10 most catastrophic volcanic eruptions
Volcano Unzen, 1792
The largest eruption of the Unzen volcano occurred in 1792. The volcanic eruption, earthquake and resulting tsunami killed 15,000 people.
200 years after this eruption the volcano was calm.
In 1991, the volcano became active again, the same year there was an eruption with the release of lava, killing 43 people, including a group of scientists and journalists. Japanese authorities were forced to evacuate thousands of residents. The volcano was active, spewing lava and ash, until about 1995. Since 1995, activity has decreased and it is currently in a static state.
Volcano El Chichon, Mexico, 1982
The eruption of El Chichon in 1982 killed 2,000 nearby residents in Chiapas, Mexico. After the eruption, a lake filled with sulfur formed in the crater of the volcano.
A special feature of the eruption of this volcano was that a large amount of aerosol was released into the atmosphere; about 20 million tons of this aerosol contained sulfuric acid.
The cloud entered the stratosphere and increased its average temperature by 4 C, and destruction of the ozone layer was also observed.
Volcano Pinatubo, Philippines, 1991
The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines became the second largest eruption of the 20th century. The volcanic rating index was 6.
This is more than the eruption of St. Helens in 1980, but less than Tambora in 1815. Pinatubo, on June 15, 1991, released about two and a half cubic kilometers of material, including lava, ash and toxic gases. In total, about 10 square kilometers of material were ejected during the eruption. About 800 people died as a result of the eruption.
Mount St. Helens, USA, 1980
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens began to erupt in the United States. The volcanic eruption killed 57 people (according to other sources, 62 people).
The release of gases into the atmosphere reached a height of 24 kilometers; before the eruption, an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 occurred, which caused a huge landslide.
The eruption lasted 9 hours. The released energy can be compared to the energy of the explosion of 500 atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima.
Volcano Nevada del Ruiz, Colombia, 1985
The eruption of Mount Nevada del Ruiz in 1985 killed 20,000 people in the nearby village of Armero. This is the second most fatal volcano in the 20th century.
The volcanic eruption melted the glacier on it, and the mudflow completely destroyed Armero.
But the tragedy happened first in the village of Chinchina - the authorities did not have time to completely evacuate the residents and 2,000 people died. The total death toll is estimated at between 23,000 and 25,000.
Kilauea Volcano, USA, 1983 (to date)
Kilauea Volcano may not be the most destructive, but what makes it special is that it has been erupting continuously for over 20 years, making it one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Based on the diameter of the crater (4.5 km), the volcano is considered the largest in the world.
Vesuvius exploded in 79, burying the entire city of Pompeii under a blanket of ash and pumice that fell from the sky for 24 hours. The ash layer reached 3 meters. According to modern estimates, 25,000 people became victims of the volcano. Excavations were carried out at the site of the city of Pompeii; such a number of victims was caused by the fact that people did not immediately begin to leave their homes, but tried to pack and save their property.
The volcano has erupted dozens of times since 1979, most recently in 1944.
Volcano Pelé exploded on the Caribbean island of Martinique in 1902, killing 29,000 people and destroying the entire city of Saint-Pierre. For several days, the volcano erupted gases and a small portion of ash, residents saw this, and on May 8, Pele exploded.
Witnesses on ships in the immediate vicinity of the coast described the sudden appearance of a massive mushroom-shaped cloud filled with fiery hot ash and volcanic gases, the emissions covering the island in a matter of seconds.
Only two people survived the volcano explosion.
Volcano Krakatoa, Indonesia, 1883
The explosion of Krakatoa in 1883 can be compared to the power of 13,000 atomic bombs.
More than 36,000 people died. The height of the ejected ash reached 30 km. After the eruption, the island seemed to have folded, that is, the island itself fell into the void under the volcano, all of this was covered by masses of ocean water. Since the surface temperature was high and the land subsided quickly, this led to the formation of a tsunami wave that moved towards the island of Sumatra, which led to the death of more than 2,000 people on it.
At the moment, in place of the old volcano, a new active volcano has formed, which is growing in height by 6-7 meters per year.
Volcano Tambora, Indonesia, 1815
The eruption of Mount Tambora was the largest volcanic eruption on record on the planet.
