Active volcanoes: in pursuit of extreme sports.

Volcanoes are cone-shaped or dome-shaped geological formations that appear on the site of earth faults in a zone of seismic activity, through which lava, ash, gas, steam, and various rocks of loose origin erupt to the surface. There are about a thousand volcanoes on our planet, a quarter of them are underwater.

The highest (by the way, dormant and has not erupted for the last 2 million years) is located in South America, on the border of Chile and Argentina - Ojos del Salado (“salty tears”), its height is 6890 meters above sea level, but Russia is also in does not lag behind in this regard, on its territory there is a huge concentration (there are about 129 of them in Kamchatka, 30 of them are active) of active and dormant volcanoes, not inferior to their foreign “brothers” either in beauty or in unstable, explosive “temper”.

Together they form a single volcanic belt stretching along the entire eastern coast of Kamchatka. Volcanoes are also common in the Caucasus and the coast of the Black and Azov Seas, in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, in the territory of the Siberian trap provinces and on Sakhalin.

The largest volcanoes in Russia

(Altitude more than 3000m)

The most famous Russian volcanoes: Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Koryakskaya Sopka, Kronotskaya Sopka, Avachinskaya Sopka, Ichinskaya Sopka, Karymskaya Sopka, Kamen, Ushkovsky, Tolbachik, Shishel, Shiveluch, Zimina Volcano. By the way, hills and mountains with a rounded top are called hills in Transbaikalia and the Far East; in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands this is the name for volcanoes.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka (5000m)

An active stratovolcano (consisting of alternating layers of hardened lava and loose rocks) in the east of Kamchatka - Klyuchevskaya Sopka, has a height of about 5000 meters, this is one of 12 cones that make up the Klyuchevskaya volcanoes group, they are located 60 km from the coast of the Barents Sea. This is the highest active volcano in Russia and throughout Eurasia. Its shape is a regular cone with a crater diameter of more than 1 km, above which a column of smoke is constantly visible and fiery flashes are visible, it is composed of cooled volcanic lava (basaltic and andesite), the upper part is made of loose rocks, the top is covered with glaciers, nearby, in in the village of Klyuchi, there is a volcanological research station. Over more than 300 years of continuous observations, about 50 eruptions were recorded, the most powerful ones being noted in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Stone (4585m)

The extinct ancient stratovolcano Kamen, 4585 m high, is located south of Klyuchevskaya Sopka, between it and the Bezymianny volcano, forming a kind of trio of “friends” visible from everywhere. The structure of this volcano, in contrast to the strict cone-shaped forms of Klyuchevskaya Sopka, is characterized by asymmetry: on its eastern side a sharp four-kilometer cliff is noticeable, like a giant castle soaring to the skies; at the foot, large fragments and blocks of a once monolithic cone-shaped volcano are scattered, their sizes reaching diameter 5-10 meters. Its peak is difficult to access; mountaineering ascents are organized on the western side.

Ushkovsky (3943m)

The active stratovolcano Ushkovsky with a height of 3943 meters has another name - the Far Ploskaya Sopka, is located in the center of Kamchatka, west of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka and belongs to the northern component of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes, as well as to the mountain system of the Eastern Range, part of the Eastern volcanic belt. Together with the nearby volcano called Krestovsky or Near Ploskaya Sopka they form a single volcanic massif. Its shape is an elliptical truncated cone, the top in the form of a caldera (circus-shaped basin) has a diameter of about 5 km and a round shape filled with ice and firn. The last eruptions were at the end of the 19th century (1890).

Tolbachik (3682m)

Tolbachik volcano (3682 m) has a Hawaiian type of eruption (it is characterized by outpourings of liquid basaltic lava, with the formation of lava lakes and flows spreading over many kilometers), it is also part of the southwestern part of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes. At a distance of 50-70 km from it there are five settlements (the villages of Klyuchi, Mayskoye, Kozyrevsk, Lazo, Atlasovo with a population of about 8 thousand people living there). It consists of the highest cone called Ostry Tolbachik, a smaller active cone - Flat Tolbachik, and a flat dome. The diameter of the crater is 2 km, the largest of all known eruptions is the Great Tolbachik fissure eruption of 1975, which resulted in the formation of new cinder cones, lava fields and a collapse caldera in place of the crater at the summit.

