On June 6-8, 1912, the Novarupta volcano erupted, USA - one of the largest eruptions of the 20th century. Kodiak Island, located nearby, was covered in a 30-centimeter layer of ash, and because of acid rain caused by emissions of volcanic rocks into the atmosphere, people's clothes fell into threads.
On this day we decided to remember 5 more of the most destructive eruptions volcanoes in history.
Novarupta Volcano, USA 1. The largest eruption in the last 4000 years is the eruption of Mount Tambora, which is located in Indonesia on the island of Sumbawa. The explosion of this volcano occurred on April 5, 1815, although the first signs began to show back in 1812, when the first streams of smoke appeared above it. The eruption continued for 10 days. 180 cubic meters were released into the atmosphere. km. pyroclastics and gases, tons of sand and volcanic dust covered the area within a radius of one hundred kilometers. After the volcanic eruption, due to the huge amount of pollution, it was night for three days within a radius of 500 km. From him. According to eyewitnesses, nothing was visible further own hand. The death toll was more than 70,000 people. The entire population of the island of Sumbawa was destroyed, and residents of nearby islands were also affected. The next year after the eruption was very difficult for the inhabitants of this area, it was nicknamed “the year without summer.” Unusually low temperatures caused crop failure and famine. Due to such a large eruption, the climate of the entire planet was changed; in many countries, snow lasted most of the summer that year.
Volcano Tambora, Indonesia 2. A powerful volcanic eruption occurred in 1883 on the island of Krakatoa, between Java and Sumatra, on which the volcano of the same name is located. The height of the smoke column during the eruption was 11 kilometers. After this, the volcano calmed down, but not for long. The culmination phase of the eruption began in August. Dust, gas, and debris rose to a height of 70 km and fell on an area of more than 1 million square meters. km. The roar of the explosion exceeded 180 decibels, which is significantly higher than the human pain threshold. An air wave arose that circled the planet several times, tearing roofs off houses. But this is not all the consequences of the Krakatoa eruption. The tsunami caused by the eruption destroyed 300 cities and towns, killed more than 30,000 people, and left many more homeless. Six months later, the volcano finally calmed down.
Volcano Krakatoa 3. In May 1902, one of the the most terrible disasters twentieth century. Residents of the city of Saint-Pierre, located in Martinique, considered the Mont Pelee volcano weak. No one paid attention to the tremors and rumble, despite the fact that they lived only 8 kilometers from the mountain. At about 8 o'clock in the morning on May 8, its eruption began. Volcanic gases and lava flows rushed towards the city, causing fires. The city of Saint-Pierre was destroyed, killing more than 30,000 people. Of all the residents, only the criminal who was in the underground prison survived.
Now this city has been restored, and at the foot of the volcano, in memory of the terrible event, a museum of volcanology has been built.
Volcano Mont Pele 4. For five centuries, the Ruiz volcano, which is located in Colombia, did not show life, and people considered it dormant. But, unexpectedly, on November 13, 1985, a major eruption began. Due to the escaping lava flows, the temperature increased and the ice covering the volcano melted. The flows reached the city of Armero and practically destroyed it. According to official data, about 23 thousand people died or went missing, and tens of thousands of people lost their homes. Coffee plantations were significantly damaged, and Colombia's economy suffered enormous damage this year.
Volcano Ruiz, Colombia 
Volcano Unzen 5. The Japanese volcano Unzen, located in the southwest of the island of Kyushu, closes the top five most destructive eruptions. The activity of this volcano appeared back in 1791, and on February 10, 1792, the first eruption occurred. This was followed by a series of earthquakes that caused significant destruction in the nearby city of Shimabara. A kind of dome of frozen lava formed over the city, and on May 21 it split due to another earthquake. A rock avalanche hit the city and the sea, causing a tsunami with waves reaching up to 23 meters. More than 5,000 people died when pieces of rock fell, and more than 10 thousand lives were lost to the elements.