10,000 people died instantly from lava flows and toxic gases.
The total number of deaths from the volcano and tsunami is about 92,000 people, not counting those who died from the famine that followed.
The scale of the eruption is evidenced by the fact that the amount of material released into the earth's atmosphere was so large that there was no summer in the northern hemisphere in 1816.
The thing is that particles of matter reflected the Sun's rays and interfered with the heating of the Earth.
The consequence of the eruption was famine throughout the world.
The power of the eruption was 7 points on the scale of volcanic eruptions.
There are about two hundred different volcanoes in our country. Most of it is located on the territory of Kamchatka and Kuril Islands, and these include 8.3% of the total number of active volcanoes on the planet. Here are 10 of them that have erupted in the last 10 years.
Berg Volcano (Last eruption: 2005).
This is an active volcano located on the island of Urup, in the middle of the Great Chain of Islands of the Kuril Archipelago. It is part of the Bell mountain group. The absolute height is 1040 m. Berg eruptions in 1946, 1951, 1952, 1970, 1973 and 2005 are known and recorded in history. Currently, thermal and fumarolic activity is recorded on it. The flora and fauna of the volcano are quite sparse; alder bushes grow on its slopes, as well as cormorants and gulls nesting.
Chikurachki (Last eruption: 2008).
A complex stratovolcano with a summit crater, formed 40 to 50 thousand years ago. Located at the northern end of the Karpinsky Ridge. Absolute height 1816 m. One of the most active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands. Eruptions of 1853 and 1986 were the strongest (Plinian type). Between eruptions the volcano is in a state of weak fumarolic activity.
Sarycheva Volcano (Last eruption: 2009).
Somma-Vesuvius type stratovolcano on the island of Matua Great Kuril ridge; one of the most active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands. The absolute height is 1446 m. The most intense volcanic activity occurred from June 12 to June 15, 2009. It manifested itself in the convergence of pyroclastic flows, pyroclastic waves, and the outflow of lava flows. Pyroclastic flows reached the sea and in some places its shore retreated by 400 meters. These flows covered the snowfields in the southeastern part of the volcano, which caused intense snow melting and, as a result, the descent of lahars. As a result of this eruption, the area of the island increased by 1.5 square meters. km, and the surface of the volcano dropped by 40 mm and moved north by about 30 mm. On an area up to 30 sq. km of vegetation died.
Ebeko (Last eruption: 2010).
A complex stratovolcano with several summit craters. Located in the north of the island; in the northern part of the Vernadsky ridge. Absolute height 1156 m. One of the most active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands. During the eruption in September 1859, thick sulfur fumes covered the nearby island of Shumshu, causing nausea and headaches among residents.
Plosky Tolbachik (Last eruption: 2012).
Tolbachiksky is a volcanic massif in the east of Kamchatka, in the southwestern part of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes. It consists of Ostry Tolbachik (3682 m) and Plosky Tolbachik (3140 m), located on the pedestal of an ancient shield volcano. A new fissure eruption began on November 27, 2012 with the opening of a fissure about 5 km long a few kilometers south of the caldera. The lava flow of the Southern Center flooded the IV&S station of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (former Leningradskaya base), located at the foot of the volcano, as well as the building of the base of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka natural park.
Kizimen (Last eruption: 2013).
Located on the western slope of the southern tip of the Tumrok ridge, 115 km from the village of Milkovo, 265 km from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The absolute height is 2376 m. During the eruption in 2009, some geysers became active in the valley of geysers. Before the eruption, there was an extrusive lava plug in the crater. On May 3, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., Kizimen became active and the lava plug literally split into small volcanic rocks, resulting in ash scattered over most of the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve.
Nameless (Last eruption: 2013).
Volcano in Kamchatka, near Klyuchevskaya Sopka, about 40 km from the village of Klyuchi, Ust-Kamchatka region. The absolute height of this volcano is 2882 m. The most famous eruption of Bezymianny occurred in 1955-1956. The height of the eruption cloud reached a height of about 35 km. The eruption created a horseshoe-shaped crater with a diameter of 1.3 km, open to the east. At the eastern foot of the volcano on an area of 500 square meters. km of trees and bushes were broken and felled in the direction from the volcano.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka (Last eruption: 2013).
