There are about 2 000 active and inactive volcanoes on our planet. The countries with the most are Chile, the United States, Japan and Indonesia . However, it is not only on Earth that there are volcanoes. Thousands can be found in the solar system, as on Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and Mars. The latter, in particular, has the largest volcano in the solar system: Mount Olympus , with a base of 600 km and more than 27 km in height.
Volcanoes are usually created in the contact zones of tectonic plates. However, there are times, such as Hawaii’s volcanoes, that erupt in areas called hot spots. Hot spots are volcanic areas made up of mantle plumes, that is, hot, molten material rising from the Earth’s mantle.
Here’s a look at the five most popular volcanoes of all time.
Kilauea
Kilauea is one of the most popular volcanoes in the world. It is located in Hawaii and is the youngest of all the islands. It is 500,000 years old, more than 1,000 m high and approximately 5 km in diameter. Since 1983 it has been active and is one of the busiest on the planet, so before traveling to the country it is recommended to inquire about it.
Fuji
At 3,776 m high, Mount Fuji is the highest point in Japan , visible from Tokyo on a clear day. It is a symbol of the Japanese country, with sacred attributes. Until the nineteenth century women could not access the top. Although rated as active, the Fuji has little risk of eruption . The last recorded was in 1707 and as a result a crater and a second peak were formed.
Etna
Etna is an active volcano located in eastern Sicily. Its height has been estimated at approximately 3 322 m, but it grows without stopping due to its continuous eruptions . Despite continuous eruptions, Etna is not considered a dangerous volcano. So much so that on its slopes there are settled populations. In 2013 it was declared a World Heritage Site.
Anak Krakatau
The Anak Krakatau (or son of the Krakatoa) is a volcano located in Indonesa, which in 2018 caused a tsunami that killed more than 400 people . His father, the Krakatoa, erupted in 1883, taking with it more than 30,000 people and much of the group of islands that existed. This eruption is considered one of the most violent eruptions in modern history, including tsunamis and ashfall. The Anak Krakatau, the son, emerged in 1927. In 2020 it erupted again.
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is located in the northeast of Tanzania. It is the highest mountain on the African continent and is made up of three inactive volcanoes: Shira, with a height of 3,962 m, Kibo, 5,891 and Mawenzi, 5,149 m. As a curious fact, at the summit there are ice fields. Of course, they are thawing quickly, as a result of global warming and deforestation.
