Dangerous Active Volcanoes in the World; Top 10

Volcanoes simply are the opening of the earth’s crust and lava, volcanic ash and gasses escape through it. They elongate the list of unique things that happen on the Earth but they are terrifying. The lava is as hot a material that it can destroy anything that comes in its way. 

There are various active volcanoes on the Earth and the sight of an active volcano can shock you as a person. This blog post will talk about volcanoes their types and the list of top 10 volcanoes that are most dangerous.

Volcanic Eruption Process 

The volcano eruption is caused by a rupture or breakage in the earth’s crust. The hot material/ lava inside the earth emerges from the magma chamber.This process of eruption is volcano eruption.

The reason behind this outflow of the lava is the pressure from the dissolved gases. The Liquid magma containing these gasses rises and it puts pressure on the earth’s crust. The lava rises from the cracks or breaks in the earth’s crust. With the release of the lava, the pressure decreases and then it settles down. 

Type of Volcanoes

There are four basic types of a volcano.

Cinder Cones

The cinder cone is one of the four kinds of volcanoes. The cinder cones volcanoes are little and simple volcanoes. They are made up of small fragments of lava and they release from a single crack they solidify around the opening and form a circular cone-shaped structure.

The cinder cone lava is made up of lava piles and they often erupt once only. 

Stratovolcanoes

The next type of the volcano is the stratovolcano. These volcanoes have steep sides and are composed of alternating layers of lava ash and cinders. They are also known as composite volcanoes. Unlike the cinder cones, these are not small and simple volcanoes. Their eruptions are explosive and they can be very high. So they are quite dangerous volcanoes.

Shield Volcanoes

The shield volcanoes as the name suggests it is like a shield and alongside they have gentle slopes. Unlike stratovolcanoes which are made up of layers of lava and ash and cinder, they are just formed by lava flow.

The shield volcanoes have low slopes and they are made as a result of the countless eruptions of lava and its flow to larger distances.

Lava Domes

These volcanoes are made when the lava is too thick and it doesn’t flow to larger distances. The lava domes are made by the piling up of the lava near the vent. This way a steep side mound is made as a result of eruptions.

They are formed by slow eruption and they pile up near the vent.

List of Active Volcanoes.

Yellowstone Caldera

Yellowstone Caldera is a functioning volcano in the National Park, western U.S. This volcano with an area of around 30 by 45 miles and the potential of eruptions over 40 miles is one dangerous volcano.

The Yellowstone Caldera is believed to be made by a destructive volcanic emission. Which happened quite a while back. The Yellowstone Caldera has a Yellowstone lake. The whole Yellowstone Lake area is known for being geothermally active. And therefore it is an area of high research. The research activities are performed to better monitor and understand the potential hazard or the behavior of the area.

Key Points 

• The area of the vocalone is 30 by 45 miles.
• It is dated 640,000 years ago.
• Due to research potential, this area is important.

Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is arranged near Naples, Italy. It is believed to be a consequence of a disastrous occasion. And it dates back to A.D.79. This catastrophic eruption caused disastrous effects. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were cast away by this event.

This volcano is one of the most perilous volcanoes and hy so is because it is close to populated land regions. The volcano had a few emissions in ongoing hundreds of years.

Key Points

• It is near populated land so it is dangerous.
• It had some eruptions in recent centuries.

Popocatépetl

The Popocatépetl is situated on the line of the Mexican state and the Puebla. If we look at how far it is from the population then it is around 40 miles from the mexico main city. This closeness to the population makes it a threat to the population every time.

This volcano has been active in recent times. These eruptions led to issues like ash fall, and flight cancellations in the region overall.  

Key Point 

• The height of the volcano is 179300 feet 
• It is 40 miles from the population so it is a threat.

Mauna Loa

The Mauna Loa is located in the Hawau situated on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a shield volcano type. This volcano has many rounded slopes of shield volcanoes and a main summit. 

The eruption from the volcano can go up to larger distances and can be risky for the communities near it.

Key Points

• It is situated on the Big Island of Hawaii
• It is a shield-type volcano. 

Sakurajima

The Sakurajima is located in Japan precisely in the southern Kyushu. The Sakurajima is a volcano of the stratovolcano type.

This volcano is an active one with ash explosions. And it does so periodically in certain hours. It is near the city of Kagoshima and therefore it is a threat to the people living there.

If we look at this volcano the historical eruptions that have been seen were in the fifteenth and the 20th century. Apart from that this volcano has major eruption concerns in the coming time and that is the main reason it is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. It is near a major city so the concerns are more valid.

Key Points

• Carries out ash explosions periodically.
• Dangerous because it is near the city of Kagoshima.

Galeras

The Galeras is a stratovolcano and it is present in southwest Colombia. The Galeras is a volcano that is known because it has frequent activity. Due to this frequent activity and the explosiveness of this volcano, it is termed as a dangerous volcano. The other thing that adds to its dangerousness is that this volcano is near to the populated areas so it becomes a continuous concern.   

Key Points

• It is present in southwest Colombia.
• It has frequent activity and explosiveness.
• It is near populated areas.

Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi is present on the island of Java in Indonesia. Like the Galeras it is likewise a stratovolcano. The Mount Merapi is known for its pyroclastic flow. In this cycle, the solid magma move after the emission.

This character of Mount Merapi makes it one of the hazardous volcanoes as it has caused fatalities and a ton of destructions in the past when it went through ejections.Due to these reasons, this volcano is closely monitored. 

Key Notes

• It is known for its pyroclastic flow.
• It has caused fatalities and a lot of destruction in the past 

Mount Nyiragongo

Mount Nyiragongo is situated in the Congo inside the Virunga Public Park. It is likewise a stratovolcano. Mount Nyiragongo has a main crater which is 2 km wide. The principal crater or the hole has magma and it makes a magma lake in the surroundings

Mount Nyiragongo has caused dangerous ejections in the past. And That has led to many casualties and destruction. Due to the resident areas near the volcano. The ejection caused the movement of individuals from the area and represented a serious danger to their lives.

Key Points

• The main crater is 2 km making a lava lake.
• Eruptions have led to many casualties and destruction

Mount St.Helens

It is located in Skamania County in Washington. It is also a stratovolcano volcano and it has explosive eruptions.

The major eruptions from this volcano back in the past have led to major fatalities and vast amounts of destruction. Whether it is to the homes or natural habitats etc.

Mount St.Helens has undergone volcanic activities in the past years with magma extrusion leading to the new lava dome 

Key Points

• Located in Skamania County in Washington
• It has led to major fatalities and destruction in the past.

Taal Volcano, Philippines

The Taal Well of lava is present on the island of Luzon, Philippines. It has enormous caldera. And within that, the lava is present and makes the Taal lake. 

The volcano is a serious risk to the life of the people. And in the past as well the volcano has been causing fatalities. In recent times, the Volcano has increased seismic activity and higher water temperature. And with it, lava intrusion has led to evacuations and increased levels of alteration in the area.

Key Notes

• It is present on the island of Luzon, Philippines.
• The volcano has caused several fatalities due to eruptions.