Stratovolcano in the east of Kamchatka. It is the highest active volcano on the Eurasian continent. The age of the volcano is approximately 7000 years, and its height varies from 4750 to 4850 m and more above sea level. The last eruption began on August 15, 2013. On August 26, the first lava flow was noted on the southwestern slope of the volcano; subsequently, 4 lava flows erupted. On October 15-20, the culmination phase of the volcanic eruption was observed with the rise of the ash column to 10-12 km. The ash plume stretched southwest of Klyuchevskoye volcano. There was an ash fall in the villages of Lazo and Atlasovo; the thickness of the ash that fell was about two millimeters.
Karymskaya Sopka (Last eruption: 2014).
The volcano is located in Kamchatka, within the Eastern Range. Refers to stratovolcanoes. The absolute height is 1468 m. A very active volcano, more than 20 eruptions have been recorded since 1852. Near Karymskaya Sopka, in the caldera of a neighboring ancient volcano, there is Karymskoye Lake. A powerful underwater explosion in 1996 killed almost all life in the lake.
Shiveluch (Last eruption: March 2015).
Volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula within the Eastern Range. The northernmost active volcano in Kamchatka. The absolute height is 3307 m. On June 27, 2013, early in the morning, Shiveluch threw out a column of ash up to 10 km above sea level, in the village of Klyuchi, located 47 km from the volcano, there was an ash fall, the streets of the village were dusted with a layer of red ash up to a millimeter thick. On October 18, following the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, Shiveluch emitted a column of ash 7600 meters high. On February 7, 2014, it emitted a column of ash more than 11,000 meters high. On May 13, 2014, the volcano ejected three columns of ash to a height of 7 to 10 km.
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.
79 AD. Volcano Vesuvius. 16,000 dead.
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.
1792 Volcano Unzen. About 15,000 dead.
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.
1815 Volcano Tambora. 71,000 victims.
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, unusually low temperatures set in North America and Europe, and a catastrophic crop failure led to great famine and epidemics.
1883, Krakatoa volcano. 36,000 deaths.
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.
1902, Mont Pele volcano. 30,000 people died.
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.
1985, Nevado del Ruiz volcano. More than 23,000 victims.
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.
Today we will talk about the most destructive volcanoes in human history.
The eruption attracts, frightens and fascinates us at the same time. Beauty, entertainment, spontaneity, enormous danger for humans and all living things - all this is inherent in this violent natural phenomenon.
So, let's look at volcanoes, whose eruptions have caused the destruction of vast territories and mass extinctions.
VESUVIUS.
The most famous active volcano is Vesuvius. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Naples, 15 km from Naples. With a relatively low altitude (1280 meters above sea level) and “youth” (12 thousand years), it is rightfully considered the most recognizable in the world.
Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European continent. It poses a great danger due to the dense population near the silent giant. Huge numbers of people are at risk of being buried under thick lava every day.
The last eruption, which managed to wipe out two entire Italian cities from the face of the Earth, happened quite recently, in the midst of World War II. However, the eruption of 1944 in terms of the scale of the catastrophe cannot be compared with the events of August 24, 79 AD. The devastating consequences of that day still boggle our imagination. The eruption lasted more than a day, during which ash and dirt mercilessly destroyed the glorious city of Pompeii.
Until that moment, the local residents had no idea about the impending danger; they were let down by a very familiar attitude towards the formidable Vesuvius, as if it were an ordinary mountain. The volcano gave them fertile soil rich in minerals. Abundant harvests were the reason that the city was quickly populated, developed, gained some prestige and even became a vacation spot for the then aristocracy. Soon a drama theater and one of the largest amphitheaters in Italy were built. Some time later, the region gained fame as the calmest and most prosperous place on the whole Earth. Could people have guessed that this flourishing area would be covered by merciless lava? That the rich potential of this region will never be realized? That all its beauty, improvement, and cultural development will be erased from the face of the Earth?
