are of this type. Filipino tourist literature claims their Mayon Volcano has the world's most perfect cone.
A complex stratovolcano has multiple cones or multiple calderas; examples include Kilimanjaro, the Three Sisters in Oregon and Taal Volcano in the Philippines.
A somewhat less common type is a shield volcano, formed when the lava is less viscous and therefore spreads out much further. Most of Hawaii's volcanoes are of this type.
- Types of eruption. Volcanologists classify eruptions into several types. In general, a traveller need not care about this, but those who want to understand the science should look at the classification.
A phreatomagmatic eruption may have huge explosions when a large amount of water is instantly turned to steam on contact with superheated magma. The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was VEI-6, much smaller than the VEI-7 Tambora eruption a few decades earlier, but it is more famous because the explosions were absolutely enormous. The Hunga Tonga eruption of 2022 was similar since that volcano is under the sea.
Supervolcanoes
[edit]Supervolcanoes are the largest volcanoes on Earth, but are not easily recognizable as such. Many are so big that, for many years, even geologists did not appreciate that these features were volcanoes in their own right.
| “ | Volcanoes form mountains; supervolcanoes erase them. Volcanoes kill plants and animals for miles around; supervolcanoes threaten whole species with extinction by changing the climate across the entire planet. | ” |
Supervolcanoes are generally in the form of large calderas, which are giant volcanic depressions formed either by large explosive eruptions or quiet long-term drainage of magma. They often have associated lava flows or domes, and in many cases there are smaller volcanoes within the caldera. Many of the calderas are now lakes, and sometimes the smaller volcanoes are islands in the lake.
Examples of supervolcanoes include Yellowstone in the United States, Lake Toba and Mount Tambora in Indonesia, the Phelgraean Fields near Naples in Italy, Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, and Lake Taupo in New Zealand. Most supervolcanoes have undergone unimaginably huge eruptions (VEI-7 or 8) in the geologic past; these are what created the huge caldera. However, such eruptions are tens or hundreds of thousands of years apart. There is no reason to worry that Yellowstone, for example, will explode during your visit; it had several huge eruptions in the past, but none since a VEI-8 event 640,000 years ago.
Geothermal areas
[edit]- See also: Hot springs
Throughout volcanic areas of the world, one may also encounter geothermal areas. These places are often, but not always, associated with volcanic activity. Hot springs, geysers, mud pools and fumaroles (steam/gas vents) are common scenic features in geothermal areas, and hot springs can be great places to take a dip. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Iceland are especially famous for hot spring baths. Geothermal areas are also an environmentally friendly source of energy, and Iceland takes advantage of this very well.
Yellowstone National Park is probably the best known example of a geothermal area, as molten magma lies not far beneath its ancient caldera. Nearby Thermopolis, Wyoming has the world's largest hot spring plus a dinosaur museum and Native American petroglyphs. Geysir in Iceland, which is the namesake for all geysers in the world, is another famous geothermal region. New Zealand, with its volcanoes in the North Island, is also known for extensive geothermal areas, with Rotorua perhaps being the best known one. The indigenous Maori people of New Zealand, who traditionally cooked their food by burying it underground with heated rocks (known as a hangi), often make use of the geothermal heat instead if they live in a geothermally active area. Similarly, Iceland has a tradition of baking rye bread underground using the geothermal heat. Kamchatka in Russia is known for its picturesque Valley of the Geysers, but its remote location makes it only accessible by helicopter, meaning that it receives far fewer tourists than the other places mentioned here.
Stay safe
[edit]Scientists can make predictions about volcanic activity, and those predictions are good enough that travellers should check for current warnings when planning any trip to a volcanic area. However, the problem is complex and not all volcanoes are closely monitored, so predictions are generally not precise and sometimes not entirely reliable. Local media or tourist offices are the usual sources for warnings, but many countries have a government-run volcano monitoring organization which is the definitive source.
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Public safety authorities may order hazard areas evacuated and visitors should certainly follow such advice. However, the onset of some volcanic events can be quite sudden, and authorities are sometimes slow to act since evacuations are disruptive, expensive and sometimes controversial. When an order is given, it may be difficult to comply since transportation may be disrupted or overcrowded.