Ichinskaya Sopka (3621m)

The active stratovolcano Ichinskaya Sopka (3621 meters) in the very center of Kamchatka looks like three cones completely covered with glaciers. One of these cones is an active volcano, which is the second highest peak of the Sredinny Range. The volcano has a complex structure, is in a state of weak fumoral activity (periodic release of hot gases from small cracks and faults), the last eruption was in the 40s of the 18th century.

Kronotskaya Sopka (3528m)

The active (very rare) starovolcano Kronotskaya Sopka (3528 m) is located in the east of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Its top has the appearance of a ribbed cone of regular shape covered with glaciers, and rare woody vegetation in the form of dwarf cedar and stone birch grows at the foot. Here is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places in the nature of the peninsula, not far from the volcano - Kronotskoye Lake (on the western slope) and the Valley of Geysers (a unique geyser field with numerous outlets of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, thermal areas, waterfalls and lakes).

Koryakskaya Sopka (3456m)

Koryakskaya Sopka (3456 m, until the 19th century it was called Strelochnaya Sopka) is an active stratovolcano belonging to the Avachinsky-Koryaksky group of volcanoes, only 35 km from it to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Its top is a regular truncated ribbed cone, consisting of basalt and andesite scoria, ash and lava; traces of lava flows can be seen in the valleys. The top is located in the zone of glacial deposits, the foot is in thickets of dwarf cedar and stone birch. The last eruptions were at the end of the 50s of the last century.

Zimina Volcano (3119m)

The extinct Zimina Volcano (3119 m) is a complex of stratovolcanoes belonging to the southeastern part of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes. It consists of the Bolshoi Zimina volcano (western part) and the Small Zimina or Mountain Tooth (eastern part), the highest point in the massif is Oval Zimina. At the top there is a kelder open to the north; the slopes below are composed of pyroclastic rock deposits interspersed with lava.

Volcanoes are geological formations that form above cracks in, through which lava, ash, loose rocks, boiling gases and water burst out.

Active volcanoes include those that erupted in historical times or showed other signs of activity (emission of gases and steam, etc.). Some scientists consider active volcanoes that are reliably known to have erupted within the last 10 thousand years.

The largest cluster of active volcanoes in a limited area of ​​the planet is located in the Malay Archipelago - the largest on Earth, located between the continental parts and. On the territory of Russia, the largest number of active volcanoes is in the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka. Approximately 60 volcanoes erupt annually, and about a third of them erupted in the previous year. There is information about 627 volcanoes that have erupted over the past 10 thousand years.

Australia is the smallest continent in area and the lowest in altitude. The only continent where there are no active volcanoes and modern glaciation. The driest continent (deserts occupy the largest area compared to other continents). The organic world is characterized by endemism to the greatest extent. Least developed in agricultural terms.

The wonderful world of eucalyptus Many species of eucalyptus have long been adapted to dry climates, used in the construction of dams. Their root system goes deep into the ground, and the leaves are dry and hard. Their color is grayish and they are covered with thick skin. Narrow leaves are almost always located edge-on to the sun and do not provide shade. In humid places on the east coast, some species reach a height of 100 m and a thickness of up to 10 m. Eucalyptus grows very quickly and at 35 years old reaches the height of a two-hundred-year-old oak. The leaves contain essential oil, which is used in medicine and perfumery. Its wood does not rot, it does not harbor insects (boring beetles) Eucalyptus ships and various types of structures where durability and special resistance of the material are required.

Boarding house Eucalyptus voluntarily or unwillingly play the role of hosts for various creatures: birds, mammals, microbes and many spiders, beetles. Butterflies and other insects that settle in their hollows, feed on their leaves and hunt their victims. Speaking without exaggeration, it is the source of life of the continent.

Deserts of the West From the top of Ayers Rock, a panorama of a vast desert, almost devoid of vegetation, opens up. Only at the foot of the cliff are rare groves of stunted eucalyptus and mulga acacia green. A few kangaroos and emus nibble on the spinifex shoots as they leisurely move across the red, heat-cracked plain. Western Australia is characterized by scrub and grassy steppe. Scrab is a thicket of small shrubs of acacia and eucalyptus. Intertwined with branches, the bushes form impenetrable thickets.

