Volcanoes are one of the most amazing, mysterious and exciting natural formations on Earth. The erupting volcano inspires holy awe with the power and onslaught of fire. Rising clouds of steam and smoke can be seen 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 do not happen so often. A sleeping 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 can suddenly turn into a desert?
We decided to list the most famous volcanoes in the world, whose names are well known to everyone.
10. Krakatau (Indonesia)
Situated in Indonesiavolcano Krakatau actually represents a chain of individual islands. For a very long time the “main vent” also actually constituted the island - the largest in this group. But in 1883 a powerful eruption completely destroyed him. Did these events form the basis of Jules Verne's novel Mysterious Island?
This, literally, “dispersion” is explained by the structure of the volcano. Its activity is caused by the flow of igneous masses from under a sinking oceanic plate. Magma freezes 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 and destroyed the "mysterious island."
9. Saint Helens (USA)
Situated on the North USvolcano St hellens arranged in much the same way as Krakatau, and therefore differs in the same violent disposition. In 1980, his 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 a regular crater. the eruption literally shot sideways, like a cannon, and literally boldly not expecting such insidious observers.
One of the dead was a photographer who filmed the process of the eruption that began. Robert Landsburg died on the spot, but managed to hide a camera with invaluable shots. A feature film of the same name was shot on these events.
8. Popocatepetl (Mexico)
This mexican volcano and puffs little by little today. Name "Popocatepetl" and it is translated from the language of the indigenous inhabitants of Mexico: "Steaming hill».
Incidentally, its peak is only slightly lower than the highest Mexican mountain, and rises above sea level by 5426 m.
Next to Popocatepetl is another mountain - also a volcano, but long extinct, Istaxiuatl. An ancient legend is even composed about this couple.
And around two volcanoes are numerous villages, towns, towns and cities (including the capital, Mexico City). The total population of the "ant hill" is more than 20 million.
7. Soufriere (India)
Where it is located? In the indies. But it is very uncertain, the 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 unite into a powerful volcanic group, and therefore have a common name.
However, individual volcanoes of this group manifest themselves in different ways. Soufriere on the island of Saint Vincent It is a moderately "breathing" mountain, around which many volcanological laboratories are set up.
Soufriere on Montserrat in 1995, he woke up completely suddenly - so much so that he destroyed the capital of the island-state and literally swept half of the island. This volcano continues to erupt so far.
6. Merapi (Indonesia)
This is the most active active volcano. in Indonesia. Merapi, situated on the island of Java, a real handsome man: a neatly folded cone mountain constantly puffs from a crater located at an altitude of almost 3 km.
Every 7 years, Merapi organizes a grand show. Every two years gives a "modest concert on request." In 1963, he walked around, scattering and covering with ashes almost half of the island, destroying several villages.
The last catastrophic eruption was in 2010 and killed almost 400 people. Moreover, on the slopes of the volcano, it’s easy to find corpses of random tourists who are suffocated and covered with ashes.
5. Klyuchevskaya Sopka (Russia)
Business card Kuril ridge. Klyuchevskaya hillhaving a height of 4835 m, is itself remarkable as the highest peak of Russia 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 special disasters do not occur in this case for the following reasons: an almost completely deserted area; significant mountain height and the powerful, but steady nature of eruptions.
4. Mont Pele (Martinique island)
Situated on the island of Martinique volcano named “Bald Mountain” (Montaunay-Pele) not too high (about 1300 m) and buoy temper. The most famous - and, sadly - brought him the eruption of 1902.
In April 1902, the island of Martinique began to shake slightly. Residents are accustomed to living near a steaming mountain, and treated mild earthquakes with the usual calm. But at about 8 o’clock in the morning on March 8 a terrible roar rang out, and dirty yellow clouds pierced by lightning began to swell over the Bald Mountain.
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. Lava reached the port and burned, smashed and sunk all the ships.
3. Etna (Italy)
According to ancient Greek legend, when the gods quarreled with giants, an angry Athena crushed Enfelad by this mountain. Enfelad 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 breaks out here and there through new cracks.
The legend very figuratively describes the character Etna. A permanent volcano does not have a “main” crater. Each subsequent eruption occurs through one or several old ones, but new places for the release of magma and gases are often formed.
Etna the highest active volcano in Europe (3295 m). Not for nothing, according to the same legends, it was on Etna that Hephaestus lived.
2. Fuji (Japan)
Visit Japan and not see Fuji? It is unthinkable! On honshu island, only 90 km from Tokyo majestically rises highest (3,776 m) peak of 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 whole mountain is considered the private property of Shinto).
The majestic tranquility of the shrine attracts tourists from all over the world. UNESCO 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 25,000 years ago. But "Smoking mountain" (the origin of the name Vesuvius is reliably unknown, but linguists agree to such an interpretation) does not age with spirit.
Vesuvius does not stop smoking. 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.