If you are near a volcano that begins to act restless — perhaps earth tremors or expelling steam or dust — you should consider leaving the area without waiting for an evacuation order. "Get out while the gettin's good."
Volcanoes are complex and can be quite different from each other, so for most of them it is a good idea to have an expert guide who knows the particular mountain you want to visit. On the other hand, climbing some volcanoes without a guide is reasonable; for example Mount Fuji has not erupted since 1708, scientists are not issuing warnings, and there are well-marked trails.
Volcanic activity is often associated with earthquakes or tsunamis, and some volcanoes are high enough that altitude sickness is a risk. Each of those has another whole set of hazards; see the linked articles.
Equipment
[edit]Good footwear is essential since many volcanic rocks have sharp edges and some are hot; also, the terrain is often irregular and good boots will reduce the risk of a stubbed toe or turned ankle. A sturdy pair of hiking boots are the usual choice; look for thick soles, preferably in a material such as Vibram which does not melt easily.
Other equipment — such as heavy work gloves, a helmet, safety googles, a walking stick, a facemask for dust or a gas mask for poisonous fumes — is sometimes needed as well. For some volcanoes, mountaineering skills and equipment are needed. On a few, snakebite is also a hazard and high leather boots are the simplest protection.
Hazards
[edit]Volcano hazard zones can extend for dozens of kilometers, and there are multiple hazards.
An erupting volcano is extremely dangerous. Unless you have an excellent reason for going near one, the best advice is to stay away and watch it from a considerable distance, or even from the safety of your home or hotel on the TV news. It takes a major eruption to destroy a city, create or sink an island, or produce a huge death toll, but even the smallest eruption can destroy buildings and kill people.
| “ | It's tempting to go to the throat of the volcano to get the data, because if you do you're a hero ... It's a battle between your mind and your emotions. If your emotions win out, you can get yourself in a lot of trouble. | ” |
—Ken Wohlitz, From an obituary written by a scientist, for colleagues who died in an eruption | ||
Even in areas with highly developed tourist infrastructure, there can be dangers - in 2019 a hiker was killed by a violent, unexpected eruption on Stromboli and twenty-two died when Whakaari erupted while a number of tour parties were visiting it.
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Hazards found only during eruptions are:
- Lava is molten rock spewing forth from the volcano. In addition to the direct danger, a large lava flow radiates enough heat to ignite vegetation and kill animals at a considerable distance.
- Pyroclastic flows are streams of red-hot ash and debris that rush downslope from their source vents, incinerating anything flammable in their path. They can reach temperatures up to 800°C (over 1400°F) and travel at up to 150 km/h (almost 100 mph).
- Volcanic bombs are rocks thrown upward by eruptions; many are ejected as blobs of molten rock that solidify while airborne, so they may still be dangerously hot when they land. Large ones are generally not thrown far or high, but they can be any size up to that of a house and are spectacularly dangerous. Smaller ones can be thrown thousands of meters high and may land dozens of km away, and even an egg-sized rock can kill if it drops from a great height. A hard hat will reduce this danger somewhat, but not to anywhere near zero.
- Jökulhlaups are floods caused by the volcano melting parts of a glacier, possibly a part that functions as dam of a glacier lake. On Iceland there have been peak discharges in the order of magnitude of floods of the Amazon River. Bridges downstream from Vatnajökull used to get destroyed on a regular basis. Volcanoes can also cause floods when a crater wall collapses releasing the lake within, by melting snow that is not part of a glacier, or by blocking rivers.
Other hazards are present whether or not the volcano is erupting:
- Lahars are avalanches of mud created when a deposit of volcanic ash becomes mobile when it gets wet from rainfall or from a flood. They can occur long after eruptions, travel many kilometers at high speed, and be devastating. While there are usually some warning signs before eruptions, lahars often occur with no warning.
- Steam is dangerous, perhaps just scalding but in some cases (Krakatoa or some geysers) explosive. In many cases, hot water or hot mud are nearly as hazardous.
- Lethal gasses are gasses from eruptions or from vents, typically carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide; assume any vent with steam may also have nastier gasses. Often, but not always, the stink of sulphurous compounds provides a warning; avoid areas with a rotten egg smell. Also try to stay upwind of any vents releasing gasses. Walking toward a vent, keep the wind at your back; walking away, keep it in your face.
