The World’s Most Dangerous Volcanoes

Counting Down To The Next Big Eruption

Volcanic eruptions are an important process of planet Earth; in fact, without volcanoes, life on Earth would likely cease to exist. Scientists monitor active volcanoes all the time so they can warn the public when one is about to erupt. Let’s look at the world’s most active volcanoes and see which one might unleash its fury next.

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Mount Etna, Sicily

Mount Etna has been erupting periodically through most of recorded history. It’s rare that the eruptions do major damage, but it does happen: the village of Mascali was destroyed in 1928, and the town of Zaffarena was threatened during an eruption in 1993.

Mount Etna seen from Catania in Sicily, Italy SNappa2006, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mount Vesuvius, Italy

Vesuvius is best known for its eruption that destroyed and preserved the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The last major eruption of Vesuvius was during WWII when it destroyed several villages. Vesuvius is especially dangerous because of the number of people living nearby in towns and cities.

Aerial View of Vesuvius Volcano In Italy Ross Elliott, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kilauea, Hawaii

On the slopes of Mauna Loa on the main island in the Hawaiian chain, Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983, making the island a major focus of tourism and research on volcanoes.

Iki Crater Kilauea Caldera Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii Hermann Luyken, Wikimedia Commons

Katmai, Alaska

This 6,700-foot-high peak in Alaska’s Katmai National Park last erupted in 1912 in what was the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. 10 times more powerful than the eruption of Mt St Helens in 1980, the eruption caused acid rain to fall in faraway Vancouver, BC.

Katmai Crater - Mount Katmai, Alaska Captain Budd Christman, Wikimedia Commons

Popocatepetl, Mexico

The majestic snow-covered summit of Popocatepetl has been a temptation for climbers for centuries, and is visible from Mexico City. Like Vesuvius, Popocatepetl is dangerous for its close proximity to such a massive population center, and concerns were renewed when the mountain started erupting clouds of smoke again in 1994 after 50 years of dormancy. One to keep an eye on!

View of the Popocatepetl volcano from Amecameca, Mexico State AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Shiveluch, Russia

This volcano on Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula has erupted more times in the past 10 millennia than any other volcano. It is the scene of constant minor eruptions as steam rises ominously from the crater at its peak. Fortunately, this perilous mountain is far from any major populated areas.

The high, isolated massif of Shiveluch one of Kamchatka's largest volcanoes U.S. Geological Survey, Picryl

Reventador, Ecuador

This 11,700-foot pinnacle on the eastern edge of the Andes is one of the most active in the world, with continuous minor eruptions since 2007. The last major one occurred in 2002, producing an ash column 17 kilometers high and a lava flow that travelled eight kilometers.

Reventador volcano in Ecuador amalavida.tv, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bardarbunga, Iceland

This enormous volcano in the center of Iceland is submerged under a glacier, making it a major hazard for meltwater floods in the instance of a major eruption. The volcano has had 44 major eruptions in the past 10,000 years and 13 major ones during recorded history. The most recent eruption was in 2014-2015.

Vatnajökull Glacier, Southern Iceland Zairon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Erta Ale, Ethiopia

The base of this awe-inspiring volcano is actually below sea level in the East African Rift Zone. Its crater contains a lava lake that can be viewed from the crater rim. There are sometimes minor eruptions along the flanks of the mountain as well.

Second crater of the Erta Ale Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dukono, Indonesia

This menacing peak on the remote Indonesian island of Halmahera erupted so violently in 1550 that it created a land bridge to a neighboring island. It has been erupting continuously since 1933.

Vulcano Dukono in Halmahera, Indonesia Hike Indonesia, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Stromboli, Italy

This volcano on a small island in the Mediterranean north of Sicily has been erupting on and off for thousands of years, and is a great destination for those travellers wanting to get a look at nature’s awesome power. There is even a viewing terrace that allows you to look right down into the crater.

Island of Stromboli, Sicily, Italy Norbert Nagel, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Korovin, Alaska

This 5,000-foot cone in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska has erupted several times in the past century and seems to become more active on 10-15-year cycles. The volcano is far from major population centers, but it has been known to shoot ash columns into the upper atmosphere.

North-northwest view of Korovin Volcano Game McGimsey, Wikimedia Commons

Fernandina, Galapagos Islands

This volcano has erupted several times over the past five decades after a major eruption in 1968. That eruption resulted in the collapse of the peak into a caldera (crater). The biggest volcano in the Galapagos, the volcano erupted a lava flow in 1995 that reached the ocean.

