Do you know how many active volcanoes there are on our planet? About six hundred. This is relatively little, considering that more than a thousand no longer threaten humanity, since they have cooled down. More than ten thousand volcanoes hid under the surface of sea and ocean waters. Yet the danger of a volcanic eruption exists in many countries. Near Indonesia there are more than a hundred of them, in the west of America there are about ten, there are "rumbling mountains" in Japan, in Kamchatka and the Kuriles. Today we will talk about the strongest volcanic eruptions that claimed many lives and left a noticeable imprint in the history of civilization. Let's get acquainted with the most dangerous representatives of these formidable mountains. We will find out whether it is worth being afraid of the Yellowstone volcano today, which worries scientists around the world. Let's start with him.
Yellowstone Supervolcano
Today, there are twenty supervolcanoes by volcanologists, in comparison with which the remaining 580 are nothing. They are located in Japan, New Zealand, California, New Mexico and elsewhere. But the most dangerous of the entire group is the Yellowstone volcano. Today, this monster causes fear of all scientists, as it is already ready to spew tons of lava onto the surface of the earth.
The size of Yellowstone, where is
This giant is located in the west of America, more precisely, in the northwest, in the region of Wyoming. The dangerous mountain was first discovered in 1960, it was noticed by a satellite. The dimensions of the whopper are about 72 x 55 kilometers, which is almost a third of the 900,000 hectares of the entire Yellowstone National Park, more precisely, its park part.
Yellowstone Volcano today stores in its bowels a huge amount of red-hot magma, the temperature of which reaches 1000 degrees. It is to her that tourists owe many hot springs. The fire bubble is located at a depth of almost 8 kilometers.
Yellowstone eruptions
Many millennia ago, this giant already watered the earth with a plentiful flow of lava, and sprinkled tons of ash on top. The largest volcanic eruption, it was also the first, according to scientists, occurred about two million years ago. It is assumed that then Yellowstone threw out more than 2.5 thousand cubic kilometers of rock, which soared 50 kilometers up from the surface of the earth. That's power!
About 1.2 million years ago, a formidable volcano repeated an eruption. It was not as strong as the first one, and there were ten times fewer emissions.
The last, third wave occurred about 640 years ago. The largest volcanic eruption at that time cannot be called, but it was duringit collapsed the walls of the crater, and today we can observe the caldera that appeared in that period.
Should we fear a Yellowstone eruption anytime soon?
With the beginning of the second millennium, scientists began to notice ongoing changes in the behavior of the Yellowstone volcano. What alerted them?
- From 2007 to 2013, that is, in six years, the earth covering the caldera has risen by two meters. Compared to the last twenty years before, the rise was only a few centimeters.
- New hot geysers have arrived.
- Earthquake strength and frequency in the caldera area have increased since 2000.
- Underground gases began to find a way out of the ground.
- The temperature of the water in the nearest reservoirs increased by several degrees at once.
Residents of the North American continent were alarmed by this news. Scientists around the world agreed: there will be an eruption. When? Most likely already in this century.
How dangerous is the eruption?
The largest eruption of the Yellowstone volcano is expected in our time. Scientists suggest that its strength will be no less than during previous unrest. If we compare the power of the explosion, then it can be equated to dropping more than a thousand atomic bombs on the ground. Such an explosion is capable of destroying everything within a radius of 150-160 kilometers, and another 1600 kilometers around will fall into the "dead zone".
In addition, the eruption of Yellowstone maycontribute to the beginning of the eruptions of other volcanoes, and this will entail the appearance of huge tsunamis. Rumor has it that the United States government is preparing with might and main for this event: strong shelters are being made, an evacuation plan is being created to other continents.
Whether this will be the largest volcanic eruption in history is difficult to say, and yet it is dangerous, not only for the states, but for the whole world. If the height of the release is 50 kilometers, then in two days a dangerous cloud of smoke will begin to actively spread. Residents of Australia and India will be the first to fall into the disaster zone. For more than two years, you will have to get used to the cold, as the sun's rays will not be able to break through the thickness of the ash, and the winter will come off schedule. The temperature will drop to -25 degrees, and in some places to -50. In conditions of cold, lack of normal air, hunger, only the strongest can survive.
Etna
This is an active stratovolcano, one of the most powerful in the world and the largest in Italy. Interested in the coordinates of Mount Etna? It is located in Sicily (right coast), not far from Catania and Messina. The geographic coordinates of Mount Etna are 37° 45' 18" North, 14° 59' 43" East.
Etna is now 3429 meters high, but it varies from eruption to eruption. This volcano is the highest point in Europe, outside the Alps, the Caucasus Mountains and the Pyrenees. This giant has a rival - the well-known Vesuvius, who at one time destroyed an entire civilization. But Etnamore than 2 times more.