August 24‑25, 79 AD an eruption occurred that was considered extinct Vesuvius volcano, located on the shores of the Gulf of Naples, 16 kilometers east of Naples (Italy). The eruption led to the destruction of four Roman cities - Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontium, Stabia - and several small villages and villas. Pompeii, located 9.5 kilometers from the crater of Vesuvius and 4.5 kilometers from the base of the volcano, was covered with a layer of very small pieces of pumice about 5-7 meters thick and covered with a layer of volcanic ash. With the onset of night, lava flowed from the side of Vesuvius, everywhere fires started, and the ashes made it difficult to breathe. On August 25, along with an earthquake, a tsunami began, the sea retreated from the shores, and a black thundercloud hung over Pompeii and surrounding cities, hiding the Misensky cape and the island of Capri. Most of the population of Pompeii was able to escape, but about two thousand people died on the streets and in the houses of the city from poisonous sulfur dioxide gases. Among the victims was the Roman writer and scientist Pliny the Elder. Herculaneum, located seven kilometers from the crater of the volcano and about two kilometers from its base, was covered with a layer of volcanic ash, the temperature of which was so high that all wooden objects were completely charred. The ruins of Pompeii were accidentally discovered back in late XVI centuries, but systematic excavations began only in 1748 and continue to this day, along with reconstruction and restoration.
March 11, 1669 an eruption occurred Mount Etna in Sicily, which lasted until July of the same year (according to other sources, until November 1669). The eruption was accompanied by numerous earthquakes. Lava fountains along this fissure gradually moved downwards, and the largest cone formed near the city of Nikolosi. This cone is known as Monti Rossi (Red Mountain) and is still clearly visible on the slope of the volcano. Nikolosi and two nearby villages were destroyed on the first day of the eruption. In another three days, lava flowing south down the slope destroyed four more villages. At the end of March, two more major cities, and in early April lava flows reached the outskirts of Catania. Lava began to accumulate under the fortress walls. Some of it flowed into the harbor and filled it. On April 30, 1669, lava flowed through top part fortress walls. The townspeople built additional walls across the main roads. This stopped the advance of the lava, but the western part of the city was destroyed. The total volume of this eruption is estimated at 830 million cubic meters. Lava flows burned 15 villages and part of the city of Catania, completely changing the configuration of the coast. According to some sources, 20 thousand people, according to others - from 60 to 100 thousand.
October 23, 1766 on the island of Luzon (Philippines) began to erupt Mayon volcano. Dozens of villages were swept away and incinerated by a huge lava flow (30 meters wide), which went down the eastern slopes for two days. Following the initial explosion and flow of lava, Mayon Volcano continued to erupt for four more days, releasing large amounts of steam and watery mud. Grayish-brown rivers ranging from 25 to 60 meters wide fell down the slopes of the mountain within a radius of up to 30 kilometers. They completely swept away roads, animals, villages with people on their way (Daraga, Kamalig, Tobaco). More than 2,000 residents died during the eruption. Basically, they were swallowed up by the first lava flow or secondary mud avalanches. For two months, the mountain spewed ash and poured lava onto the surrounding area.
April 5-7, 1815 an eruption occurred Tambora volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa. Ash, sand and volcanic dust were thrown into the air to a height of 43 kilometers. Stones weighing up to five kilograms were scattered over a distance of up to 40 kilometers. The Tambora eruption affected the islands of Sumbawa, Lombok, Bali, Madura and Java. Subsequently, under a three-meter layer of ash, scientists found traces of the dead kingdoms of Pecat, Sangar and Tambora. Simultaneously with the volcanic eruption, huge tsunamis 3.5-9 meters high were formed. Having flown away from the island, the water fell on neighboring islands and drowned hundreds of people. About 10 thousand people died directly during the eruption. At least 82 thousand more people died from the consequences of the disaster - hunger or disease. The ash that shrouded Sumbawa destroyed crops and buried the irrigation system; acid rain poisoned the water. For three years after the Tambora eruption, the entire Earth enveloped in a shroud of dust and ash particles, reflecting some of the sun's rays and cooling the planet. The next year, 1816, Europeans felt the consequences of a volcanic eruption. It entered the annals of history as “the year without summer.” average temperature in the Northern Hemisphere fell by about one degree, and in some areas even by 3-5 degrees. The soil suffered from spring and summer frosts large areas crops, and famine began in many areas.
