They are rare but still fascinating and dangerous for the humans. Back in time they were thought to be the punishment from the gods for indulging in wrong doings. However, today’s technology helps us understand that volcanic eruptions were results of movement of tectonic plates in the inside of the Earth’s core. When this tectonic movement occurs, large amount of magma is released. Volcanoes were primarily classified as dormant (these type are volcanoes which remained inactive for more than 10,000 years), extinct volcanoes (the type that ran out of magma and that cannot produce volcanic eruptions any more) and of course active that even today have eruptions.
These are the top 6 volcanoes that have eruptions till present day and are great danger for people who live nearby.
#1. Manua Loa Volcano
Located in the Hawaii islands, this is one of the five volcanoes that make up the Island of Hawaii in United States. Manua Loa is the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume. It holds 18,000 cubic miles of magma and stands at a height of 120 feet above the sea level. It’s fascinating, that this volcano was erupting for more than 700,000 years. The last volcanic eruption occurred in March 1984 and it lasted for more than 24 days causing heavy damage to the people and surrounding areas.
#2. Taal Volcano
Located on the Phillipines’ island of Luzon, Taal volcano is located at the center of Lake Taal which was formed as a result of heavy volcanic eruption. It is also known as “Volcano inside Volcano”, because the lake which surrounds the volcano was once the mouth of another, bigger volcano. This volcano, innitially was standing at a height of 18,000 feet and its earlier eruptions were responsible for restructure. It is still active and around 5000-6000 people lost their lives during the eruptions. The last volcanic eruption was in 1977. Recently the volcano started showing the signs of another heavy eruption so the Phillipines institute of Seismology has instructed the tourists and people not to visit the volcano closer.
#3. Santa Maria
This has been the most active volcano since the 20th century. It is located 130 kilometers away from the city of Guatemala, in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Crater in Santa Maria was formed after the heavy explosion in 1902. There has been a heavy dome complex named as Sanitaguito which was formed from the deposits of magma. The latest eruption occurred in March of 2011.
#4. Ulawun
This volcano is located in Papau New Guinea region and erupts constantly from the beginning of 18th century. Since then it has erupted nearly 22 times. Of all these eruptions, the one which occurred in back in 1980, ejected ash up to 18 kilometers and devastated an area of nearly 20 square kilometers. It is assumed that it has reached its maximum limit and soon it would restructure itself by the eruption of magma. The last volcanic eruption occurred, four years ago in 2010, emitting ashes up to 3.7 kilometers.
#5. Sakurajima
This volcanic mountain was located in its separate island (Kyushu) till 1914. After this volcanic eruption, the lava flow connected the mountain with the Osumi Peninsula of Japan. It is also known as Vesuvius of East. Being still active, it is a threat to 700,000 people of the city Kagoshima. From 1955, it has been erupting each year and there are nearly 7300 eruptions in the past half century. The Japanese government has even built the refugee camp for the people off Kagoshima so that they can take shelter during volcanic eruption. The last volcanic eruption happened five years ago in 2009 killing thousands people and animals.
#6. Yellow Stone Caldera
It is located beneath the Yellow National Park in the United States. Even though it hasn’t erupted for 640,000 years, many people ask how it can be active volcano then. 640 000 years ago the volcano erupted and destroyed mountains and drained the lava of the crate and covered half of the U.S. with deadly ashes. It follows an eruption cycle of 600,000 years. 40,000 years had passed, so the scientists expect the eruption of this volcano at any time. If this volcano erupts, it could possibly be the End of the World since it could result in the eruption of other volcanic mountains. Let’s hope it won’t happen, although white smoke constantly comes out from the surface of the ground.
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