At this time there are more than 1,500 volcanoes on the surface of the Earth. This number does not include the volcanoes existing under the ocean, of which there are potentially thousands. The largest of these 1,500 volcanoes is the greatest threat to those who live in their motion. Some even have the ability to threaten life for miles. Here is a list of some of the largest volcanoes on Earth. Some of them are not a major threat, despite their size. Others have killed thousands in the past and could easily do so in the future.
Great Volcano #7, Vesuvius
Altitude: about 4,000 feet
Type: Stratovolcano
Status: Active
Year of Last Eruption: 1944
Mount Vesuvius is located on the western coast of Italy, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This is the same volcano that was responsible for the destruction of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. Mount Vesuvius is the shortest volcano on this list. But the height of this volcano does not help how destructive it can be. Today there are millions of people living within the range of this volcano. A particularly large eruption could have dire consequences.
Great Volcano #6, Mount Pelee
Height: Roughly 4,582 feet
Type: Compose Vulcano
Status: Resting
The New Year of the Eruption: 1929-1932
Mount Pelee is located on the island of Martinique in the West Indies. This volcano became famous after the eruption in 1902 the town of St. He destroyed Pierre. An estimated 29,000 people were killed.
Great Volcano #5, Mount Pinatubo
Elevation: about 4,872 feet
Type: Stratovolcano
Status: Active
Year of Last Eruption: The second eruption occurred in 1994.
Mount Pinatubo is located in the Philippines. The largest eruption there in recent history occurred in 1991. This eruption was unique in that scientists could predict it and many had exceeded it. However, 847 people died and 23 went missing due to the large eruption.
Great Volcano #4, Mount St. Helena
Elevation: 8 approximately 8,364 feet
Type: Stratovolcano
Status: Active
Year of Last Eruption: 2004-2008
Mount Saint Helena is located in the Cascade-mountains in the state of Washington. It is the most famous volcano in the U.S.A. due to the eruption in 1980. The eruption caused the north face. he once built a more ornate mountain. He destroyed nearly a thousand hundred thousand forests and a hundred great animals. Fifty-seven people in all were killed, despite warnings of an imminent eruption.
Great Volcano #3, Mount Tambora
Elevation: about 9,354 feet
Type: Stratovolcano
Status: Active
Year of Last Eruption: 1967
Mount Tambora is located on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia. Mount Tambora had the largest eruption in recorded history in 1816. That year was known throughout the world as the year without a summer. the eruption killed an estimated 80,000 people. In New England, almost 10,000 miles away, the changes in weather conditions caused by the eruption were quite harsh. They record frost every month of that year and it even snowed in June.
Great Volcano #2, Mount Etna
Elevation: Roughly 10,925 feet
Type: Stratovolcano
Status: Active
Year of Last Eruption: 2008
Mount Etna is located on the island of Sicily in Italy. It is the most active and longest of all the volcanoes in Europe. Mount Etna erupted more than 200 times after 1500 BC. This includes a series of eruptions that lasted for thirteen years between 1972 and 1992. The eruptions of the volcano have threatened to destroy the town of Catania several times. Attempts were made twice to divert the flow of lava from the town. Both efforts failed.
Great Volcano #1, Mauna Loa
Altitude: about 13,000 feet above sea level, about 56,000 feet from base to summit
Type: Shield Vulcan
Status: Active
Year of Last Eruption: 1984
Mauna Loa is located in in Hawaii. Its name means Long Mountain in the language of the barbarians. Not only is the highest volcano on Earth, but it is also the longest mountain from base to summit. The volcano occupies almost half of the island. Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843.
These volcanoes are some of the largest in terms of elevation. There are other, larger volcanoes on Earth, which are considered larger in volume and catastrophic potential. For example, the megavolcano that is under Yellowstone Park under Yellowstone Park has the potential to affect the world by storms and kill millions. The volcanoes listed here are large and dangerous, but they are not the only volcanoes on the planet that threaten humans.
Sources
Ball, Jessica, Mount Etna-Italy, retrieved 7/15/09, geology.com/volcanoes/etna/
Mauna Loa; Earth’s Largest Volcano, retrieved 7/15/09, hvo.wr.usgs.gov/maunaloa
Ball, Jessica, Mount Vesuvius-Italy, retrieved 7/15/09, geology.com/volcanoes/vesuvius.
Tambora, retrieved 7/15/09, earlham.edu/~ethribe/web/tambora.htm
Pinatubo Volcano “Awakens Sleeping Giants”, retrieved 7/15/09, park.org/philippines/pinatubo.
Mount Pelee, one of the largest volcanoes ever discovered, 7/15/09, mount-pelee.com/index.php/component/option, com_frontpage/itemid,1l/lang;en/