August 26-27, 1883 an eruption occurred Krakatoa volcano, located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Houses on nearby islands collapsed due to tremors. On August 27, at about 10 o'clock in the morning, a gigantic explosion occurred, an hour later - a second explosion of the same force. More than 18 cubic kilometers of rock debris and ash shot up into the atmosphere. The waves of the tsunami caused by the explosions instantly swallowed up cities, villages, and forests on the coasts of Java and Sumatra. Many islands disappeared under water along with the population. The tsunami was so powerful that it went around almost the entire planet. In total, on the coasts of Java and Sumatra, 295 cities and villages were wiped off the face of the earth, over 36 thousand people died, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. The coasts of Sumatra and Java have changed beyond recognition. On the coast of the Sunda Strait fertile soil was washed away down to the rocky base. Only a third of the island of Krakatoa survived. By the amount of water moved and rock The energy of the Krakatoa eruption is equivalent to the explosion of several hydrogen bombs. The strange glow and optical phenomena persisted for several months after the eruption. In some places above the Earth, the sun appeared blue and the moon appeared bright green. And the movement of dust particles ejected by the eruption in the atmosphere allowed scientists to establish the presence of a “jet” stream.
May 8, 1902 Mont Pele volcano, located on Martinique, one of the islands Caribbean Sea, literally tore into pieces - four strong explosions sounded, similar to cannon shots. They threw out a black cloud from the main crater, which was pierced by flashes of lightning. Since the emissions did not come through the top of the volcano, but through side craters, all volcanic eruptions of this type have since been called “Peleian”. Superheated volcanic gas, due to its high density and high speed of movement, spread above the ground itself, penetrated into all the cracks. A huge cloud covered the area of complete destruction. The second zone of destruction stretches another 60 square kilometers. This cloud, formed from super-hot steam and gases, weighed down by billions of particles of hot ash, moving at a speed sufficient to carry fragments of rocks and volcanic emissions, had a temperature of 700-980 ° C and was able to melt glass. Mont Pele erupted again on May 20, 1902, with almost the same force as on May 8. The Mont Pelee volcano, breaking into pieces, destroyed one of the main ports of Martinique, Saint-Pierre, along with its population. 36 thousand people died instantly, hundreds of people died from side effects. The two survivors became celebrities. Shoemaker Leon Comper Leander managed to escape within the walls own home. He miraculously survived, although he received severe burns to his legs. Louis Auguste Cypress, nicknamed Samson, was in a prison cell during the eruption and remained there for four days, despite serious burns. After being rescued, he was pardoned, soon he was hired by the circus and during performances he was shown as the only surviving resident of Saint-Pierre.
June 1, 1912 eruption began Katmai volcano in Alaska, which had been dormant for a long time. On June 4, ash material was ejected, which, mixed with water, formed mud flows; on June 6, an explosion of colossal force occurred, the sound of which was heard in Juneau 1,200 kilometers away and in Dawson 1,040 kilometers from the volcano. Two hours later there was a second explosion of enormous force, and in the evening a third. Then, for several days, there was an almost continuous eruption of colossal amounts of gases and solid products. During the eruption, about 20 cubic kilometers of ash and debris burst out of the volcano. The deposition of this material formed a layer of ash ranging from 25 centimeters to 3 meters thick, and much more near the volcano. The amount of ash was so great that for 60 hours there was complete darkness around the volcano at a distance of 160 kilometers. On June 11, volcanic dust fell in Vancouver and Victoria at a distance of 2200 km from the volcano. IN upper layers atmosphere, it spread throughout North America and fell in large quantities V Pacific Ocean. Whole year fine particles ash moved in the atmosphere. Summer across the planet turned out to be much colder than usual, since more than a quarter of the sun's rays falling on the planet were retained in the ash curtain. In addition, in 1912, amazingly beautiful scarlet dawns were celebrated everywhere. At the site of the crater, a lake with a diameter of 1.5 kilometers formed - the main attraction of the Katmai National Park and Preserve, formed in 1980.
