Volcanic eruptions are one of the cataclysms that pose a great threat to humanity. On the other hand, volcanoes attract attention for their unusual beauty and mystery. Nowadays, many volcanoes are scattered around the world, but only the most active are ready to explode at any moment and bring catastrophic destruction.
Volcano Merapi
The volcano, which has been active for 10,000 years, is a serious danger today. With a height of 2914 meters, Merapi reminds of itself with large eruptions every seven years. Smaller eruptions happen about twice a year, and smoke from the top is almost always there.
One of the most devastating eruptions of Merapi, in which 350,000 people were evacuated, occurred in 2010. 353 people trapped in the pyroclastic flow died.
This conical volcano, considered the most active volcano in Indonesia, is located on the island of Java. The name "Merapi" from the local language can be translated as "mountain of fire", which suits him well. Many legends and beliefs of the Javanese are associated with Merapi. Local residents, and especially the older generation, believe that the kingdom of spirits is located at the peak of the volcano. For this reason, once a year, a Javanese priest performs a sacrifice to grief in order to pacify it.
Mauna loa
Mauna Loa is the world's largest active volcano, active for at least 700,000 years. Geographically, the volcano is located on the Hawaiian Islands and is translated from the local dialect as "long peak".
Mauna Loa is also considered the largest shield volcano in the world in terms of area covered. The volcano's shield is shaped by its low-viscosity fluid lava. It is also the reason for its increased danger to the local population.
During an eruption, due to its fluidity, lava is capable of developing high speeds, which entails a number of problems:
- the timely evacuation of residents is difficult;
- the number of fires is increasing;
- nature is severely damaged;
- the animal world suffers.
Because of its danger, Mauna Loa was included in the "Decade of Volcanoes" program, which supports the study of such volcanoes. Scientists suggest that the first volcanic eruptions took place more than 300 million years ago.
Vesuvius
The volcano, notorious for its destructive power, wipes out the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Due to the densely populated area around the volcano, Vesuvius can be called the most dangerous in the world. In the event of an eruption, about 6 million people will be in the affected area. In 1841, the Vesuvian Observatory was built to observe the volcano.
Vesuvius erupted more than a dozen times, its last eruption occurred in 1944. During this two-week eruption, lava fountains reached a height of 1000 meters. As a result, 27 people died, and the cities of San Sebastiano and Massa were completely destroyed.
Despite the danger, the volcano attracts thousands of tourists. In order to see the Vesuvius crater, a special funicular was built in the middle of the 20th century, but it was destroyed by another eruption. Today you can see the volcano by going up the hiking trail.
Sakurajima
With a height of 1117 meters, the Japanese volcano Sakurajima is inferior in size to Vesuvius, but in activity it clearly surpasses it. Until 1914, the volcano was a separate island and did not pose any particular danger. However, during the eruption in 1914, the stratovolcano showed all its power. After destroying about 3,000 houses, lava flows connected Sakurajima with the Japanese Osamu Peninsula.
In 1955, the activity of the volcano increased greatly, and since then Sakurajima has steadily increased in size and erupted. For all the time, about 7,300 eruptions were recorded, most of which occurred at the beginning of the 20th century.
According to researchers from the University of Bristol, the volcano is a big threat due to its location in a densely populated area. About 700,000 people live a kilometer from Sakurajima, who, if erupted, would be in grave danger. During the last eruptions, volcanic debris spread over a distance of more than two kilometers, and ash rose high into the atmosphere.
Ulawun
Not only the most active, but also the most dangerous volcano in Papua New Guinea. Ulawun first began to manifest itself in 1700. For all the time, he erupted twenty-two times. Recently, the volcano is constantly active and periodically erupts in small explosions. Due to frequent eruptions, Ulawuna's summit crater has changed its shape, and its north-western side has completely collapsed.
Locals call Ulavun "Father Volcano" because it is larger than all the neighboring volcanoes. For all the time, the volcano claimed thousands of lives, for which it was included in the list of volcanoes for decades.
The last time the volcano "woke up" in 2019, when ash streams rose up 20 kilometers, settling in settlements. More than 6,000 people were evacuated from the villages near the volcano due to the eruption.
Nyiragongo
All of Africa knows the threat posed by Nyiragongo, which has erupted about 34 times. The absence of silicates in the lava makes it less viscous, which greatly increases the danger posed by the volcano. The last eruption of 2002 is clear evidence of this. Rapid streams of flowing lava killed thousands of people and destroyed nearly half of the nearby city of Goma.
Nyiragongo has a unique feature, there is a large lava lake in its crater, which is still active today. There is a possibility that in the coming years there will be another eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano. Since scientists have detected tremors that warned of eruptions in 1977 and 2002.