- Vog or volcanic smog is a nasty combination of water droplets with dissolved gasses, possibly plus volcanic dust. Since SO2 in water becomes sulphurous acid, this is highly irritating to eyes and throat. In high concentrations or for vulnerable people — asthma, heart or lung disease, children, pregnant women, the elderly, etc. — it can be fatal. If you are exposed, a face mask gives some protection and drinking lots of water will soothe the throat.
- Falling rocks and landslides are more probable when the earth is restless. Avoid steep slopes and cliff edges, and be cautious if you need to be in vulnerable places.
Any of those can kill, but the ones that claim the most lives are pyroclastic flows and lahars because they often occur suddenly, they move very fast, and they can travel surprisingly long distances. Do not go anywhere that they are likely. If you get hit by either of these, your chances of survival are almost zero. If you are in the path, you are unlikely to outrun it, even with a vehicle; your best chance may be to try to get off the path by moving perpendicular to the flow or diagonally.
Staying on high ground when observing a volcano gives you a better view and reduces several hazards. The dangerous gasses are heavier than air and collect in low-lying areas, and lava, pyroclastic flows, lahars and floods all tend to follow the contours of the land. A combination of distance and altitude also reduces the risk from volcanic bombs. Often the best place to observe is from high on the other side of a valley, well away from the volcano; bring binoculars.
Most photographers will shoot a volcanic eruption from a good distance with a telephoto lens, but others find they get better results by moving closer; this may reduce blurring due to dust and ash and the distortions caused by hot air. It should be attempted only with considerable caution, and only with an expert guide.
Ashfall, volcanic mudflows, and the effects of earthquakes can extend for hundreds of kilometers away from the volcano. The most famous victim of ashfall was the Roman city of Pompeii, buried in 79 CE by Mount Vesuvius. Those two were only about 8 km (5 miles) apart, but ash can also be transported by air in vast quantities over a huge area. The enormous (VEI-8) prehistoric eruption of Yellowstone spread a layer of ash, close to two meters thick in places, over much of the US and parts of Canada and Mexico.
Volcanic ash tends to stop aircraft and vehicle engines, so transportation may be disrupted. An eruption in Iceland in 2010 shut down airports for weeks more than 1,000 km away in mainland Europe, but mostly the affected area is smaller, less than 100 km from the volcano. In some cases, boats and roads may also be shut down.
Dormant volcanoes
[edit]When a volcano is dormant, you are mostly safe even close to it, but there are some issues. Lava flows can still be hot for years after an eruption and only a thin crust of rock may be covering them. Old lava flows can be sharp as broken glass, so you should wear hiking boots or very thick shoes. To add to these dangers, lethal gases may be seeping out of vents near the volcano – and some can have a new eruption without much warning.
Lahars can also occur around dormant volcanoes, whenever a deposit of volcanic ash gets wet. They can travel many kilometers, and be devastating. While there are often some warning signs before eruptions, lahars can have no warning. Watch out for possible lahars when there are heavy rains.
Geothermal areas
[edit]Geothermal areas also have hazards. Hot springs and mud pools can be dangerous due to heat, acidity, or poison, so do not go near these areas unless you know for sure that they are totally safe. Geysers are a common feature of major geothermal areas, and can erupt hot water or mud unexpectedly.
Landslides are also common in geothermal areas, as even volcanic rock can become weakened over time. Acidic fumes can seep out of fumaroles (steam/gas vents) or hot springs. Noxious gases can also be encountered coming out of holes in the ground, and the gases can reach dangerous levels in enclosed spaces like caves, manholes, or pool enclosures. Carbon dioxide, which is a byproduct of volcanic activity, is known for going into enclosed spaces and it can kill swiftly with little or no warning.
Destinations
[edit]This section lists some of the more active or better known volcanoes in the world today; some of these can still be explored from up close. Wikipedia has lists of volcanoes for various regions, which include many we do not list.
Recently active volcanoes get red markers below. Dormant or extinct volcanoes get blue markers; we include some that geologists classify as active but that have not erupted for hundreds of years. Related phenomena, such as geothermal areas without actual volcanoes, get black markers.