December 13-28, 1931 an eruption occurred volcano Merapi on the island of Java in Indonesia. Over two weeks, from December 13 to 28, the volcano erupted a stream of lava about seven kilometers long, up to 180 meters wide and up to 30 meters deep. The white-hot stream scorched the earth, burned the trees and destroyed all the villages in its path. In addition, both slopes of the volcano exploded, and erupted volcanic ash covered half of the island of the same name. During this eruption, 1,300 people died. The eruption of Mount Merapi in 1931 was the most destructive, but far from the last.
In 1976, a volcanic eruption killed 28 people and destroyed 300 houses. Significant morphological changes occurring in the volcano caused another disaster. In 1994, the dome that had formed in previous years collapsed, and the resulting massive release of pyroclastic material forced the local population to leave their villages. 43 people died.
In 2010, the number of victims from the central part of the Indonesian island of Java was 304 people. The list of dead included those who died from exacerbations of lung and heart disease and other chronic diseases caused by ash emissions, as well as those who died from injuries.
November 12, 1985 eruption began Ruiz Volcano in Colombia, considered extinct. On November 13, several explosions were heard one after another. The power of the strongest explosion, according to experts, was about 10 megatons. A column of ash and rock debris rose into the sky to a height of eight kilometers. The eruption that began caused the instant melting of the vast glaciers and eternal snows lying on the top of the volcano. The main blow fell on the city of Armero, located 50 kilometers from the mountain, which was destroyed in 10 minutes. Of the 28.7 thousand residents of the city, 21 thousand died. Not only Armero was destroyed, but also a number of villages. The following were severely damaged by the eruption: settlements, like Chinchino, Libano, Murillo, Casabianca and others. Mudflows damaged oil pipelines and cut off fuel supplies to the southern and western parts of the country. As a result of the sudden melting of the snow lying in the Nevado Ruiz Mountains, nearby rivers overflowed their banks. Powerful streams of water washed away car roads, demolished power line and telephone poles, destroyed bridges. According to the official statement of the Colombian government, as a result of the eruption of the Ruiz volcano, 23 thousand people died or went missing, about five thousand were seriously injured and maimed. About 4,500 residential buildings were completely destroyed and administrative buildings. Tens of thousands of people were left homeless and without any means of subsistence. Colombia's economy suffered significant damage.
June 10-15, 1991 an eruption occurred Volcano Pinatubo on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The eruption began quite quickly and was unexpected, since the volcano became active after more than six centuries of hibernation. On June 12, the volcano exploded, throwing a mushroom cloud into the sky. Streams of gas, ash and rocks melted to a temperature of 980°C rushed down the slopes at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. For many kilometers around, all the way to Manila, day turned into night. And the cloud and the ash falling from it reached Singapore, which is 2.4 thousand kilometers away from the volcano. On the night of June 12 and the morning of June 13, the volcano erupted again, throwing ash and flames 24 kilometers into the air. The volcano continued to erupt on June 15 and 16. Mud flows and water washed away houses. As a result of numerous eruptions, approximately 200 people died and 100 thousand were left homeless
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
Do you know how many active volcanoes there are on our planet? About six hundred. This is relatively little, considering that more than a thousand no longer threaten humanity, since they have cooled down. More than ten thousand volcanoes are hidden under the surface of sea and ocean waters. And yet the danger of a volcanic eruption exists in many countries. There are more than a hundred of them near Indonesia, in the west of America there are about ten, and there are “rumbling mountains” in Japan, Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. Today we will talk about the most powerful volcanic eruptions that claimed many lives and left a noticeable imprint on the history of civilization. Let's get acquainted with the most dangerous representatives of these formidable mountains. Let's find out whether we should be afraid of the Yellowstone volcano today, which worries scientists around the world. Perhaps we'll start with that.
Today, volcanologists have identified twenty supervolcanoes, compared to which the remaining 580 are nothing. They are located in Japan, New Zealand, California, New Mexico and other places. But the most dangerous of the entire group is the Yellowstone volcano. Today, this monster is causing concern to all scientists, as it is ready to spew tons of lava onto the surface of the earth.
This giant is located in the west of America, more precisely, in the northwest, in the region of Wyoming. The dangerous mountain was first discovered in 1960 by a satellite. The size of the giant is about 72 x 55 kilometers, and this is almost a third of the 900,000 hectares of the entire Yellowstone national park, more precisely, its park part.