La Cumbre volcano, Fernandina Island, Galapagos Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons

Santiaguito, Guatemala

The Santa Maria volcanic eruption of 1902 devastated southwestern Guatemala. Santiaguito is the lava dome that began growing in the crater left behind by the Santa Maria blast. The dome has been in a continuous cycle of growth and minor eruption since it first appeared in 1922.

Volcan Santa Maria, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala CrazyKnight, Wikimedia Commons

Sakurajima, Japan

This Japanese volcano on the southern tip of the island of Kyushu is easily one of the most active on the planet. Frequently showering the nearby city of Kagoshima with ash, the volcano’s last big eruption was in 1914, with lava flows that spewed forth for months. Keep an eye on this one!

Kagoshima S.Fujioka, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bezymianny, Russia

Long thought to be extinct, this volcano in the Kamchatka region of Russia shocked the world in 1956 when it reactivated. Like Mount St Helens in 1980, the eruption was triggered by a massive landslide on its flank. A lava dome has been growing—and erupting—inside the crater ever since.

Bezymianny, Tolbachik, Zimina, and Udina - Volcanos on Kamchatka ISS Expedition 38 crew, Wikimedia Commons

Sangay, Ecuador

At over 17,000 feet, Sangay is one of the tallest volcanoes in the world, and also one of the most active. This colossus of the Andes has been a constant source of activity since 1934, hurling pumice and volcanic fragments skyward.

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/erupting_volcanoes.html

Sangay Volcano in the distance Diego Tirira, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Marapi, Indonesia

Marapi is Sumatra’s most active volcano, which means that it’s very active indeed. The most recent eruption in 2023 claimed the lives of several climbers and caused flight cancellations in the region.

Gunung Marapi Dalam Sensasi Dua Warna (Cropped) Dody.bukittinggi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Nyiragongo, Congo

This menacing crater on the Congo-Rwanda border contains a lava lake that occasionally drains through fissures in the mountain’s flank. This happened in 1977 in a disaster that claimed the lives of hundreds of people. More recently, the mountain’s lava flows destroyed part of the city of Goma, leaving tens of thousands homeless.

The crater of the Nyiragongo Volcano Nina R, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mt Fuji, Japan

The majestic heights of Mount Fuji have become a symbol of Japan, but don’t let the mountain’s beauty fool you. Fuji is very much an active volcano, with 10 minor eruptions in recorded history. The last eruption was 300 years ago, but that’s not long in the life cycle of a volcano and there is still much seismic activity around the mountain.

Views of Mount Fuji from Ōwakudani Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mt Rainier, Washington

Mount Rainier is part of the same mountain range as Mount St Helens, and its proximity to Seattle makes it a major danger if it erupts again. Eyewitnesses reported eruptions occurring in the 1800s, but according to the Smithsonian, the last major eruption was in the 1400s.

Mount Rainier's northwestern slope viewed aerially just before sunset Caleb Riston, Wikimedia Commons

Mt St Helens

The eruption of St Helens in 1980 remains etched in the memories of those who were around at that time. The images of forests knocked flat, raging floods, and a plume of ash miles into the sky reminded a shocked nation of nature’s awesome power. The mountain is still active, with a lava dome growing within the old crater.

Mount St. Helens pictured the day before the 1980 eruption Harry Glicken, Wikimedia Commons

Krakatau, Indonesia

Site of one the most violent eruptions in recorded history in 1883, this volcano in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra re-emerged above sea level beginning in 1927. Its activity caused a tsunami in 2018 that claimed the lives of more than 400 people.

Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia Sammy Sammy, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pinatubo, Philippines

The 1991 eruption of this volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines claimed the lives of more than 800 people and the homes of tens of thousands more. The ash column was so thick that it cooled the Earth’s climate by half a degree Celsius between 1991-1993.

Mount Pinatubo crater lake Sindre Helvik, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Svartsengi, Iceland

This Icelandic volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula reactivated in 2021 after 800 years of inactivity. There have been seven eruptions since that year, though these are lava flows rather than explosive events.

Svartsengi seen from Sýlingarfell Steinninn, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Santorini, Greece

The ring shape of this Mediterranean island is an indication of the violent upheaval that occurred there in 1600 BC. Though the island is considered dormant, the small islands in the center of the lagoon are the site of steam venting.