Africa
[edit]Cameroon
[edit]D.R. Congo
[edit]
- 2 Mount Nyiragongo. An active volcano in Virunga National Park in the far eastern D.R. Congo, near Goma and the Rwandan border. One of just four volcanoes in the world with a persistent lava lake, the others being Erta Ale (Ethiopia), Kilauea (Hawaii), and Mount Erebus (Antarctica). The volcano is usually accessed by overnight hike (8–10 hr up first day, hike down the following morning), with the night spent in tents on the rim of the caldera with stunning views of the lava lake and the surrounding region. Unfortunately, it is located in a conflict zone and access is occasionally blocked due to the presence of rebels and criminal gangs. It is a Decade Volcano.
Ethiopia
[edit]
The Danakil Depression, part of the Great Rift Valley, has some unearthly landscapes, several geothermal areas and two volcanoes.
- 3 Erta Ale (Danakil Depression). One of only four volcanoes with a lava lake.
- 4 Dallol (Danakil Depression). Has a large crater with much geothermal activity.
This is also an important area for paleontology with some man-made tools over three million years old.
Kenya
[edit]- 1 Mount Kenya. The second highest peak in Africa at 5,199 m, an extinct volcano from which the modern country of Kenya derives its name. Both a national park and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tanzania
[edit]- 2 Mount Kilimanjaro. This stratovolcano is Africa's tallest mountain at 5895 m (19,340 ft). It has a series of concentric summit craters apparently less than 10,000 years old and may have last erupted less than 2000 years ago. The name Kilimanjaro means "shining mountain" in Swahili, no doubt due to the once-extensive glaciers which are unfortunately disappearing rapidly each year. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 5 Ol Doinyo Lengai ("Mountain of God" in the Masai tongue). In Ngorongoro Conservation Area, this is the only volcano on Earth that erupts natrocarbonatite lava. This type of lava emerges black, cools to grey, and oxidizes to white.
Rwanda
[edit]- 6 Volcanoes National Park. This park is famous as the home of mountain gorillas. Visiting requires an advance reservation, an expensive permit, and some hiking.
Islands near Africa
[edit]- 7 Piton de la Fournaise (on Réunion Island). An active shield volcano in a national park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 8 El Teide. This volcano in Tenerife is the highest active volcano in the Canary Islands at 3715 m (12,188 ft). A flank vent at El Teide was observed erupting by Christopher Columbus and his crew in 1492. El Tiede is one of the Decade Volcanoes. It is in Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Madagascar has several volcanic fields but has not had an eruption since 6050 BCE.
Asia
[edit]Asia has many volcanoes which are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, plus some others.
China
[edit]- 3 Arxan Geopark (Inner Mongolia). Part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, has volcanoes, crater lakes and hot springs.
- 4 Leiqiong Global Geopark (雷琼世界地质公园) (Haikou, Hainan and Zhanjiang, Guangdong). A UNESCO geopark spanning Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula. The park’s Haikou District contains one of the few dormant volcanic clusters from the Holocene period (about 10,000 years ago). The volcanic cluster comprises 40 volcanoes and some 30 caves, however, most visitors only see the most spectacular volcano and crater. The park’s other main district is the Zhanjiang District, which is centered around a maar lake known as Huguangyan Lake.
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- 9 Mount Paektu (Baekdu Mountain). This is an active stratovolcano on the North Korean/Chinese border, with a beautiful crater lake. It plays an important role in both Korean and Manchu culture and mythology, as well as the cult of personality of the ruling Kim family in North Korea. The Chinese side is in the Changbaishan National Nature Reserve. It is much more difficult to visit the other side, in North Korea's Baekdu Mountains region. An area on the Korean side is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
It had a VEI-7 blast in about 946 CE and most recently erupted in 1903. Some experts believe an eruption in the 21st century is likely. - 5 Tengchong Volcanic Geothermal National Geological Park (腾冲火山地热国家地质公园) (Tengchong, Yunnan). Large national park protecting the geologically significant parts of the Tengchong Volcanic Field, including a cluster of extinct volcanoes and an active geothermal field known as Rehai (热海) meaning Hot Sea. The Rehai Scenic Area has many hot springs and other hydrothermal features such as fumaroles and geysers.