The Yellowstone volcano today stores in its depths a huge amount of hot magma, the temperature of which reaches 1000 degrees. It is to her that tourists owe many hot springs. The fire bubble is located at a depth of almost 8 kilometers.
Many thousands of years ago, this giant already watered the earth with an abundant flow of lava, and sprinkled tons of ash on top. The largest volcanic eruption, which was also the first, according to scientists, occurred about two million years ago. It is assumed that then Yellowstone ejected more than 2.5 thousand cubic kilometers of rock, which flew up 50 kilometers from the surface of the earth. This is power!
About 1.2 million years ago, the formidable volcano erupted again. It was not as strong as the first one, and the emissions were ten times less.
The last, third disturbance occurred about 640 years ago. The volcanic eruption at that time cannot be called the largest, but it was during it that the walls of the crater collapsed, and today we can observe the caldera that appeared during that period.
With the beginning of the second millennium, scientists began to notice changes in behavior. Yellowstone Volcano. What alarmed them?
Residents of the North American continent were alarmed by this news. Scientists around the world agreed: there will be an eruption. When? Most likely, already this century.
The largest eruption of the Yellowstone volcano is expected in our time. Scientists assume that its strength will be no less than during previous unrest. If we compare the power of the explosion, it can be equated to dropping more than a thousand atomic bombs. Such an explosion is capable of destroying everything within a radius of 150-160 kilometers, and another 1600 kilometers around will fall into the “dead zone”.
In addition, the eruption of Yellowstone can contribute to the start of eruptions of other volcanoes, and this will lead to the emergence of huge tsunamis. There are rumors that the United States government is preparing in full force for this event: durable shelters are being made, an evacuation plan is being created to other continents.
It is difficult to say whether this will be the largest volcanic eruption in history, but it is still dangerous, not only for the states, but for the whole world. If the emission height is 50 kilometers, then in two days a dangerous cloud of smoke will begin to actively spread. Residents of Australia and India will be the first to enter the disaster zone. For a period of more than two years you will have to get used to the cold, since Sun rays will not be able to break through the thickness of the ash, and winter will come without schedule. Temperatures will drop to -25 degrees, and in some places to -50. In conditions of cold, lack of normal air, and hunger, only the strongest can survive.
This is an active stratovolcano, one of the most powerful in the world and the largest in Italy. Interested in the coordinates of Mount Etna? It is located in Sicily (right coast), near Catania and Messina. Geographical coordinates Mount Etna - 37° 45’ 18" north latitude, 14° 59' 43" east longitude.
Now the height of Etna is 3429 meters, but it varies from eruption to eruption. This volcano is the highest point in Europe, outside the Alps, Caucasus Mountains and Pyrenees. This giant has a rival - the well-known Vesuvius, which at one time destroyed an entire civilization. But Etna is more than 2 times larger.
Etna is a harsh volcano. It has from 200 to 400 craters located on its sides. Once every three months, hot lava flows out of one of them, and about once every 150 years, really serious eruptions occur, which consistently destroy villages. However, this fact does not upset or frighten the local residents; they actively populate the slopes of the dangerous mountain.
About six thousand years ago, Etna got pretty crazy. During the eruption, a huge piece of its eastern part was broken off and thrown into the sea. In 2006, volcanologists published news that this fragment, falling into the water, created a huge tsunami.
The first eruption of this giant occurred, according to scientists, in 1226 BC.
In 44 BC, a powerful eruption occurred. An ash cloud extended all the way to Egypt, due to which there was no further harvest.
122 - a city called Catania is almost wiped off the face of the earth.
In 1669, the volcano, with its eruption, greatly modified the contours of the coast. Ursino Castle stood near the water, but after the eruption it was 2.5 km from the shore. Lava penetrated the walls of Catania, consuming the housing of 27 thousand people.
It was destroyed by an eruption in 1928 Old city Maskali. This event was remembered by believers; they believe that a real miracle happened. The fact is that before the religious procession the flow of hot lava stopped. A chapel was later built near it. Lava froze near the building in 1980.
In the period from 1991 to one of the most terrible eruptions occurred, which practically destroyed the city of Zafferana.