The first shock, which should have alerted the residents, was a strong earthquake, as a result of which many buildings in Herculaneum and Pompeii were destroyed. However, people who had arranged their life so well were in no hurry to leave their settled place. Instead, they restored the buildings in an even more luxurious, new style. From time to time, minor earthquakes occurred, to which no one paid much attention. This was their fatal mistake. Nature itself gave signs of approaching danger. However, nothing disturbed the calm way of life of the inhabitants of Pompeii. And even when on August 24 a frightening roar was heard from the bowels of the earth, the townspeople decided to flee within the walls of their houses. At night the volcano woke up completely. People fled to the sea, but the lava caught up with them near the shore. Soon their fate was decided - almost everyone ended their lives under a thick layer of lava, dirt and ash.
The next day, the elements mercilessly attacked Pompeii. Most of the townspeople, whose number reached 20 thousand, managed to leave the city even before the disaster began, but about 2 thousand still died on the streets. Human. The exact number of victims has not yet been established, since the remains are found outside the city, in the surrounding area.
Let's try to feel the scale of the disaster by turning to the work of the Russian painter Karl Bryullov.
Santorini is an active shield volcano located on the island of Thira in the Aegean Sea. Its strongest eruption was 1645-1600 BC. e. caused the death of Aegean cities and settlements on the islands of Crete, Thira and the Mediterranean coast. The power of the eruption is impressive: it is three times stronger than the Krakatoa eruption and equals seven points!
Of course, such a strong explosion managed not only to reshape the landscape, but also change the climate. Huge cubes of ash thrown into the atmosphere prevented the sun's rays from touching the Earth, which led to global cooling. The fate of the Minoan civilization, the center of which was the island of Thira, is shrouded in mystery. The earthquake warned local residents of the impending disaster, and they left their native land in time. When a huge amount of ash and pumice came out from the interior of the volcano, the volcanic cone collapsed under the force of its own gravity. Sea water poured into the abyss, which formed a huge tsunami that washed away nearby settlements. There was no more Mount Santorini. A huge oval chasm, the volcanic caldera, was forever filled with the waters of the Aegean Sea.
Recently, researchers found that the volcano has become more active. Almost 14 million cubic meters magma has accumulated in it - it seems that Sentorin can reassert itself!
UNZEN
The Unzen volcanic complex, which consists of four domes, became a real synonym for disaster for the Japanese. It is located on the Shimabara Peninsula, its height is 1500 m.
In 1792, one of the most destructive eruptions in human history occurred. At one point, a 55-meter tsunami arose, destroying more than 15 thousand inhabitants. Of these, 5 thousand died during the landslide, 5 thousand drowned during the tsunami that hit Higo, 5 thousand - from the wave returning to Shimabara. The tragedy is forever etched in the hearts of the Japanese people. Helplessness in the face of the raging elements, the pain from the loss of a huge number of people was immortalized in numerous monuments that we can see in Japan.
After this terrible event, Unzen fell silent for almost two centuries. But in 1991 another eruption occurred. 43 scientists and journalists were buried under the pyroplastic flow. Since then, the volcano has erupted several times. Currently, although it is considered weakly active, it is under close monitoring by scientists.
TAMBORA
Volcano Tambora is located on the island of Sumbawa. Its eruption in 1815 is rightfully considered the most powerful eruption in human history. It is possible that more powerful eruptions have occurred during the existence of the Earth, but we have no information about this.
So, in 1815, nature went wild in earnest: an eruption occurred with a magnitude of 7 on the scale of eruption intensity (explosive force) of a volcano, the maximum value being 8. The disaster shocked the entire Indonesian archipelago. Just think about it, the energy released during the eruption is equal to the energy of two hundred thousand atomic bombs! 92 thousand people were killed! Places with once fertile soil turned into lifeless space, resulting in a terrible famine. Thus, 48 thousand people died from hunger on the island of Sumbawa, 44 thousand on the island of Lambok, 5 thousand on the island of Bali.
However, the consequences were observed even far from the eruption - the climate of all of Europe underwent changes. The fateful year of 1815 was called “the year without summer”: the temperature became noticeably lower, and in a number of European countries it was not even possible to harvest the harvest.
KRAKATAU
Krakatau is an active volcano in Indonesia, located between the islands of Java and Sumatra in the Malay Archipelago in the Sunda Strait. Its height is 813 m.
