The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to threaten La Palma , in the Canary Islands . However, it is only one of the 1500 active volcanoes on the planet. From Vesuvius to Fuji, we now offer you the list of the ten most active volcanoes in the world.
The most active volcanoes in the world
In recent days, the spectacular images of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma, which has been in uninterrupted eruption since last Sunday , have been around the world. In the same hours , the Etna volcano in Italy resumed its eruptive activity, spewing ash and smoke at an altitude of more than 9,000 meters.
But they are not the only ones, currently 50 volcanoes in the world are erupting gas and magma . On the other hand, the number of those who could do it soon is much higher. According to Joan Martí, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute of Geosciences, there are around 1500 . Martì explained that a volcano can be considered active if it has activity during the Holocene , that is, the last 10,000 years. From Vesuvius that destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum to Mount Fuji, these are then the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
Vesuvius (Italy)
One of the most famous volcanoes in the world, both for its geographical position and for its famous history. Situated near the Gulf of Naples, Vesuvius is known to all for having destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79. C. Its last eruption dates back to 1944, but its activity has never stopped so the government has prepared several evacuation plans to ensure the 6 million citizens who live in its vicinity.
Teide (Canary Islands)
As the experts confirm, Spain has three areas with active volcanism: Campo de la Garrocha in Catalonia, the Calatrava region (Ciudad Real) and the Canary Islands. Here, in addition to Cumbre Vieja, there is also another volcano, Teid. At 3715 meters high , it is the third tallest on the planet after Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii, so much so that the indigenous peoples of the Guanches placed the gates of the Hereafter within this volcano. Although its last eruption dates back to 1798, it is still active today with suggestive fumaroles. The Teide violet is famous, a flower that grows on its slopes.
Piton de la Fournaise (Reunion Island)
One of the most active volcanoes on the planet is located in French territory, but very far from Europe. It is Piton de la Fournaise, on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. Born from the ashes of another volcano, the Piton des Neiges, it is believed to have been active for more than 500,000 years and erupts one to three times a year.
Sakurajima (Japan)
At 1,117 meters high , Sakurajima (Japanese for “Cherry Island”) is located in the Kyushu region. Known for the frequent episodes of volcanic lightning, it is famous for the violent eruption of 1914 that buried the surrounding villages. It was the most powerful phenomenon ever recorded in Japan and was anticipated by strong earthquakes. After years of inactivity, it has been emitting lava and lapilli continuously since 1955.
Hekla (Iceland)
Located in Suðurland in southern Iceland, the Hekla is 1,491 meters high. It is considered by experts as the third most active volcano in the country and is part of the 30 existing volcanic systems . Its last eruption dates back to 2000 , while the most impressive, in recent history at least, dates back to 1947. On that occasion, a volcanic column rose to a height of about 30 kilometers.
Mayón (Philippines)
The perfect cone. This is the name that experts have given to the volcano of Mount Mayón, near the city of Legazpi, in the Philippines. There have been around 30 eruptions since 1616, but the most powerful of all dates back to 1814 , when lava destroyed the entire city of Cagsawa, killing 1,200 people.
Popocatepetl (Mexico)
About 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City is the Popocatepetl, whose last eruption dates back to 2019. Its name, literally means “mountain that continuously emits smoke”, is due to the constant activity, present since the time of the Precolumbian era.
Fuji (Japan)
It hasn’t had an eruption since 1707, but Fuji is still one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. In 2014, experts reported the risk of a new eruption following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck Japan three years earlier. For this reason, it is still considered one of the most dangerous, but it is also among the most photographed in the world.
Merapi (Indonesia)
Located on the island of Java, Indonesia, Mount Merapi has been active for centuries. It is assumed that since 1548 it has erupted at least 70 times. Even today it represents a threat to the 24 million inhabitants who live in the surrounding area. The latest eruption dates back to 2018 , when Merapi projected plumes of smoke into the air, prompting massive evacuations.
Novarupta (Alaska)
Located in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, Novarupta was the protagonist of what experts call the most important eruption of the 20th century . In 1912, 30 kilometers of smoke and lapilli even licked up some areas of Canada. Although it is not in a densely populated area, it has caused health problems for the inhabitants , including eye pain and respiratory problems due to the inhalation of ash.
