Volcanoes are powerful forces of nature that can change the world. They can cause mass destruction, shifting climate patterns, and affect people’s lives for years after.    

Although earthquakes and hurricanes get more media attention, volcanic eruptions are one of the most dangerous natural disasters known to man. They leave destruction in their wake, changing the earth’s topography and altering planetary weather systems for years to come.

Volcanic eruptions can take years to develop and spew rivers of lava into the air – all before the first sign that one might be about to happen. The eruptions produce toxic gases like sulfur dioxide and sulphuric acid which change climate and ecology and cause major changes to the world’s weather.

Destructive Volcanoes on Earth 

Given Below Are Some Of The Most Destructive Volcanoes On Earth: 

• Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is a volcano located in the heart of Ecuador’s Cordillera Central mountain range, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even though it has been active for over 500 years, Cotopaxi has not produced a major eruption in almost a century. 

Cotopaxi is a notoriously active volcano that towers 20,420 feet above sea level. It’s the second-highest point in Ecuador, and one of the most well-known volcanoes in the world. It last erupted in 1999.

• Mount Vesuvius

You may not be familiar with Mount Vesuvius, but the monster volcano has been flirting with disaster for thousands of years. The last major eruption was in A.D. 79 when it killed thousands of people by destroying the nearby city of Pompeii. 

Mount Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, and yet thousands of people live below it. The volcano has already destroyed an entire city—Pompeii.

No one knows when Vesuvius will erupt again, but that doesn’t stop the Italian government from preparing for future eruptions and making sure its citizens are safe.

• Popocatépetl

Popocatépetl is the second highest volcano in North America. It’s located less than 50 miles away from Mexico City—one of the largest, most bustling cities in the world. Although it has shown signs of activity over the years, it hasn’t erupted since 1519—when Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire.

Popocatepetl is a large volcano located in Mexico with a history of eruptions. Although there have been no eruptions in modern times, the volcano has been active throughout history and eruption fears have periodically been expressed.

• Mayon Volcano

Located on Luzon Island, Mayon volcano is the most famous of the active volcanoes in the country. A perfectly shaped stratovolcano, erupts very often with pyroclastic flows, mudflows, and ash falls that result in huge evacuations.  The most violent eruption happened in 1814, killing thousands of people.

In 1982, Mayon had a major eruption that caused many people to lose their lives. Since then, the volcano has become famous for its unpredictable nature. Yet it attracts thousands of visitors per year who come to watch its natural wonder.

Scientists keep a very close eye on this active volcano, which has been erupting almost non-stop since 1616. The most recent eruption in January 2018 sent arcs of lava and billowing ash plumes as high as 8km into the sky.

• Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens is located in Skamania County, Washington. It’s the most active of the Hawaiian-style volcanoes in the Cascade Range and is also one of the deadliest volcanoes in United States history.

Don’t let Mount St. Helens’ small size and distance from the city fool you. This menacing cone of pumice, ash, and lava is an active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, only 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon.

Unfortunately, as history shows, we will likely witness another volcanic eruption in the future. Thankfully we have government agencies like the USGS to help us prepare for such devastating random events.

• Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi, located in Indonesia, is one of the most active volcanoes and has been erupting for centuries. It is an adventure for any student or tourist to climb this spectacular, active volcano. The citizens of Indonesia have learned to live with the volcano. They know when it’s in a dangerous phase, and they have countless rituals in place in case of emergency.

A historic volcano, Mount Merapi has been active for centuries and is one of the tallest volcanoes in the world. The eruptions occur every few years and blanket the entire region with ash and lava.

The Merapi volcano erupted twice in late 2010, causing over 30 deaths and the evacuation of tens of thousands of people as pyroclastic flows approached.  The Merapi volcano also killed nearly 200 people in 1994; the bodies could not be recovered due to the damage.

• Coatepeque Caldera

The Coatepeque volcano is located in central El Salvador. It is one of the biggest volcanic systems in the country and when it erupts, an enormous lake is formed. 

The Volcan de San Miguel, commonly known as the Coatepeque volcano, is a large caldera with a beautiful turquoise lake; blue water contrasting with jagged grey volcanic stone and lush green forest. It’s located in the heart of El Salvador and is situated close to San Salvador, meaning an eruption could cause mass destruction and chaos for the bustling city. 

There is a lake-filled volcano in El Salvador that could erupt and destroy several cities. Its location could affect the region and cause mass destruction and chaos if it does erupt.

• Galeras Volcano

Galeras Volcano is a majestic mountain with a large caldera located west of the city of Pasto and is one of Colombia’s most active volcanoes. 

The Galeras Volcano is a large stratovolcano with a large caldera located west of the city of Pasto in Colombia. It is one in a string of well-known and active volcanoes in the world.

Final Thoughts

Although an earthquake can cause immense damage and even cost lives, the effects of a volcanic eruption on health are relatively low. When warnings are heeded, the chances of adverse health effects from a volcanic eruption are very low.

There are several hazards that come with a volcano eruption. Things can be difficult to see, people can slip and fall, there’s ash in the air that causes respiratory problems, and infectious disease is possible. By heeding warnings, people are much less susceptible to these risks.