Before the 1883 eruption, the volcano was much higher and represented one big Island. However, an eruption in 1883 destroyed the island and the volcano. On the morning of August 27, Krakatoa fired four strong shots, each of which resulted in a powerful tsunami. Huge masses of water poured into populated areas with such speed that residents did not have time to climb a nearby hill. The water, sweeping away everything in its path, raked in crowds of frightened people and carried them away, turning the once flourishing lands into a lifeless space full of chaos and death. So, the tsunami caused the death of 90% of those killed! The rest fell to volcanic debris, ash and gas. The total number of victims was 36.5 thousand people.
Most of the island went under water. Ashes captured the whole of Indonesia: the sun was not visible for several days, the islands of Java and Sumatra were covered in pitch darkness. On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, the sun turned blue due to the huge amount of ash released during the eruption. Volcanic debris released into the atmosphere managed to change the color of sunsets around the world for three whole years. They turned bright red and it seemed as if nature itself symbolized human death with this unusual phenomenon.
MONT PELAY
30 thousand people died as a result of a powerful eruption of the Mont Pele volcano, which is located on Martinique, a beautiful island Caribbean Sea. The fire-breathing mountain spared nothing; everything was destroyed, including the nearby elegant, cozy city of Saint-Pierre - the Paris of the West Indies, in the construction of which the French invested all their knowledge and strength.
The volcano began its inactive activity back in 1753. However, rare emissions of gases, flames and the absence of serious explosions gradually established the fame of Mont Pele as a capricious, but by no means formidable volcano. Subsequently, it became only a part of the beautiful natural landscape and served for the residents rather as a decoration of their area. Despite this, when in the spring of 1902, when Mont-Pele began to broadcast danger with tremors and a column of smoke, the townspeople did not hesitate. Sensing trouble, they decided to flee in time: some sought refuge in the mountains, others in the water.
Their determination was seriously affected by the huge number of snakes that slid down the slopes of Mont Pele and filled the entire city. Victims from the bites, then from the boiling lake, which was located not far from the crater, overflowed its banks and poured into the back part of the city in a huge stream - all this convinced residents of the need for urgent evacuation. However, the local government considered these precautions unnecessary. The mayor of the city, extremely concerned about the upcoming elections, was too interested in the turnout of citizens at such an important political event. He took the necessary measures to ensure that the population did not leave the city; he personally persuaded the residents to stay. As a result, most of them did not attempt to escape; those who escaped returned, resuming their usual way of life.
On the morning of May 8, a deafening roar was heard, a huge cloud of ash and gases flew out of the crater, instantly descended along the slopes of Mont Pele and... swept away everything in its path. In one minute this amazing, thriving town was completely destroyed. Factories, houses, trees, people - everything was melted, torn out, poisoned, burned, tormented. It is believed that the death of the unfortunates occurred in the first three minutes. Of the 30 thousand inhabitants, only two were lucky enough to survive.
On May 20, the volcano exploded again with the same force, which led to the death of 2 thousand rescuers who were raking the ruins of the destroyed city at that moment. On August 30, a third explosion occurred, leading to the death of thousands of residents of nearby villages. Mont Pele erupted several more times until 1905, after which it went into hibernation until 1929, when a rather powerful eruption occurred, however, without causing casualties.
These days the volcano is considered inactive, Saint-Pierre is being restored, but after these terrible events it has little chance of regaining the status of the most beautiful city in Martinique.
NEVADO DEL RUIZ
Due to its impressive height (5400m), Nevado del Ruiz is rightfully considered the highest active volcano in the Andes mountain range. Its top is shrouded in ice and snow - that is why its name is “Nevado”, which means “snowy”. It is located in the volcanic zone of Colombia - the Caldas and Tolima regions.
Nevado del Ruiz is one of the deadliest volcanoes in the world for a reason. Eruptions leading to mass death have occurred three times already. In 1595, over 600 people were buried under the ashes. In 1845, a strong earthquake killed 1 thousand inhabitants.
And finally, in 1985, when the volcano was already considered dormant, 23 thousand people died. It should be noted that the cause of the latest disaster was the outrageous negligence of the authorities, who did not consider it necessary to monitor volcanic activity. At the moment, 500 thousand residents of nearby areas are at risk of becoming victims of a new eruption every day.
