10 most dangerous volcanoes of our time

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10 most dangerous volcanoes of our time
10 most dangerous volcanoes of our time
Anonim

Scientists have long been looking for a solution to the mystery of volcanoes in order to understand and be able to predict volcanic eruptions. Such forecasts would help to avoid serious economic and human losses, which are usually caused by a volcanic eruption.

However, to date, there is no technology that would 100% help to know when the next volcanic eruption will begin.

Below we will tell you about the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

Merapi, Indonesia

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Merapi is the most active active volcano in Indonesia, located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. Height is 2914 meters.

Large eruptions are observed on average every 7 years, small - about twice a year, and the volcano smokes almost every day.

In 2010, the eruption of Merapi evacuated 350,000 people, but some returned, killing 353 people trapped in the pyroclastic flow.

Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Nyiragongo is a volcano in the African Virunga mountains, 20 km north of Lake Kivu on the DR Congo border with Rwanda. Since 1882, 34 eruptions have been recorded; it also happened that volcanic activity continued continuously for many years.

The main crater of the volcano is 250 meters deep and 2 km wide; there is a lake of seething lava, which in recent years is constantly active and does not fade.

Nyiragongo's lava is unusually liquid and fluid. Such features are caused by a special chemical composition - it contains very few silicates. Thus, during an eruption, lava flows flowing along the slope of the volcano can reach speeds of 100 km / h.

Rainier, USA

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Rainier is a stratovolcano in Washington state. Rainier is a dormant stratovolcano, small eruptions were recorded in 1820-1854, but there is evidence of volcanic activity also in 1858, 1870, 1879, 1882 and 1894.

Today, according to the USGS, in the event of a strong eruption, about 150 thousand people may be in danger.

The volcano and the surrounding area are protected, has the status of Mount Rainier National Park (953, 5 km²).

Sakurajima, Japan

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Sakurajima is an active stratovolcano located on the Osumi Peninsula of Kyushu Island in the Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima. Until 1914, Sakurajima was a separate island, but as a result of the eruption it was connected by lava flows to the Osumi Peninsula. The height of the volcano is 1117 meters, and its area is about 77 km².

In March 2017, a new period of volcanic activity began - a crater began to erupt at the top of Minamidake Peak. In the 2010s, the volcano was very active - for example, in 2013 alone, 1,097 small eruptions were recorded, and in 2014 - 471 eruptions.

The volcano is a tourist attraction with a ferry from Kagoshima. There is a visitor center dedicated to previous eruptions with an exhibition.

Santa Maria, Guatemala

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Santa Maria is a large active stratovolcano. Located in western Guatemala, near the city of Quetzaltenango. Height above sea level - 3772 meters. The first eruptions began about 30 thousand years ago.

The eruption of Santa Maria volcano, one of three in the 20th century (together with the eruptions of Pinatubo in 1991 and Katmai in 1912), was assigned an explosive coefficient

Santorini, Greece

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Santorini is a caldera on an active shield volcano on the island of Thira in the Aegean Sea, formed as a result of the eruption that led to the death of Aegean cities and settlements on the islands of Crete, Thira and the Mediterranean coast.

The last earthquake happened in 1950. The island of Tira is located at the junction of two plates - African and Eurasian, which contributes to the emergence of volcanic relief and manifestations of volcanic activity in these areas, including on the island of Tira.

Teide, Canary Islands

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Teide is a volcano on the island of Tenerife, the municipality of La Orotava, the highest point in Spain, the center of the Teide National Park.

Teide is currently asleep, the last eruption occurred in 1909 in the northwestern part. Small eruptions took place in 1704 and 1705 on the northeastern wing of the volcano.

The eruption of 1706 destroyed the city and port of Garachico and several small villages. The last eruption in the Las Cañadas caldera occurred in 1798 in the western part of Pico Viejo.

Ulawun, Papua New Guinea

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Ulavun is an active basaltic and andesitic stratovolcano located on the island of New Britain (Papua New Guinea), about 130 km southwest of the city of Rabaul.

Ulavun is one of the most active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea.

In total, 22 volcanic eruptions have occurred since the beginning of the 18th century, the last of which was in 2007.

Unzen, Japan

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Unzen is a volcanic group on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

The volcano is located on the Shimabara Peninsula in the southwestern part of the island. Height - 1500 m. Currently, the volcano is considered to be weakly active. Volcanic activity has been recorded since 1663. Since then, the volcano has erupted several times.

The eruption of the Unzen volcano in 1792 is one of the five most destructive eruptions in the history of mankind in terms of the number of human victims.

A volcanic tsunami, up to 55 meters high, occurred, which killed more than 15,000 people. During the eruption in 1991, 43 scientists and journalists died in the volcanic pyroclastic flow.

Vesuvius, Italy

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Vesuvius is an active volcano in southern Italy, about 15 km from Naples. Vesuvius is one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. Vesuvius is the only active volcano in continental Europe and is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes.

The last historical eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred in 1944. One of the lava flows destroyed the cities of San Sebastiano and Massa. During the eruption, 27 people died.

The height of the lava fountain from the central crater reached 800 m, and the eruptive column rose above the volcano to a height of up to 9000 m. After this eruption, weak fumarolic activity is observed on Vesuvius.

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