India
[edit]- 10 Barren Island. This is the only volcano in the Andaman Islands and the only active volcano in India. Day trips can be arranged from Port Blair. No additional permit is required, but it is not possible to land on the island, only to view it from the boat.
Indonesia
[edit]With 167 known active volcanoes, Indonesia is the world's most volcanic country by far. The Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (website in Indonesian) is the government agency responsible for monitoring and warnings.
Some of the better-known ones, listed east-to-west, are:
6 km (3.7 miles) across
- 11 Mount Tambora (Sumbawa). This stratovolcano is one for the truly adventurous; only about 50 visitors a year make it to its very remote location.
In 1814 Tambora was 4,200 m (13,800 ft) high. It erupted with such force (VEI-7) the following year that 1,400 m (4,600 ft) was lost from its top. That was much the largest eruption in recent history, about ten times more powerful than the Krakatoa eruption a few decades later. It put enough dust and ash into the atmosphere to cause a "volcanic winter" that affected most of the Northern hemisphere; livestock deaths and crop failures caused the worst famine of the century. - 12 Mount Rinjani (Lombok). Indonesia's second highest volcano with a stunning crater lake. It's a two-day trek to the crater rim. Rinjani's twin peak, Mount Salamas, was destroyed by a VEI-7 blast in 1257 CE.
- 13 Mount Agung. A highly visible volcano in the interior of Bali. "Agung" means "great" in Indonesian. The volcano is considered sacred by Balinese people, and its slopes are home to the beautiful temple complex of Besakih. Its last eruption, in 1963, was quite devastating.
- 14 Mount Batur (Bali). A very accessible active volcano which takes just 2 hours to climb.
- 15 Mount Bromo (Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, East Java). Known for its unreal scenery, this is a popular tourist destination. It is one of five newer volcanoes within the caldera of a large ancient one and is surrounded by a sea of sand. Climbing Mount Bromo gives a good view of nearby Mount Semeru.
- 16 Mount Semeru (Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, East Java). Indonesia's third highest active volcano, best viewed from a distance: eruptions in December 2021 and again in December 2022 buried some villages in ash and killed a few dozen people. A permit from the park office is required to climb Semeru, but these are not always available, depending on conditions on the mountain.
- 17 Mount Merapi (Central Java). Perhaps Indonesia's single most active volcano (no mean feat). It looms large over the major cities of Yogyakarta and Solo, and the very popular temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Merapi has erupted 68 times since formal record-keeping began in the 16th century. Its eruption on May 11, 2018, prompted the evacuation of areas within a 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) radius of the volcano, and the closure of the Yogyakarta airport. It is a Decade Volcano.
- 18 Krakatoa. This is an island in West Java province with several volcanoes on it which produced a series of large explosions in 1883. The largest is estimated to have been equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT, about four times the largest H-bomb ever tested, and the sound was heard 5,000 km (3,100 mi) away. The dust cloud had worldwide effects; global temperatures dipped by over a degree. This was a VEI-6 event.
Japan
[edit]
- 19 Mount Fuji (Chubu, central Honshu). Located near Tokyo, this is Japan's highest and most beautiful volcano. It is also the most climbed mountain in the world and a place of religious significance in Shinto worship. It last erupted in 1708.
- 20 Mount Aso (Kyushu). This is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world with the largest caldera.
- 6 Mount Daisen (Chugoku, western Honshu). A dormant stratovolcano, also significant in Shinto.
- 21 Mount Unzen (Kyushu). This is a complex stratovolcano. It is a Decade Volcano.
- 22 Sakurajima (Kyushu). This is an active stratovolcano just outside of densely populated areas of Kagoshima City. It is a Decade Volcano.
Philippines
[edit]The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lists 24 volcanoes as "active"; 21 of those have erupted in the last 600 years. Another 25 are listed as "potentially active" and 355 as "inactive".
The four most active, in order, are:
- 23 Mayon Volcano (in Albay province). Often described as the world's most perfect volcano cone, Mayon had a fatal eruption in 1993.
- 24 Taal Volcano (in Batangas province). This is a complex volcano system described as a "lake in a volcano in a lake" and one of the most picturesque landscapes in the Philippines. It has a history of destructive eruptions and is the country's only Decade Volcano. An eruption in early 2020 forced the evacuation of several towns.
