10 Most Active Volcanoes In The World

The volcanoes below are considered especially dangerous due to latest eruptions or due to being included in the Decade Volcanoes list. The Decade Volcanoes list is a list of 16 volcanoes worldwide identified by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI) as being worthy of particular study in light of their history of large, destructive eruptions and proximity to populated areas.

1. Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland – Icelandic for “Island mountain glacier”, this volcano is one of the smaller ice caps of Iceland. The ice cap covers the caldera of a volcano with a summit elevation of 1,666 meters (5,466 ft). The 2010 eruption caused enormous disruption to air travel across western and northern Europe. About 20 countries closed their airspace to commercial jet traffic and it affected more than 100,000 travelers

Eyjafjallajokull eruption of 2010. Houndreds of flights were cancelled

2. Mount Vesuvius, Italy – Located just 9 km (5.6 mi) east of Naples, making it the most densely populated volcanic region in the entire world. Mount Vesuvius has a history of activity that makes it one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes. It last erupted was in 1944, but the most memorable eruption was the massive eruption of 79 AD, when it buried the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii

Buried the city of Pompeii in 79 AD – Mount Vesuvius

3. Sakurajima, Japan – An active volcano and a former island. The lava flows of the 1914 eruption caused the former island to be connected with the Osumi Peninsula. The volcanic activity still continues, dropping large amounts of volcanic ash on the surroundings. Earlier eruptions built the white sands highlands in the region

The lava connected the island to the mainland – Sakurajima

4. Mount Merapi, Indonesia – “Fire Mountain” is an active volcano located on the border between Central Java and Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. Thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano

10 Most Active Volcanoes In The World: Mount Merapi

5. Mount Nyiragongo, D.R of Congo – An active volcano located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main crater is about two km wide and usually contains a lava lake. Nyiragongo’s lava lake has at times been the most voluminous known lava lake in recent history. Nyiragongo and nearby Nyamuragira are together responsible for 40% of Africa’s historical volcanic eruptions

Lava lake in Mount Nyiragongo, D.R of Congo

6. Ulawun, Papua New Guinea – Situated on the island of New Britainit, it is the highest mountain in the Bismarck Archipelago at 2,334 meters (7,657 ft), and one of the most active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea. Several thousand people live near the volcano. There have been 22 recorded eruptions since the 18th century

10 Most Active Volcanoes In The World: Mount Ulawun

7. Taal Volcano, Philippines – The second most active volcano in the Philippines with 33 historical eruptions. All of these eruptions are concentrated on Volcano Island, an island near the middle of Taal Lake. Taal Volcano and Lake presents one of the most picturesque and attractive views in the Philippines

10 Most Active Volcanoes In The World: Taal Volcano

8. Mauna Loa, Hawaii – One of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii and the largest on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. The Hawaiian name “Mauna Loa” means “Long Mountain”. Lava eruptions from Mauna Loa are very fluid; eruptions tend to be non-explosive and the volcano has relatively shallow slopes

10 Most Active Volcanoes In The World: Mount Loa, Hawaii

9. Galeras, Colombia –  It summit rises 4,276 meters (14,029 ft) above sea level. It has erupted frequently since the Spanish conquest, with its first historical eruption being recorded on December 7, 1580. A 1993 eruption killed nine people, including six scientists who had descended into the volcano’s crater to sample gases. It is currently the most active volcano in Colombia

10 Most Active Volcanoes In The World: Galeras, Colombia

10. Santa María, Guatemala – Its eruption in 1902 was one of the four largest eruptions of the 20th century and one of the five biggest eruptions of the past 200 years

10 Most Active Volcanoes In The World: Santa Maria, Guatemala