The volcano's last major eruptions occurred in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2015. But these were not the most serious disasters. Local residents call the mountain good, since the lava flows quietly down the sides and does not splash up in scary fountains.
Due to East End The volcano has broken off, Etna now erupts effusively, that is, without an explosion, lava flows down its sides in slow streams.
Scientists today are concerned that the behavior of the giant is changing, and soon it will erupt explosively, that is, with an explosion. Such an eruption could affect thousands of people.
The name of this volcano is difficult for even the most professional announcer to pronounce! But its name is not as scary as the way it erupted about 132 million years ago.
The nature of its eruption is explosive; such specimens accumulate lava for many millennia, and then pour it onto the earth in incredible quantities. This is what happened with this giant, which splashed out more than 8 thousand cubic kilometers of hot liquid.
This monster is located in the Trappian province of Parana-Etendeka.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the largest volcanic eruptions in history.
This volcano is located in Japan and is considered one of the most dangerous in the world. Since 1955, this giant has been in constant activity, which frightens local residents, and not only them.
The last eruption was in 2009, but not very serious compared to what happened in 1924.
The volcano began to signal its eruption with strong tremors. Most of the city's residents managed to leave the danger zone.
After this eruption, “Sakura Island” cannot be called an island. So much lava erupted from the mouth of this giant that an isthmus was formed that connected the island with another - Kyushu.
After this eruption, Sakurajima quietly poured out lava for about a year, which made the bottom of the bay much higher.
It is located in Napoli and is the only “living” volcano in continental Europe.
Its most powerful eruption occurred in 79. In August, 24 woke up from hibernation and destroyed the city Ancient Rome: Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae.
The last major volcanic eruption occurred in 1944.
The height of this formidable giant is 1281 meters.
Located in Mexico. This is one of the most dangerous representatives of its kind. It has erupted more than forty times since 1576.
The last strong eruption occurred in 2005, on June 8. The government urgently evacuated residents of nearby villages, as a huge cloud of ash rose above them - more than five kilometers in height. This threatened people's lives.
The highest point of this formidable monster is 4625 meters. Today, the volcano poses a danger not only to residents of Mexico.
Located in Colombia. The height of this giant reaches 4276 meters. Over the past seven thousand years, about six major eruptions have occurred.
In 1993, one of the eruptions began. Unfortunately, on the territory of the volcano there were carried out research papers, and six geologists never returned home.
In 2006, the volcano again threatened to flood the surrounding area with lava, so people were evacuated from local settlements.
This is the formidable guardian of the Hawaiian Islands. He is considered the most large volcano all over the Earth. The volume of this giant, taking into account the underwater part, is about 80 thousand cubic kilometers.
The last time a strong eruption was recorded was in 1950. And the most recent, but not strong, happened in 1984.
Mauna Loa is on the list of the most powerful, dangerous and largest volcanoes in the world.
This is a dormant monster, the awakening of which all the inhabitants of Spain fear. The last eruption occurred in 1909; today the formidable mountain shows no activity.
If this volcano decides to wake up, and it has been resting for more than a hundred years, then it will not be the most pleasant time for the residents of the island of Tenerife, as well as for the whole of Spain.
We have not named all the latest major volcanic eruptions. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are about six hundred active ones. People living in areas of active volcanoes are in fear every day, because an eruption is a terrible natural disaster that claims thousands of lives.
Volcanoes have always been dangerous. Some of them are located on the seabed and when lava erupts, they do not cause much damage to the surrounding world. Much more dangerous are similar geological formations on land, near which large settlements and cities are located. We offer for review a list of the deadliest volcanic eruptions.
During the eruption, a deadly column of ash, dirt and smoke rose from the volcano to a height of 20 kilometers. The spewing ash even reached Egypt and Syria. Every second, millions of tons of molten rock and pumice came out of the Vesuvius vent. A day after the start of the eruption, streams of hot mud mixed with stones and ash began to flow. Pyroclastic flows completely buried the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae. In some places the thickness of the avalanche exceeded 8 meters. The death toll is estimated at at least 16,000.
Painting "The Last Day of Pompeii". Karl Bryulov
The eruption was preceded by a series of tremors with a magnitude of 5.0, but no one responded to natural warnings, since earthquakes are a frequent occurrence in this place.