On fire Fires in eucalyptus forests are something terrible, indescribable. A sea of ​​fire engulfs the forest, the trees instantly burst into flames one after another. Eucalyptus foliage, rich in oils, catches fire very easily. The fire is spreading at tremendous speed. It is absolutely impossible to escape from him, even driving away in a car is difficult. However, eucalyptus trees are very fire resistant. After some time, young green shoots grow from a burnt, black, seemingly dead trunk, and the tree continues to live
Previously, marsupial marten, marsupial devil, marsupial wolf abounded in Australia - they were widespread in Australia, however, they lost in the struggle for survival, leaving the plains of the continent to their more friendly and aggressive competitors. (introduced here: sheep, rabbits, wild dog dingo). e

Most of the volcanoes on our planet are located in the “ring of fire”, which stretches along the shores of the entire Pacific Ocean. There are about 1.5 thousand volcanoes on Earth, of which 540 are active.

Here is a list of the most dangerous of them.

1. Nyiragongo, altitude 3470 m, Democratic Republic of the Congo

This is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Africa. Since 1882, 34 eruptions have been recorded here. The main crater is 250 meters deep and 2 km wide, and contains a lake of actively bubbling lava. This lava is extremely fluid and its flows can reach speeds of 100 km/h. In 2002, an eruption killed 147 people and left 120,000 people homeless. The last eruption to date occurred in 2016.

2. Taal, height 311 m, Philippines


This is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet. It has erupted 34 times since 1572. Located on the island of Luzon, on Taal Lake. The most powerful eruption of this volcano in the 20th century occurred in 1911 - in 10 minutes, 1335 people died and, in general, all living things at a distance of up to 10 km. In 1965, 200 people died. Last eruption - 1977

3. Mauna Loa, height 4,169 m, Hawaii (USA)


There are many volcanoes in Hawaii, but this is the largest and most dangerous of them all. Since 1832, 39 eruptions have been recorded. The last eruption occurred in 1984, the last major eruption in 1950.

4. Vesuvius, height 1,281 m, Italy


One of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world is located just 15 km east of Naples. The most famous historical eruption occurred in 79 AD. As a result of this disaster, two cities - Pompeii and Herculaneum - disappeared from the face of the Earth. In modern history, the last eruption of Vesuvius occurred in 1944.

5. Merapi, altitude 2,930 m, Indonesia


This most active active volcano in Indonesia is located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. "Merapi" is translated as "mountain of fire." The volcano is young, so it puffs with enviable regularity. Major eruptions occur on average every 7 years. In 1930, about 1,300 people died, in 1974, two villages were destroyed, and in 2010, 353 people died. Last eruption - 2011

6. St. Helens, altitude 2,550 m, USA


Located 154 km from Seattle and 85 km from Portland. This active volcano's most famous eruption occurred in 1980, killing 57 people. The eruption was of a rare type - a “directed explosion”. The process of the volcanic eruption and the spread of the ash cloud was filmed by photographer Robert Landsburg, who died in this eruption, but saved the film. The last activity to date was recorded in 2008.

7. Etna, height 3,350 m, Italy


Volcano Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily. This is the highest active volcano in Europe. Throughout its existence, it has erupted about 200 times. In 1992, one of the largest eruptions was recorded, during which the town of Zafferana barely escaped. On December 3, 2015, the central crater of the volcano ejected a fountain of lava to a kilometer height. The last eruption was February 27, 2017.

8. Sakurajima, height 1,117 m, Japan


The volcano is located on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu Island in the Japanese Prefecture of Kagoshima. There is almost always a cloud of smoke above the volcano. Eruptions were recorded on August 18, 2013, in March 2009. The last eruption was recorded on July 26, 2016.

9. Galeras, altitude 4,276 m, Colombia


Over the past 7 thousand years, at least six large eruptions and many small ones have occurred on Galeras. In 1993, six volcanologists and three tourists died while conducting research in the crater (then the eruption also began). Latest recorded eruptions: January 2008, February 2009, January and August 2010

10. Popocatepetl, altitude 5426 m, Mexico


The name translates as "smoking hill". The volcano is located near Mexico City. It has erupted 20 times since 1519. The last eruption was recorded in 2015.

11. Unzen, altitude 1,500 m, Japan


The volcano is located on the Shimabara Peninsula. The eruption of Mount Unzen in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in human history in terms of the number of casualties. The eruption caused a tsunami 55 meters high, which killed more than 15 thousand people. And in 1991, 43 people died during an eruption. No eruptions have been observed since 1996.

12. Krakatoa, height 813 m, Indonesia


This active volcano is located between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Before the historic eruption of 1883, the volcano was much taller and consisted of one large island. However, a powerful eruption in 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. Today Krakatoa is still active and small eruptions occur quite regularly. Last activity - 2014.