So, in 1985, the crater of the volcano ejected powerful gas-pyroclastic flows. Because of them, the ice at the top melted, which led to the formation of lahars - volcanic flows that instantly moved down the slopes. This avalanche of water, clay, and pumice destroyed everything in its path. Destroying rocks, soil, plants and absorbing it all, the lahars quadrupled during the journey!
The thickness of the streams was 5 meters. One of them destroyed the city of Armero in an instant; out of 29 thousand inhabitants, 23 thousand died! Many of the survivors died in hospitals as a result of infection, epidemic typhus and yellow fever. Among all the volcanic disasters known to us, Nevado del Ruiz ranks fourth in terms of the number of human deaths. Devastation, chaos, disfigured human bodies, screams and moans - this is what appeared before the eyes of the rescuers who arrived the next day.
To understand the horror of the tragedy, let's take a look at the now famous photograph of journalist Frank Fournier. It shows 13-year-old Omaira Sanchez, who, finding herself among the rubble of buildings and unable to get out, bravely fought for her life for three days, but could not win this unequal battle. You can imagine how many lives of such children, teenagers, women, and old people were taken by the raging elements.
TOBA
Toba is located on the island of Sumatra. Its height is 2157 m, it has the largest caldera in the world (area 1775 sq. km), in which the largest lake of volcanic origin was formed.
Toba is interesting because it is a supervolcano, i.e. From the outside it is practically invisible; it can only be seen from space. We can be on the surface of this kind of volcano for thousands of years, and only learn about its existence at the moment of a catastrophe. It is worth noting that while an ordinary fire-breathing mountain has an eruption, such a supervolcano has an explosion.
The Toba eruption, which occurred during the last ice age, is considered one of the most powerful during the existence of our planet. 2800 km³ of magma came out of the volcano’s caldera, and the ash deposits that covered South Asia, Indian Ocean, Arabian and South China Seas, reached 800 km³. Thousands of years later, scientists discovered the smallest ash particles 7 thousand km away. from a volcano on the territory of the African Lake Nyasa.
As a result of the huge amount of ash emitted by the volcano, the sun was obscured. A real volcanic winter set in, lasting several years.
The number of people decreased sharply - only a few thousand people managed to survive! It is with the Toba explosion that the “bottleneck” effect is associated - a theory according to which in ancient times the human population was distinguished by genetic diversity, but most of the people died out abruptly as a result natural disaster Thus, there was a reduction in the gene pool.
EL CHICHON
El Chichon is the southernmost volcano in Mexico, located in the state of Chiapas. Its age is 220 thousand years.
It is noteworthy that until recently local residents were not at all worried about the proximity to the volcano. The issue of security was also not relevant because the areas adjacent to the volcano were rich in dense forests, which indicated the long-term hibernation of El Chichon. However, on March 28, 1982, after 12 hundred years of peaceful sleep, the fire-breathing mountain demonstrated its full destructive power. The first stage of the eruption entailed a powerful explosion, as a result of which a huge ash column (height - 27 km) formed above the crater, which covered an area within a radius of 100 km in less than an hour.
A huge amount of tephra was released into the atmosphere, and heavy ashfalls occurred around the volcano. About 2 thousand people died. It should be noted that the evacuation of the population was poorly organized and the process was slow. Many residents left the territory, but after a while they returned, which, of course, led to dire consequences for them.
In May of the same year, the next eruption occurred, which was even more powerful and destructive than the previous one. The convergence of the pyroclastic flow left a scorched strip of land and a thousand human deaths.
The disaster was not going to stop there. Local residents suffered two more Plinian eruptions, which generated a 29-kilometer column of ash. The number of victims again reached a thousand people.
The consequences of the eruption affected the country's climate. A huge cloud of ash covered 240 square km; in the capital, visibility was only a few meters. Due to ash particles hanging in the layers of the stratosphere, a noticeable cooling occurred.
In addition, the natural balance has been disrupted. Many birds and animals were destroyed. Some types of insects began to grow rapidly, which resulted in the destruction of most of the crop.
