More Famous Volcanoes

 

Japan’s Mt. Fuji:  One of the most perfectly shaped volcanic cones, Mt. Fuji is a picturesque sight in Japan.  An active volcano, Mt. Fuji is considered to be a low risk for eruption, with the last one having occurred in 1707.  Mt. Fuji is counted as one of the most famous volcanoes not because of its volatility but rather its beauty; revered as an iconic symbol of Japan in art, pictures and tourism.


Argentina’s Ojos del Salado:  Actually bordering Argentina and Chile, Ojos del Salado is the tallest active volcano in the world at over 22,500 feet.  While it is considered to be an active volcano, it has not actually erupted in the last 1300 years. 


Washington, United States’ Mt. St. Helens:  Mt. St. Helens is a member of the Pacific Ring of Fire; a collection of 160 active volcanoes located in Washington.  The year 1980 showed the last activity for Mt. St. Helens; ranked as the most deadly of all volcano eruptions in the United States, killing 57 people.  The eruption lasted nine hours, with volcanic deposits burying land over a 230 mile region, thick ash spiraling thousands of feet into the atmosphere only to drop and blanket the eastern portion of the state. 


Hawaii, United States’ Kilauea:  Included as one of the world’s most famous volcanoes due to its high activity, Kilauea has erupted 34 times in the last 57 year, and deemed to have nonstop activity in the last 26 years.  It is also the youngest volcano in the chain on the island of Hawaii. 


Hawaii, United States’ Kilauea:  Included as one of the world’s most famous volcanoes due to its high activity, Kilauea has erupted 34 times in the last 57 year, and deemed to have nonstop activity in the last 26 years.  It is also the youngest volcano in the chain on the island of Hawaii. 


Greece’s Thira Santorini:  One of the largest of any recorded volcanic activity on earth was the eruption of Thira in 1600 BC.  The island of Thira was virtually destroyed, and other areas such as the coastal region of Crete were irreparably damaged, leading to the total collapse of the Minoan culture.  It is believed that this single event may have been the downfall of Atlantis, and also may have affected the Exodus portion of the Bible.   It was not the lava that eliminated the Minoans but the resulting tsunamis which cut the people off from their sea going livelihood as well as the ash that killed any plant life that may have sustained the people.

Philippine’s Mt. Mayon:  It means “beautiful” in Bicolano, and beautiful it is.  A perfect conical shape adorns the Philippine skyline, rising into the sky as though pointing toward heaven.  Mt. Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines, with over forty eruptions recorded in history.  The year 2006 saw the last activity, resulting in the evacuation of over 30,000 people.  The actual eruption was not the cause of the estimated 1,000 deaths that occurred that year; rather, the torrential rains of a typhoon created loosening of volcanic ash, rocks and boulders that became mudslides which buried much of the village of Padang.


The earth is scarred with over 1,500 active volcanoes that are currently recognized on the surface of the world.  The country of Indonesia has the most volcanoes than any other region.  Under the oceans, many more volcanoes are believed to exist, possibly numbering in the thousands.  With the further study and research done by volcanologists, it is hoped that advance warning can be made to save lives before the next eruption.