Last eruption Vesuvius recorded in 1944, after which it died down. Scientists suggest that the longer the volcano’s “hibernation” lasts, the stronger its next eruption will be.
The volcano is located on the Japanese Shimabara Peninsula. Activity Unzen has been recorded since 1663, but the most powerful eruption was in 1792. After the volcanic eruption, a series of tremors followed, which caused a powerful tsunami. A deadly 23-meter wave hit the coastal zone of the Japanese islands. The number of victims exceeded 15,000 people.
In 1991, at the foot of Unzen, 43 journalists and scientists were killed by lava as it rolled down the slope.
This eruption is considered the most powerful in the history of mankind. On April 5, 1815, the geological activity of the volcano, located on the Indonesian island, began Sumbawa. The total volume of erupted material is estimated at 160-180 cubic kilometers. A powerful avalanche of hot rocks, mud and ash rushed to the sea, covering the island and sweeping away everything in its path - trees, houses, people and animals.
All that remains of the Tambora volcano is a huge caledera.
The roar of the explosion was so strong that it was heard on the island of Sumatra, which was located 2000 kilometers from the epicenter; the ashes reached the islands of Java, Kilimantan, and Moluccas.
An artist's impression of the eruption of Mount Tambora. Unfortunately, the author could not be found
The release of huge amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere caused global climate changes, including the phenomenon of “volcanic winter”. The following year, 1816, also known as the “year without summer,” turned out to be abnormally cold, with unusually low temperatures settling in North America and Europe, catastrophic crop failures led to great famines and epidemics.
The volcano woke up on May 20, 1883, it began to release huge clouds of steam, ash and smoke. This continued almost until the end of the eruption; on August 27, 4 powerful explosions occurred, which completely destroyed the island where the volcano was located. The fragments of the volcano scattered over a distance of 500 km, the gas-ash column rose to a height of more than 70 km. The explosions were so powerful that they were heard 4,800 kilometers away on Rodrigues Island. The blast wave was so powerful that it circled the Earth 7 times; they were felt after five days. In addition, it raised a tsunami 30 meters high, which led to the death of about 36,000 people on nearby islands (some sources indicate 120,000 victims), 295 cities and villages were washed into the sea by a powerful wave. The air wave tore off the roofs and walls of houses and uprooted trees within a radius of 150 kilometers.
Lithograph of the Krakatoa eruption, 1888
The eruption of Krakatoa, like Tambora, affected the planet's climate. Global temperatures dropped by 1.2 degrees Celsius during the year and only recovered by 1888.
The force of the blast wave was enough to lift such a large piece of coral reef from the bottom of the sea and throw it several kilometers away.
The volcano is located in the north of the island of Martinique (Lesser Antilles). He woke up in April 1902. A month later, the eruption itself began, suddenly a mixture of smoke and ash began to burst out of the crevices at the foot of the mountain, and lava began to flow in a hot wave. The city was completely destroyed by an avalanche Saint Pierre, which was located 8 kilometers from the volcano. Of the entire city, only two people survived - a prisoner who was sitting in an underground solitary confinement cell, and a shoemaker who lived on the outskirts of the city; the rest of the city's population, more than 30,000 people, died.
Left: Photograph of ash plumes erupting from the Mont Pelee volcano. Right: a surviving prisoner, and the completely destroyed city of Saint-Pierre.
Located Nevado del Ruiz in the Andes, Colombia. In 1984, seismic activity was recorded in these places, clouds of sulfur gases were released from the summit and there were several minor ash emissions. On November 13, 1985, the volcano exploded, releasing a column of ash and smoke more than 30 kilometers high. The erupting hot streams melted the glaciers on the top of the mountain, creating four lahars. Lahars, consisting of water, pieces of pumice, rock fragments, ash and dirt, swept away everything in their path at a speed of 60 km/h. City Armero was completely washed away by the flood, of the 29,000 inhabitants of the city, only 5,000 survived. The second lahar hit the city of Chinchina, killing 1,800 people.
Lahar descent from the summit of Nevado del Ruiz
The consequences of the lahar are the city of Armero razed to the ground.
