Volcanoes are some of the most magnificent wonders on earth. Their beauty is truly dangerous, as they can bring death to everything around them. Hot lava and volcanic bombs can easily wipe out everything that comes in their way from the face of the earth, including the largest cities. For many millennia, mankind has already managed to become convinced of the incredible power of active volcanoes. For example, Vesuvius, who took thousands of human lives and destroyed the largest cities of that era (Pompey, Stabia, Herkulan).
The article describes the largest volcanoes in the world . This list includes volcanoes from different parts of the world, regardless of seismological activity. The main criterion for the selection was their height.
10. Mauna Loa
Opens the top 10 largest volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa. This is one of the active megavolcanoes, which is located in the central part of the island of Hawaii. Its volume is second only to the Tamu Massif. Its height is over four thousand meters. Scientists suggest that Mauna Loa originated over seven hundred thousand years ago. Today it is considered an active volcano.
Mauna Loa has an irregular thyroid shape with gentle slopes. In the vicinity of the volcano, you can find many species of rare plants and wild animals. The mountain and lands from the southeastern part are included in the reserve.
9. Sangay
On the eastern side of the Andes mountain range is one of the largest volcanoes on the planet — the active volcano Sangay. It has a steep conical shape, and at its top you can see numerous layers of lava and tephra. The uniqueness of this volcano lies in the presence of three craters. On the territory of the mountain and its nearby lying territory, a national natural park was opened, which belongs to the list of protected areas by UNESCO.
Scientists suggest that Sangay volcano was formed about 14 thousand years ago. Its height is over 5 thousand meters. From the 30s of the last century to the present day, Sangay is characterized by very frequent periods of activity. The eruption of the volcano was first documented in 1628.
8. Volcano Huila
The Huila Old Volcano is the largest volcano in Colombia, with a height of 5365 meters. It has a steep, elongated shape. Huila was thought to be asleep for many years, and after fifty years he began to show signs of activity. In the period from 2007 to the present day, more than 7 thousand small seismic events have occurred. In 2011, the last eruption was recorded. Huila poses a great danger to the inhabitants of the four regions that are in its vicinity.
This volcano and its surrounding areas are home to many species of wild animals. The rich flora and fauna is due to the presence of numerous water sources, which were formed due to the descent of snow from the top of the mountain.
7. Popocatepetl
The Mexican Highlands is home to one of the largest active stratovolcanoes in the world — Popocatepetl. Its height is 5426 meters. The name of the volcano comes from the Nahuatl language, which means “Smoking Hill”. Near it is Mount Istaxuatl. These two hills got their names thanks to the legend. In it, the Aztecs talked about an unhappy love, where a girl was given in marriage to another. This happened because her parents did not wait until the daughter’s beloved returned from the hike. The girl soon committed suicide. After a while, the warrior returned home with a victory, but did not find his beloved alive. The guy could not face the loss and also committed suicide. As a sign of their eternal love, the gods turned the lovers into two mountains.
6. Orizaba
Orizaba is the highest peak in Mexico and one of the largest volcanoes in the world. Its height above sea level is 5675 meters. Locals call the volcano Sitlaltepetl. This, translated from one of the Aztec languages, means “mountain of the star”.
At the moment, the volcano is at rest, but it has not completely died out. About 27 eruptions have been documented, the last of which was observed in 1846.
In 1936, a protected park was created, which included the mountain, the surrounding areas, and the settlement. The area of the protected area is almost 20 thousand hectares.
Over thirty years ago, there were about 14 glaciers at the top of the volcano. Due to the problem of global warming, their number has decreased. Today there are 9 of them. The largest of them is Gran Norte with an area of 9 sq. Km
