Although we’ve become increasingly sophisticated and able to control our environment, human beings are still largely at the mercy of Mother Nature. Every year, we face natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis to remind us that we remain vulnerable to the wild forces of nature.
Even though we use technology and science to help us, we may not be ready for what nature has in store for us next. The power of nature can produce some extraordinary and unparalleled sights. These acts of Mother Nature prove to be profoundly destructive and terrifying, no matter the distance.
Volcano Eruption Extreme combines the thrill of live volcanoes with the ambiance of relaxing rumbling sound effects, resulting in an incredibly engrossing slots experience!
It’s safe to say that, as the 21st century comes to an end, we still haven’t experienced as many volcanic eruptions as we did in the 19th century. But there were still some recent disasters. Let’s take a look back at them.
Following Are The 15 Biggest Volcanic Eruptions In The World:
Mount Nyiragongo
The explosion of Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo is an example of an event that shattered scientific understanding. On the sixth of January 2002, the eruption’s force was measured as a four on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which is considered ‘moderate’. But this had devastating consequences for those living nearby, costing several lives and leaving thousands homeless.
More than four thousand buildings were destroyed in the explosion, leaving more than 120,000 people homeless. Amazingly, only 245 people were killed in the disaster. Considering that over 16,000 buildings were destroyed, it could have been a whole lot worse.
Puyehue-Cordón Caulle
A journey with the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano is an amazing one, generally leading to a destination of natural beauty. The eruption of Puyehue-Cordon Caulle in June 2011 is perhaps the most powerful eruption this century has seen. It not only ejected large volumes of magma but also produced ash columns that rose as high as 20 kilometers into the atmosphere.
Eyjafjallajokull
The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland in 2010 was ground-breaking in more respects than one. For the first time in history, all planes flying in the Northern hemisphere were forced to make emergency landings mid flight.
Not only did this create a massive headache for airlines and travelers, it also exposed massive flaws in the way official bodies monitor threats posed by volcanoes.
Mount Merapi
The eruption of Mount Merapi marked a milestone in its history as a volcano that had been dormant for three centuries began to awaken. In 2010 and 2011, the Indonesian region was the scene of the most powerful eruption in 400 years.
The country’s administration had to implement a massive evacuation operation, involving more than 350,000 inhabitants from the area affected by volcanic activity.
Anak Krakatoa
Anak Krakatoa is an active volcano located in the Sunda Strait. It is the youngest child of Krakatoa, which erupted catastrophically in 1883, resulting in the death of over 30,000 people. It features two peaks, Rakata and Danan, but was later damaged by lava flows during its 2014-2018 period of unrest.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a potentially dangerous volcano that could erupt at any time. Its lava flows could melt the snow and ice on the volcano, causing a rapid flood of mud, rocks and debris downstream.
The USGS says Mt. Rainier, an active volcano about 50 miles southeast of Seattle, is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the U.S., given its high elevation, proximity to heavily populated areas and the ability to produce pyroclastic flows, lava flows and volcanic ash.
Mount Fuji
Japan is home to the famous Mount Fuji, which has not erupted since 1707. It’s called Fujisan by locals. According to research by Oregon State University, the volcano is set to erupt following 2011’s 9th magnitude earthquake, which triggered increased pressure beneath the mountain.
The 1707 eruption changed life in the region forever. This volcanic feature may reappear again, threatening lives and livelihoods.
Novarupta Volcano
Located in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve, the Novarupta volcano is home to one of the twentieth century’s greatest volcanic eruptions.
While many different geological events have shaped Alaska, one of the most dramatic took place nearly a century ago when Mt. Novarupta erupted in a fury that is unmatched in the state’s history.
Mount Pinatubo
Mount Pinatubo is situated in a populated region of the Philippines. It erupted in 1991 after producing pyroclastic flows that formed a lake-filled caldera. The eruption was the second-largest eruption of the 20th century, closely following Novarupta.
Mount Pinatubo is an anomalous volcano in Southeast Asia. It is situated in a populated region of the Philippines but still can make an immense number of changes.
