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Volcanoes are some of the most amazing, mysterious and exciting natural formations on Earth. An erupting volcano inspires sacred awe with the power and onslaught of fire. Rising puffs of steam and smoke are visible for tens of kilometers, and ash and lava can turn the surrounding area into a lifeless “Martian landscape” in a matter of hours.
But eruptions don’t happen all that often. A dormant volcano gives life-giving warmth, loose soil saturated with ash is fertile. Therefore, many “sleeping” volcanoes are oases. But who knows when such an oasis may suddenly turn into a desert?
We decided to list the most famous volcanoes in the world, the names of which are on everyone’s lips.
10 Krakatoa (Indonesia)
Situated in Indonesia, volcano Krakatoa actually represents a chain of individual islands. For a very long time, the “main vent” also actually constituted an island – the largest in this group. But in 1883, a powerful eruption completely destroyed it. Were these events the basis of Jules Verne’s novel “The Mysterious Island”?
Such, in the literal sense, “dispersion” is explained by the structure of the volcano. Its activity is caused by the flow of magmatic masses from under the sinking oceanic plate. Magma solidifies along the way, forming numerous traffic jams. Therefore, each eruption is accompanied by powerful explosions and the discovery of new ways out of magma. One of these explosions destroyed the “mysterious island”.
9. Saint Helens (USA)
Situated on northern USA, volcano St. Hellens it is arranged in much the same way as Krakatoa, and therefore it is distinguished by an equally violent temper. In 1980, its sudden eruption led to the death of 57 people.
A feature of this eruption was that the ejection of volcanic masses was not directed vertically through an ordinary crater. In 1980, the eruption literally shot sideways, like a cannon, and literally boldly did not expect such deceit by observers.
One of the dead was a photographer filming the process of the eruption that had begun. Robert Landsburg died on the spot, but managed to hide the camera with priceless footage. Based on these events, a feature film of the same name was made.
8. Popocatepetl (Mexico)
This mexican volcano and today it puffs a little. Name “Popocatepetl” and translated from the language of the indigenous inhabitants of Mexico: “Smoking Hill”».
By the way, its peak is only slightly lower than the highest Mexican mountain, and rises above sea level at 5426 m.
Near Popocatepetl there is another mountain – also a volcano, but long extinct, Istaxihuatl. There is even an ancient legend about this couple.
And around the two volcanoes, numerous villages, towns, towns and cities huddle (including the capital – Mexico City). The total population of the “anthill” is more than 20 million people.
7. Soufriere (India)
Where it is located? In the West Indies. But it is very vague, “West Indies” is a rather large area that covers several countries and seas. Everything is explained simply: Soufriere these are several volcanoes of the same name located on different islands. However, deep underground, these volcanoes are combined into a powerful volcanic group, and therefore have a common name.
However, individual volcanoes of this group manifest themselves in different ways. Soufriere on St. Vincent Island is a moderately “breathing” mountain, around which many volcanological laboratories are set up.
Soufriere on the island of Montserrat in 1995 he woke up quite suddenly – so much so that he destroyed the capital of the island-state and literally swept away half of the island. This volcano continues to erupt to this day.
6. Merapi (Indonesia)
It is the most active active volcano in Indonesia. Merapi, located on the island of Java, a real beauty: a neatly folded conical mountain puffs continuously from a crater located at an altitude of almost 3 km.
Every 7 years Merapi puts on a grand show. Every two years he gives a “modest concert by request”. In 1963, it roamed, sweeping and covering almost half of the island with ashes, destroying several villages.
The last catastrophic eruption was in 2010 and killed almost 400 people. Moreover, on the slopes of the volcano it is easy to find the corpses of random tourists who have not been removed by anyone, suffocated and covered with ashes.
5. Klyuchevskaya Sopka (Russia)
Business card Kuril ridge. Klyuchevskaya hill, with a height of 4835 m, is remarkable in itself as Russia’s highest peak after the Caucasus Mountains. In addition, this magnificent mountain does not stop its volcanic activity for a minute.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka is a rather young (by geological standards) volcano, its age is about 7000 years. Large eruptions occur every 4-6 years. But there are no special catastrophes for the following reasons: almost completely deserted area; the significant height of the mountain and the powerful but steady nature of the eruptions.
4. Mont-Pellet (Island of Martinique)
Situated on the island of Martinique named volcano “Bald Mountain” (Montagne-Pele) not too high (about 1300 m) and wild in temper. The greatest fame – moreover, the sad one – was brought to him by the eruption of 1902.
In April 1902, the island of Martinique began to shake slightly. Residents were accustomed to living near a smoking mountain and treated moderate earthquakes with their usual calmness. But at about 8 o’clock in the morning on March 8, a terrible roar was heard, dirty yellow clouds began to swell over Lysa Gora, pierced by lightning.
A powerful lava flow rushed towards the town, located at the foot of the volcano. In just a few minutes, the city, along with 30 thousand inhabitants, was burned to the ground. The lava reached the port and burned, broke and sank all the ships.
3. Etna (Italy)
According to ancient Greek legend, when the gods quarreled with the giants, an angry Athena crushed Enfeladus with this mountain. Enfeladus was an immortal giant, so the only way to get rid of the enemy was to immobilize him. And since the giant is immortal, he is so under the mountain and tossing and turning, shaking the earth, and his breath escapes here and there through more and more cracks.
The legend very figuratively describes the character Etna. A permanently active volcano does not have a “main” crater. Each successive eruption occurs through one or more old ones, but new outlets for magma and gases often form.
ethno the highest active volcano in Europe (3295 m). No wonder, according to the same legends, it was on Etna that Hephaestus lived.
2. Fujiyama (Japan)
Visit Japan and not see Fujiyama? Unthinkable! On the island of Honshu, just 90 km from Tokyo, towers majestically the highest peak (3776 m) in Japan. The volcano is considered weakly active.
Right on top of the sacred mountain is the main Shinto shrine of Japan (by the way, the entire mountain is considered the private property of the Shintoists).
The majestic tranquility of the shrine attracts tourists from all over the world. UNESCO has registered the volcano as a World Heritage Site. The status of the National Park of Japan will allow preserving the natural identity of the unique geological formation.
1. Vesuvius (Italy)
The Italian “angry uncle” has a fairly respectable age. According to volcanologists, Vesuvius appeared about 25 years ago. But “smoking mountain” (the origin of the name Vesuvius is not known for certain, but linguists agree on such an interpretation) does not age in spirit.
Smoke Vesuvius without stopping. Without any regularity, about once every 10-15 years, the volcano erupts powerfully, and about once every 30 years with an explosion.
The unpredictability of eruptions, their power and catastrophic consequences led to the fact that one of the most destructive eruptions that destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum was generally considered a beautiful legend.