- 25 Mount Kanlaon (on Negros island). The highest mountain on Negros and highest in the Visayas, a 2,465 m (8,087 ft) stratovolcano. There are marked hiking trails. It is about 100 km from either of the island's two major cities, Bacolod and Dumaguete. A sudden eruption in 1996 killed several hikers. An eruption in June 2024 forced evacuation of parts of the city of Canlaon and shutdown of tourist facilities. As of early December 2024 another eruption has just started.
- 26 Mount Bulusan (in Sorsogon province). A stratovolcano with several other craters, volcanic lakes and hot springs. There is a national park around it.
Except for Kanlaon, these are all in southern Luzon.
Other volcanoes, listed north-to-south, include:
- 7 Mount Pulag (Cordilleras region, northern Luzon). A dormant volcano, highest mountain on Luzon and third in the Philippines at 2,928 m (9,606 ft). It is in Mount Pulag National Park and is relatively easy to climb with marked trails. The view from near the top offers both the "sea of clouds" effect shown in the photo and, at night, excellent stargazing since it is high and there is no light pollution.
- 27 Mount Pinatubo (near Bacolor in Pampanga province, central Luzon). A stratovolcano which had a VEI-6 eruption in 1991, the second largest on Earth in the 20th century.
- 8 Mount Makiling (in Laguna province, southern Luzon). A dormant stratovolcano, sacred in the old local religion. At its foot is the town of Los Baños, a popular resort on a lake and close (63 km) to Manila. It is named for its hot springs, certainly pleasant and reputedly therapeutic.
- 9 Lake Apo (near Valencia in Bukidnon province, Mindanao). A scenic crater lake, caldera of an extinct volcano. The region has several other volcanoes.
- 10 Mount Apo (near Davao in Mindanao). This dormant stratovolcano is the highest peak in the Philippines at 2,954 meters (9,692 ft). It is fairly often climbed, but this is not easy; it requires mountaineering skills and equipment, and a guide.
- 11 Bud Dajo (on Sulu, near Jolo). An extinct volcano, sacred in the old local religion. It was the scene of a battle in 1906 in which US Navy ships shelled people hiding in the crater.
Turkey
[edit]- 12 Mount Ararat. A dormant permanently snow-capped volcano with two distinct peaks. It is the most sacred site in the world for the Armenian people, who consider it to be the site of the founding of their nation.
Russia
[edit]Kamchatka, Russia's largest Pacific peninsula, has several active volcanoes and some hot springs and geysers.
- 1 Valley of Geysers. The area is known for its beauty, but notoriously inaccessible; the only way to get there is by helicopter.
Two volcanoes, close to each other and to Kamchatka's's capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, have been jointly designated a Decade Volcano.
The largest area of igneous rock (7 million km2, 3 million mi2) on Earth is the 2 Siberian Traps 
. The eruption, about 250 million years ago, is thought to have continued for about two million years and to have caused the largest extinction event in history.
Atlantic
[edit]- 3 Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is the longest mountain range on Earth, on a tectonic plate boundary where the plates are moving away from each other at about 2.5cm (one inch) a year. In distant prehistoric times, the Appalachian Mountains, the Scottish Highlands and the Atlas Mountains were all parts of one mountain range, later split by tectonic activity along the ridge.
Most of the ridge is submerged, but parts of it are above water. In the North Atlantic, Jan Mayen, between Greenland and Norway, has the northernmost active volcano on Earth, and Iceland and the Azores are also on the ridge. In the South Atlantic, Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island and Bouvet Island are on the ridge.
The Canary Islands are in the Atlantic but not on the ridge; this article therefore lists them under #Islands near Africa.
The Caribbean Sea is part of the Atlantic, but this article groups that region's volcanoes under #Central America and Caribbean.
Azores
[edit]This whole group of islands is of volcanic origin.
Iceland
[edit]
- See also: Icelandic hot springs
Iceland has many active volcanoes, among them:
- 31 Hekla. In medieval times Hekla was thought to be a gateway to Hell. It has had five eruptions since 1947 (the last being in 2000), and is regarded as unpredictable.
- 32 Katla. One of the country's largest volcanoes at 1512 m. It has a long history of being quite active, but has not had a major eruption since 1918.