Etna is a severe volcano. It has 200 to 400 craters located on its sides. Once every three months, hot lava flows from one of them, and about once every 150 years, really serious eruptions occur, which steadily destroy the villages. However, this fact does not upset or frighten local residents, they actively populate the slopes of a dangerous mountain.
List of the largest volcanic eruptions: Etna activity timeline
About six thousand years ago, Etna pretty naughty. During the eruption, a huge piece of its eastern part was broken off and thrown into the sea. In 2006, volcanologists published the news that this piece, falling into the water, created a huge tsunami.
The first eruption of this giant occurred, according to scientists, in 1226 BC.
In 44 BC there was a strong eruption. As far as Egypt, an ash cloud extended, due to which there was no further harvest.
122 - a city called Catania is almost wiped off the face of the earth.
In 1669, the volcano eruption greatly altered the outlines of the coast. The castle of Ursino stood near the water, after the eruption it was 2.5 km from the coast. Lava has penetrated the walls of Catania, swallowing the homes of 27,000 people.
In 1928, the old city of Mascali was destroyed by an eruption. This event was remembered by believers, they believe that a real miracle happened. The fact is that before the religious procession, the flow of red-hot lava stopped. Beside him inlater built a chapel. Lava solidified near the construction in 1980.
Between 1991 and 1993, one of the most terrible eruptions occurred, which almost destroyed the city of Zafferana.
The last major volcanic eruptions occurred in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2015. But these were not the most serious cataclysms. The locals call the mountain kind, as the lava flows quietly down the sides, and does not splash up in scary fountains.
Should we be afraid of Etna?
Due to the fact that the eastern part of the volcano broke off, Etna is now erupting effusively, that is, without an explosion, lava flows down its sides in slow streams.
Scientists today are concerned that the behavior of the hulk is changing, and soon it will erupt explosively, that is, with an explosion. Such an eruption could affect thousands of people.
Guarapuava-Tamarana-Sarusas
The name of this volcano is difficult to pronounce even for the most professional announcer! But its name is not as scary as the way it erupted about 132 million years ago.
The nature of its eruption is explosive, such instances accumulate lava for long millennia, and then pour it onto the earth in incredible quantities. So it happened with this giant, which splashed out more than 8 thousand cubic kilometers of red-hot slurry.
This monster is located in the Trapp province of Paraná Etendeka.
We offer to get acquainted with the largest eruptionsvolcanoes in history.
Sakurajima
This volcano is located in Japan and is considered one of the most dangerous in the world. Since 1955, this giant has been in constant activity, which scares the locals, and not only them.
The last eruption was in 2009, but not very serious compared to what happened in 1924.
The volcano began to signal its eruption with strong tremors. Most of the city's residents managed to escape the danger zone.
After this eruption, "Sakura Island" cannot be called an island. So much lava erupted from the mouth of this giant that an isthmus was formed that connected the island with another - Kyushu.
After this eruption, Sakurajima quietly poured out lava for about a year, which made the bottom of the bay much higher.
Vesuvius
Located in Napoli and is the only "live" volcano in continental Europe.
Its strongest eruption falls on the year 79. In August, on the 24th, the giant woke up from hibernation and destroyed the cities of Ancient Rome: Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae.
The last major volcanic eruption occurred in 1944.
The height of this menacing giant is 1281 meters.
Colima
Located in Mexico. This is one of the most dangerous representatives of its kind. It has erupted over forty times since 1576.year.
The last strong eruption was recorded in 2005, June 8th. The government urgently evacuated residents of nearby villages, as a huge cloud of ash rose over them - more than five kilometers in height. It threatened people's lives.
The highest point of this formidable monster is 4625 meters. Today, the volcano poses a danger not only to the people of Mexico.
Galeras
Located in Colombia. The height of this giant reaches 4276 meters. Over the past seven thousand years, there have been about six major eruptions.
In 1993, one of the eruptions began. Unfortunately, research work was carried out on the territory of the volcano, and six geologists never returned home.
In 2006, the volcano again threatened to flood the neighborhood with lava, so people were evacuated from local settlements.
Mauna Loa
This is the formidable guardian of the Hawaiian Islands. It is considered the largest volcano in the entire Earth. The volume of this giant, taking into account the underwater part, is about 80 thousand cubic kilometers.
The last time a major eruption was recorded was in 1950. And the most recent, but not strong, happened in 1984.
Mauna Loa is on the list of the most powerful, dangerous and largest volcanoes in the world.
Teide
This is a dormant monster, the awakening of which is feared by all the inhabitants of Spain. Last timethe eruption occurred in 1909, today the formidable mountain does not show activity.
If this volcano decides to wake up, and it has been resting for more than a hundred years, then this will not be the most pleasant time for the inhabitants of the island of Tenerife, as well as for all of Spain.
We have not named all the latest major volcanic eruptions. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are about six hundred active. People living in areas of active volcanoes are in fear every day, because the eruption is a terrible natural disaster that claims thousands of lives.