13. Santa Maria, altitude 3,772 m, Guatemala


The first recorded eruption of this volcano occurred in October 1902, before which it “rested” for 500 years. The explosion was heard 800 km away in Costa Rica, and the ash column rose 28 km. About 6 thousand people died. Today the volcano is active. The last eruption was recorded in 2011.

14. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, height 4835 m, Russia


The volcano is located in the east of Kamchatka, 60 km from the coast. This is the largest active volcano in Russia. Over the past 270 years, more than 50 eruptions have been recorded, the last one in April 2016.

15. Karymskaya Sopka, height 1468 m, Russia


Also located in Kamchatka. Since 1852, more than 20 eruptions have been recorded. Recent eruptions: 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015. A very turbulent volcano.

Ecology

In 2018, scientists dared to predict the intensification of volcanic activity on the planet, frightening ordinary people catastrophic consequences in the form of global climate change, destruction of cities and loss of life.

Such bleak forecasts from experts are not unfounded: for many years now, increasing volcanic activity has been observed along the region of the Pacific volcanic ring of fire, where more than three hundred active volcanoes are located.

The behavior of a couple of other active volcanoes that have managed to ruin the lives of a significant number of people on our planet. But there are about nine hundred active volcanoes on land alone.

Volcanoes are an integral part of the Earth, reminding us of how destructive the fury of nature can be. We bring to your attention a list of the ten most dangerous active volcanoes on our planet today.

Active volcanoes

Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii

While the whole world is watching with aspiration as the Kilauea volcano covers the largest island of Hawaii with waves of hot lava, not so far from it it is sleeping peacefully megavolcano Mauna Loa, whose height is 4169 meters (that is, almost three thousand meters higher than Kilauea!).

Mauna Loa, whose name translates as “long mountain,” is the largest active volcano on planet Earth. At the moment, it is a place of pilgrimage for tourists and a work site for representatives of the scientific world.

The formation of this volcano began approximately 700,000 years ago, while its activity continues to this day. Mauna Loa's most recent eruption occurred in 1984. The underwater part of this volcano is the largest on the planet and is 80 thousand cubic kilometers.

The volcano spews intense lava flows that threaten not only the huge ecosystem that has settled on its slopes, but also nearby human settlements. The Hawaiians in their mythology singled out Mauna Loa as the place of one of the sisters Pele - the goddess of fire, volcanoes and strong winds.

Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Iceland

For some time now, Eyjafjallajökull has become one of the most famous volcanoes on our planet. And this despite the fact that Very few people can pronounce its name without hesitation.. This 1666-meter-high volcano (a mysterious combination of three sixes, isn't it?) is located in the south of Iceland.

It is part of several small glaciers on this island nation. The volcano's crater itself, which is three to four kilometers in diameter, was also covered by glaciers. However, the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which began on March 20, 2010, melted its ice.

Despite the fact that Eyjafjallajökull is not the largest volcano in Iceland, its eruption caused trouble throughout Europe. The height that the volcanic ash reached was 13 kilometers. And its significant spread led to the suspension of air traffic over the entire Northern Europe.

Almost a month later, volcanic ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano was recorded over a huge part of the territory of the Russian Federation. As a result of the last eruption, a new crack formed on the volcano in the direction from north to south, the length of which was two kilometers.

Volcano Vesuvius, Italy

Speaking about the most dangerous active volcanoes on the planet, it would be unforgivable frivolity not to mention the Italian Vesuvius. This volcano the last eruption of which was recorded in 1944, is most famous in the world for the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum that were razed to the ground in 79 AD.

The location of this volcano, the only one active in continental Europe, makes it one of the most dangerous in the world. The reason is the proximity of densely populated regions. Suffice it to say that just fifteen kilometers from Vesuvius is Naples, whose agglomeration exceeds three million people.

Vesuvius does not have an outstanding height - it is only 1281 meters above sea level. His quite frequent activity (one eruption approximately every twenty years) due to the relative youth of the volcano - it was formed about 25,000 years ago.

We most often remember the tragedy of Pompeii, where about two thousand people were buried during the eruption. At the same time, we forget that during the eruption on July 26, 1805 (far from the most powerful eruption of this volcano!), Vesuvius took the lives of 26 thousand people!

Active volcanoes

Volcano Nyiragongo, Congo

If we talk about activity, then the Nyiragongo volcano, whose height is 3469 meters, can rightfully be considered one of the most active. It is known that 34 eruptions have been recorded since 1882. Some of these eruptions continued for many months and even years.