Aerial view of the island of Santorini with a detail of Mount Profitis Illas Sidvics, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bagana, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

This volcano on the island of Bougainville in the South Pacific has been the scene of continuous volcanism for at least the past two centuries. Major eruptions occurred in 1950, 1952, and 1966, consisting of slow-flowing lava and explosions of ash.

Southwest slopes of Bagana volcano on Bougainville, Papua New Guinea Jack Lockwood, Wikimedia Commons

Home Reef, Tonga

Home Reef is a submarine volcano north of the main island of Tonga. It erupted in 1984, causing ash and large floating pumice blocks. A subsequent eruption in 2006 caused pumice fragments in such quantity that some reached as far as the coast of Australia.

A small pass in the barrier reef of Ha'apai (Tonga) dr.scott.mills, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Masaya, Nicaragua

Only 25 kilometers from the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, this volcano apparently once held a lava lake that was an object of fascination for Spanish conquistadors who thought gold may have been hidden in its crater. It has erupted frequently over the years, though it usually produces flows of liquid lava instead of blasts of pumice and ash.

Nicaragua - Masaya Volcano National Park randreu, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

La Soufrière De La Guadeloupe

This volcano on the Carribean island of Guadeloupe last erupted in the late 70s, causing alarm in the capital city Basse-Terre. Though the damage was slight, records show six major eruptions in the past 10,000 years.

View of the summit of Soufrière, made up of a lava dome Ofol, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mount Pelee, Martinique

Another Caribbean volcano, this one had a major eruption in 1902 that devastated the capital of St Pierre and claimed the lives of 1,500 people. Though it’s not currently considered highly active, the island is the site of ongoing seismic activity in a very volcanically dynamic region.

Pelée Mountain, Saint-Pierre, Martinique Rehcral, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Soufrière Hills, Montserrat

This volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat destroyed the capital city of Plymouth and rendered large parts of the island uninhabitable. Though the volcano hasn’t erupted since 2013, the south half of the island around the peak is an exclusion zone, off-limits to people.

Soufriere Hills volcano on Caribbean Island Montserrat CommonismNow, Wikimedia Commons

Mt Cotopaxi, Ecuador

This steep-sided volcano 60 kilometers east of the Ecuadoran capital of Quito has had four major eruptions since 1744. The worst incident occurred in 1877, claiming the lives of more than 300 people. Though there hasn’t been a big one in decades, there are frequent small eruptions around the mountain’s summit.

View of Mt. Cotopaxi, Ecuador Dallas Krentzel, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Taal, Philippines

This beautiful lake on the island of Luzon in the Philippines hides a deadly secret below. Taal volcano last erupted in 1911, claiming more than 1,000 lives. It is the scene of much seismic and hot spring activity to this day.

Main Crater with Vulcan Point Island hidariki58, joy mulato, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ambrym, Vanuatu

The view from the edge of the Marum crater into the fiery surging lava pool of Ambrym leaves witnesses with no illusion about its destructive potential. The simmering cauldron erupts with force several times per century.

Ambrym Vanuatu volcanic desert Mickael Foucaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

White Island, New Zealand

This volcano on a small island in New Zealand was a popular tourist destination for years despite the regular eruptions and ominous steam vapors that rise from its small crater lake. While tour companies continued to bring groups to the island to view the spectacular volcano, geologists mused that the situation was a disaster waiting to happen.

The lake in White Island (Whakaari) in the Bay of Plenty, The North Island James Shook, CC-BY-2.5, Wikimedia Commons

White Island Eruption

The volcano at White Island had a major eruption in 2019 while a tourist excursion was visiting. Triggered by an earthquake, the eruption claimed the lives of 22 people and left most of the survivors with severe burns. The tragedy led to a series of lawsuits against the tour companies, and also against the government and scientific agencies that monitor the risk of eruption at White Island.

Whakaari White Island From East Pseudopanax, Wikimedia Commons

A Force Beyond Time

Volcanoes have been erupting for billions of years, and will continue to erupt long after the final fate of humankind has been decided. While it is awesome to gaze at their primeval fury, always be aware of the risk—it’s only a matter of time before the next big eruption.

Southern flank of Mount Etna showing lateral cones and flow Wilson44691, Wikimedia Commons

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