- 33 Askja. In a remote area on the island's central plateau, not accessible in winter.
- 34 Eyjafjallajökull. A glacier that covers the caldera of an active volcano. It famously disrupted European air travel for weeks with an ash cloud released during an eruption in 2010.
- 35 Reykjanes peninsula (Southwest Iceland). Starting in October 2023, this region has had many earthquakes; the small town of Grindavik was evacuated and the tourist attraction the Blue Lagoon was shut down. In mid-December a series of volcanic eruptions began; the sixth eruption ended in early September 2024, and it seems likely that was not the last.
Some Icelandic volcanoes are featured in fiction. Snæfellsjökull is in Jules Verne's novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Surtshellir has a long accessible lava tube, supposedly once home to the fire giant Surtr. Many parts of the Game of Thrones TV series were shot in Þingvellir National Park.
Europe
[edit]Culturally and politically, Iceland is part of Europe. Geologically, however, it is part of the mid-Atlantic ridge, so this article lists it under #Atlantic. The Canary Islands are also politically part of Europe, specifically Spain, but this article classifies them geographically and lists them under #Islands near Africa.
Greece
[edit]- 36 Nisyros. This island in the Greek Dodecanese islands is the top of a volcano, mildly active with smoking fumaroles. It is possible to walk into the crater floor for a closer look.
- 37 Santorini. This island in the Aegean Sea is the largest of a ring of islands around an ancient caldera, and probably Greece's most famous volcano. It had a VEI-7 eruption around 1600 BCE. Some historians suggest the associated tsunami and earthquakes destroyed the Minoan civilization on nearby Crete, or that the devastation of these islands is the origin of the Atlantis myth, but both those theories are quite controversial.
The volcano is still active, for it last erupted in 1950 out of Nea Kameni ("New Burnt" in Greek), an island made up of lava flows in the middle of the caldera bay. It is the country's only Decade Volcano.
Italy
[edit]- 38 Vesuvius. This is a dormant volcano near Naples. It has not been smoking since it last erupted in 1944, but it is still very closely and carefully monitored because of its seriously hazardous proximity to that city, which is southern Italy's most populous. It is famous for its eruption in 79 CE, which buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of pumice, ash and lava fragments.
- 39 Mount Etna (Sicily). This is Europe's tallest volcano at 3,350 m (10,990 ft) and is quite active. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Both Etna and Vesuvius are Decade Volcanoes.
- 13 Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei). This is the caldera of a supervolcano near Naples; the town of Pozzuoli is within it. It had a VEI-7 eruption some 39,000 years ago.
- 14 Ischia. This island in the Bay of Naples has a volcano classed as active; its last eruption was in 1302. It is a popular tourist destination with thermal spas.
- 4 Vesuvius Observatory (Osservatorio Vesuviano) (in Naples). This centre monitors the three volcanoes in the Campania region: Vesuvius, the Phlegraean Fields and Ischia.
- 40 Stromboli. This volcano in the Aeolian Islands has been in near continuous activity since at least the time of the Ancient Greeks and has been billed as the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean". Also featured in Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.
North America
[edit]Most North American volcanoes are in the Pacific Coast Ranges, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
USA
[edit]The Aleutian Islands and the associated Alaska Peninsula are volcanic in origin and have several active volcanoes.
- 41 Novarupta (Katmai National Park, Alaska). This volcano was formed in 1912 by the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, a VEI-6 event. It is near the base of the peninsula.
- 5 Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes (Katmai National Park, Alaska). This is a large (100 km2, 40 mi2) valley filled with ash from pyroclastic flows of the 1912 Novarupta event, in places up to 700 feet (210 m) deep. It still has some fumaroles releasing steam, but not nearly as many as in 1916 when it was named. There is no vegetation and the landscape is unearthly enough to have been used in astronaut training.
- 42 Mount Redoubt (about 180 km (110 mi) southwest of Anchorage, Alaska). The largest active volcano in mainland Alaska.
The Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest has active volcanoes, two of which have had major eruptions since 1900. We list them north-to-south.
- 43 Mount Baker (Washington State). This is one of the five major stratovolcanoes in the area that have produced over 200 eruptions in the last 12,000 years.