In fact, Nyiragongo and its neighbor Nyamlagira are responsible for forty percent of all eruptions that continue to be observed on the African continent to this day. If we talk about the most destructive eruptions of Nyiragongo, the last one occurred on January 10, 1977.

As a result of that cataclysm, about two thousand people died, and the tragedy occurred literally within the first half hour from the moment the eruption began. Deadliest eruption of Nyiragongo in this century happened in 2002, when 45 people died under lava flows.

Nyiragongo is also famous for having the largest molten lava lake in its main crater, which is two kilometers in diameter. The temperature of the lava is 1200 degrees Celsius. The lake of fire itself, which is visible even from space, in size resembles a red Cyclopean eye, or, if you like, the eye of Sauron.

Taal Volcano, Philippines

Taal Volcano, whose height is only some 311 meters, is located on the island of Luzon, just 50 kilometers away from the more than one and a half million city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. In fact, it is one of the smallest active volcanoes on our planet.

Despite his size, Taal sent many thousands of people to the next world. It is known that since 1572 this volcano has erupted at least thirty times. It was thanks to his activity that the third largest lake in the Philippines was formed, the greatest depth of which is 172 meters. It is also called Taal.

One of the most powerful eruptions of Taal, which resulted in the death of all living things within a few minutes at a distance of up to ten kilometers from the volcano, occurred on January 30, 1911. Then masses of superheated steam and hot ash killed 1335 people. It is noteworthy that the volcano did not eject lava.

A huge cloud of ash, according to sources of those years, was visible at a distance of more than four hundred kilometers. The last powerful eruption of Taal was also recorded in the last century. It happened in 1965, taking the lives of more than two hundred people.

Volcano Merapi, Indonesia

Some volcanoes destroy settlements and villages, like Nyamlaghira and Taal. Others, like Vesuvius, entire cities. About the Merapi volcano it is known that he destroyed the entire Javanese-Indian kingdom, which was located on the territory of modern Indonesia. This happened in the year 1006.

The highest point of Merapi is 2968 meters. “Mountain of Fire” (that’s how the name of this volcano is translated) does not skimp on deadly eruptions. And this is not surprising, since Merapi is the youngest volcano from the group of its many “relatives” located in the south of the island of Java.

In the first half of the last century, there were 13 eruptions of the “mountain of fire”. It is known, for example, that in 1930, 1,300 people died due to the activity of this volcano. And now in 1974 Merapi wipes out two villages, and just a year later - another village, causing enormous damage to the region’s infrastructure. 29 people died then.

The last powerful eruption of Merapi in 2010 forced more than 350,000 local residents to flee the surrounding region. Some of them, however, dared to return, for which many of them paid with their lives - the volcano sent 353 people to the next world.

The most dangerous volcanoes

Volcano Galeras, Colombia

In Colombia, very close to the border with the Republic of Ecuador, is the majestic Galeras volcano. The height of this giant is 4276 meters. The depth of the crater (about 80 meters) and its diameter (320 meters) turn this volcano into a kind of cannon that has fired more than once.

The Galeras volcano continues to be active, as can be seen from numerous small eruptions. Not many really strong eruptions happened on Galeras. According to scientists, over the past seven thousand years there have been about six major bursts of its activity.

Galeras is a very popular destination for tourists in South America, who also come to admire the beauty of the mountain located at the foot of the mountain. national reserve, the area of ​​which is several thousand hectares.

Galeras constantly keeps in suspense almost half a million people living near the volcano, which, according to experts, remains active for at least a million years. Due to small eruptions, people often die there, and due to the threat of large ones, the authorities periodically evacuate many thousands of residents.

Sakurajima Volcano, Japan

The active Japanese volcano Sakurajima was once an independent island. However, after the eruption of 1914, it became part of the Osumi Peninsula, connecting with it through frozen lava flows.

Sakurajima has been continuously active since 1955, posing a serious threat to the city of Kagoshima, with a population of more than six hundred thousand people. However, this did not prevent (or rather helped) the residents of the city to benefit from such a dangerous neighborhood, making the volcano a tourist attraction.

There is a regular ferry to Mount Sakurajima, and from the city itself to the volcano, whose height is 1117 meters, a breathtakingly beautiful view opens up. Given the constant small eruptions of the volcano, it is not surprising that residents have become accustomed to it. For example, in 2014 alone, 471 eruptions occurred!