LUCKY
The shield volcano Laki is located in the south of Iceland in the Skaftafell Park (since 2008 it has been part of the Vatnajökull National Park). The volcano is also called the Laki crater, because. it is part of a mountain system consisting of 115 craters.
In 1783, one of the most powerful eruptions occurred, which set a world record for the number of human casualties! In Iceland alone, almost 20 thousand lives were lost – that’s one third of the population. However, the volcano carried its destructive impact beyond the borders of its country - death even reached Africa. There are many destructive, deadly volcanoes on Earth, but Lucky is the only one of his kind who killed slowly, gradually, in various ways.
The most interesting thing is that the volcano warned residents about the upcoming danger as best it could. Seismic displacements, uplifting land, raging geysers, explosions of pillars into the air, whirlpools, boiling of the sea - there were plenty of signs of an imminent eruption. For several weeks in a row, the land literally shook under the feet of the Icelanders, which, of course, scared them, but no one attempted to escape. People were confident that their homes were strong enough to protect them from the eruption. They hunkered down at home, tightly locking the windows and doors.
In January, the formidable neighbor made himself known. He raged until June. During these six months of eruptions, Mount Skaptar-Ekul split open and a huge 24-meter chasm formed. Harmful gases came out and formed a powerful lava flow. Imagine how many such flows there were - hundreds of craters erupted! When the flows reached the sea, the lava solidified, but the water boiled, and all the fish within a radius of several kilometers from the shore died.
Sulfur dioxide covered the entire territory of Iceland, which led to acid rain and destruction of vegetation. As a result Agriculture suffered significantly, hunger and disease struck the surviving inhabitants.
Soon “Hungry Haze” reached all of Europe, and a few years later to China. The climate changed, dust particles did not allow the rays of the sun to pass through, summer never came. Temperatures dropped by 1.3 ºC, leading to cold-related deaths, crop failures and famine in many European countries. The eruption even left its mark on Africa. Due to the abnormal cold, the temperature contrast was minimal, which led to a decrease in monsoon activity, drought, shallowing of the Nile, and crop failure. Africans died en masse from starvation.
ETNA
Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and one of the largest volcanoes in the world. It is located on the east coast of Sicily, near the cities of Messina and Catania. Its circumference is 140 km and covers an area of approximately 1.4 thousand square meters. km.
There have been approximately 140 powerful eruptions of this volcano in modern times. In 1669 Catania was destroyed. In 1893, the Silvestri crater appeared. In 1911 a northeastern crater formed. In 1992 a huge lava flow stopped near Zafferana Etnea. The last time the volcano erupted lava was in 2001, destroying the cable car leading to the crater.
Currently, the volcano is a popular place for hiking and skiing. Several half-empty towns are located at the foot of the fire-breathing mountain, but few dare to risk living there. Here and there, gases escape from the depths of the earth; it is impossible to predict when, where and with what power the next eruption will occur.
MERAPI
Marapi is the most active active volcano in Indonesia. It is located on the island of Java near the city of Yogyakarta. Its height is 2914 meters. This is a relatively young, but quite restless volcano: since 1548 it has erupted 68 times!
The close proximity to such an active fire-breathing mountain is very dangerous. But, as is usually the case in economically undeveloped countries, local residents, without thinking about the risk, appreciate the benefit that gives them rich in minerals soil - abundant harvests. Thus, about 1.5 million people currently live near Marapi.
Strong eruptions occur every 7 years, smaller ones every couple of years, and the volcano smokes almost daily. Disaster of 1006 The Javanese-Indian kingdom of Mataram was completely destroyed. In 1673 One of the most powerful eruptions occurred, as a result of which several cities and villages were wiped off the face of the Earth. There were nine eruptions in the 19th century, 13 in the last century.
16/04/2010
Experts warn that an ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjaldajökull will reach St. Petersburg in the evening. The townspeople's chances of watching the show are slim - it's located too high. But the consequences of the eruption greatly affected air traffic in the countries of Northern Europe. The cancellation of flights to Europe began in St. Petersburg.
1.
Vesuvius, Italy, August 24, 79
The eruption destroyed the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. Ashes from Vesuvius reached Egypt and Syria.