- 44 Mount Rainier (Washington State). At 14,410 ft (4,390 m), this is the most prominent peak in the Cascade Range, about twice the height of the adjacent mountains. The volcano, which last erupted in the late 19th century, is the only Decade Volcano in the continental United States. It is considered quite dangerous because it is only about 50 km (30 miles) from Seattle and is encased in over 35 sq mi (91 km2) of snow and ice, enough to cause massive flooding and dangerous lahars if there were a large eruption.
- 45 Mount St. Helens (Washington State). This volcano is famous for an eruption in 1980 that was a VEI-5 event, one of the largest of the century. Since late 2004, it has been erupting once again, but not nearly as violently – this time, a new lava dome is slowly being extruded in its crater.
- 46 Mount Hood (Oregon). At 11,239 ft (3,426 m) this is the highest mountain in the state of Oregon and a major outdoor recreation area. Located about 50 mi (80 km) east-southeast of Portland, the mountain is visible from the city on clear days and usually forms the backdrop for the Portland skyline in postcards and photographs of the city.
- 15 Crater Lake National Park (Southern Oregon). The lake was formed after a volcano collapsed.
- 47 Lassen Peak (California). This 10,457 ft (3,187 m) volcano last erupted in 1915. The surrounding National Park features steam vents, mud pots, and painted dunes.
Hawaii also has many volcanoes.
Mexico
[edit]
- 48 Popocatepetl (near Mexico City). Popocatepetl often has a volcanic plume above its crater which is 5,450 m (17,880 ft) high. The name means "smoking mountain" in the native Nahuatl language.
- 49 Pico de Orizaba, Puebla. This is the highest volcano in North America at 5,636 m (18,491 ft). It last erupted in 1846.
- 16 La Malinche (Puebla State). Considered an active stratovolcano, though it last erupted in 1170 BCE. Elevation 4,461 m (14,636 ft).
- 50 Paricutin, Michoacan. Young volcano that first appeared in 1943. It was the first time geologists could observe a volcano from birth, through its active phase of several decades, to its eventual dormancy. The volcano destroyed two nearby villages.
- 51 Nevado de Colima and Volcan de Colima, Colima and Jalisco. Twin volcanoes on the border of two states in southwestern Mexico. Volcan de Colima is one of the most active volcanoes in North America having erupted 40 times since 1576. The volcano has an elevation of 3,820 m (12,530 ft). It is a Decade Volcano.
- 17 Guadalupe Island (off Baja California). A dormant volcano designated a nature reserve.
Canada
[edit]Canada has no volcanoes which have erupted in the last few thousand years, and only a few which are classed as active; it is thought to have had only about 50 eruptions in the past 10,000 years. However there are many dormant volcanoes, part of the same geological system that produces active volcanoes in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.
- 18 Garibaldi Provincial Park, southern British Columbia (on the Sea to Sky Highway). This is a popular hiking destination with lovely mountain scenery and many glaciers. There are several volcanoes around Garibaldi Lake; most are classed as active because they have erupted in the last 10,000 years but none have erupted in the last 2,000. A lava dam collapsed in 1855 causing extensive flood damage, and access to some areas is still restricted due to landslide dangers.
There has been an upsurge in steam venting and earth tremors in the 21st century, which is worrying since the volcanoes are close enough to threaten Vancouver.
Central America and Caribbean
[edit]Many of Central America's volcanoes are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, but a few in Central America and all of the Caribbean's form another active zone.
Costa Rica
[edit]- 52 Arenal (near La Fortuna). This is the youngest volcano in Costa Rica. Its eruptions were frequent until 2010, but since then it has been calm. Several companies in nearby towns offer tours.
- 53 Rincón de la Vieja (Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park). An active volcano in a national park that has two other national parks, a wildlife refuge, and an experimental forestry area as neighbours. There is good hiking.
Guatemala
[edit]Lake Atitlán is spectacularly beautiful and is one of the country's main tourist destinations. There are several volcanoes among the hills around the lake:
- 54 Volcan Atitlan (Volcán de Atitlán). Considered active, last erupted in 1853.
- 19 Volcán San Pedro.
- 20 Volcán Tolimán.
Another major tourist destination is Antigua Guatemala. There are several volcanoes nearby and guided hikes are available from the town to any of them.
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