Contrary to popular belief, most of the inhabitants of Pompeii left the city before the disaster; out of 20 thousand inhabitants, 2 thousand died in the buildings and on the streets. Among the dead was the scientist Pliny the Elder, who, out of scientific interest, approached the volcano on a ship and found himself at the epicenter of the disaster.
In total, more than 80 eruptions of Vesuvius are known, the last one occurring in 1944. Vesuvius is the only active volcano in continental Europe.
2.
Tambora, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, April 5-7, 1815
The largest eruption in modern history in terms of the number of human casualties (92 thousand people died during the disaster and the subsequent famine) and the impact on the Earth’s climate (ash clouds did not allow the sun’s rays to pass through, which led to a drop in temperature). As a result, the Tambora culture, which Europeans became acquainted with just a few years before its destruction, was completely destroyed.
3.
Taupo, New Zealand, about 27 thousand years ago
According to geologists, the last eruption larger than Tambora was the volcanic eruption in New Zealand that led to the formation of Lake Taupo. Today the lake is one of the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations.
4.
Krakatoa, between the islands of Java and Sumatra, Indonesia, August 27, 1883
Largest volcanic explosion in modern history. The tsunami it caused washed away 163 villages (killing 36,380 people). The roar from the explosion was heard over 8% of the Earth's territory, pieces of lava were thrown into the air to a height of 55 km, and volcanic ash blown by the wind 10 days later fell 5330 km from the eruption site (the approximate distance between Reykjavik and Karaganda).
5.
Santorini, Greece, around 1450 BC. e.
A volcanic eruption on the island of Thera led to the death of the Cretan civilization: volcanic sulfur covered all fields and put an end to agriculture.
There is a version that the island of Thera is the Atlantis described by Plato. There is another version: the pillar of fire that Moses saw is the eruption of Santorini, and the parting of the sea is a consequence of the immersion of the island of Thera in water.
In 1886 (already AD), Santorini eruptions continued whole year, pieces of lava flying out of the sea rose up 500 meters. As a result, several new islands appeared.
6.
Etna, Sicily, Italy, 1928
About 200 eruptions of Mount Etna are known, including quite powerful ones: the eruption of 1169 led to the death of 15 thousand people. Etna is an active volcano; approximately once every 150 years it completely destroys a village. But the hardened lava makes the soil fertile, so the Sicilians continue to settle on the slopes of the mountain. Moreover, in 1928 a miracle happened: a stream of hot lava stopped in front of a Catholic procession. In 1930, a chapel was erected on this site and 30 years later the lava stopped in front of the chapel.
In 1981, the regional government in Palermo created a nature reserve around Etna.
7.
Montagne-Pelée, Martinique, May 8, 1902
In April 1902, an eruption began in Martinique, and on May 8, a cloud of hot lava, vapors and gases covered the city of Saint-Pierre. Within a few minutes the city was destroyed. Of the 17 ships in the harbor, only one was saved. Of the 28 thousand residents in the city, two were saved, including Opostos Siparis, who was sentenced to death. The powerful stone walls of the death chamber saved the condemned man. The governor pardoned Siparis and for the rest of his life he traveled around the world, talking about what happened.
Napoleon's wife Josephine Beauharnais was born in the city of Saint-Pierre.
8.
Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia, November 13, 1985
The main blow fell on the city of Armero, located 50 km from the mountain, which was destroyed in 10 minutes. Of the 28,700 inhabitants, 21 thousand died. Volcanologists warned people about the disaster in advance, but since their forecasts turned out to be wrong several times, the scientists were not believed.
9.
Pinatubo, Philippines, June 12, 1991
The volcano was considered extinct and was silent for 611 years. The 1991 eruption killed 875 people and also destroyed a strategic US Air Force base located 18 km from Pinatubo and a US naval base.
The eruption led to a drop in temperature by 0.5 C and a reduction in the ozone layer, in particular to the formation of an ozone hole over Antarctica.
10.
Katmai, Alaska, June 6, 1912
One of the largest eruptions of the 20th century. The ash column rose 20 km, the sound was heard 1200 km away in the capital of Alaska, Juneau. At the site of the crater, a lake with a diameter of 1.5 km formed - the main attraction of the lake formed in 1980. National Park and Katmai Nature Reserve.
