There are more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes or volcanic areas around the world at any given time. They may be the world’s most dynamic landforms, given their ability to grow by accretion or shatter and collapse during an eruption. Volcanoes are vents in Earth’s crust (or in the crust of another planet or satellite) capable of releasing molten rock (magma), hot rock fragments, and hot gases. Some volcanoes are prominent mountains or other land features that rise from islands or are nested within long mountain ranges, whereas others occur entirely underwater in ocean hotspots or at spreading centres along oceanic ridges. Some of the most destructive volcanoes in Earth’s history (such as Mount Toba on the island of Sumatra and the Yellowstone caldera in western North America) last erupted long before the development of civilization and writing, so the timing and effects of their activity must be inferred by investigating the landforms, rocks, and ash they left behind. However, the eruptive histories of many other volcanoes have been chronicled in written accounts that date back thousands of years.
| region | elevation* | first recorded eruption | comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| feet | metres | ||||
| *Elevation figures may differ from other sources. | |||||
| Source: Lee Siebert and Tom Simkin, Volcanoes of the World: An Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and Their Eruptions (2002– ), Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, http://www.volcano.si.edu/world. | |||||
| Mediterranean | Etna, Sicily, Italy | 10,991 | 3,350 | 1500 BC | The tallest active volcano in Europe, Etna has had recorded eruptions for millennia, including a huge blast in 1669 that left 20,000 people dead. |
| Vesuvius, Campania, Italy | 4,203 | 1,281 | 217 BC | This storied volcano, which in AD 79 destroyed the city of Pompeii, is still active and is surrounded by several million people living in the area of Naples. | |
| Stromboli, Eolie Islands, Italy | 3,038 | 926 | 350 BC | Nearly continuous small eruptions of incandescent lava have given this volcano, located on an island north of Sicily, the nickname "lighthouse of the Mediterranean." | |
| Vulcano, Eolie Islands, Italy | 1,640 | 500 | 360 BC | Vulcano, the ancient archetype of the term volcano, has not erupted since the late 19th century. | |
| Thera (Santoríni), Cyclades, Greece | 1,204 | 367 | 197 BC | The scenic island of Thera is actually the remains of a volcano that exploded about 1500 BC in one of the largest eruptions of historic times. | |
| Atlantic Ocean | Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands | 12,188 | 3,715 | 1396 | The highest peak in the Atlantic Ocean, Teide was observed in eruption by Christopher Columbus and still emits hot gas from vents on its slopes. |
| Fogo, Cape Verde Islands | 9,281 | 2,829 | 1500 | The highest peak in the Cape Verde Islands, Fogo rises from a caldera created by an ancient volcanic collapse. | |
| Beerenberg, Jan Mayen, Norway | 7,470 | 2,277 | 1732 | Located on an island in the Arctic Circle, Beerenberg is the northernmost active volcano on Earth. | |
| Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic | 6,758 | 2,060 | 1961 | The only recorded eruption of this remote island-volcano occurred in 1961, forcing the evacuation of its small population for two years. | |
| Askja, Iceland | 4,974 | 1,516 | 1875 | Askja's three large calderas are dotted by volcanically active fissures and cones. | |
| Hekla, Iceland | 4,892 | 1,491 | 1104 | One of Iceland's most active volcanoes, it has an elongated profile caused by frequent eruptions of lava from a long fissure running parallel to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. | |
| Deception Island, South Shetland Islands | 1,890 | 576 | 1800 | This ring-shaped island-volcano off the Antarctic Peninsula has a natural inner harbour formed from a huge caldera. | |
| Surtsey, Iceland | 554 | 169 | 1963 | This volcanic island emerged from the Atlantic Ocean in a fiery eruption in 1963. | |
| North America | Citlaltépetl, Veracruz-Puebla, Mexico | 18,619 | 5,675 | 1545 | This volcano has been dormant since 1846; its snowcapped cone is the third highest peak in North America. |
| Popocatépetl, México-Puebla, Mexico | 17,802 | 5,426 | 1345 | Popocatépetl (Aztec for "smoking mountain") still spreads ash on occasion over the surrounding region. | |
| Rainier, Washington, U.S. | 14,409 | 4,392 | 1825 | This dormant volcano is one of the premier mountain-climbing destinations in the United States. | |
| Colima, Colima, Mexico | 12,631 | 3,850 | 1519 | This active volcano frequently ejects ash plumes and lava bombs. | |
| Hood, Oregon, U.S. | 11,240 | 3,426 | 1859 | The highest peak in Oregon and visible from Portland, this dormant volcano is the focal point of Mount Hood National Forest. | |
| Lassen, California, U.S. | 10,456 | 3,187 | 1914 | A series of eruptions from 1914 to 1917 marked the southernmost volcanic activity recorded in the Cascade Range. | |
| Redoubt, Alaska, U.S. | 10,197 | 3,108 | 1902 | Lava domes on this volcano occasionally collapse, melting glaciers and sending mudflows streaming down nearby river valleys. | |
| Shishaldin, Alaska, U.S. | 9,373 | 2,857 | 1824 | The snow-covered, beautifully symmetrical cone of this Aleutian volcano frequently spouts ash and lava. | |
| Parícutin, Michoacán, Mexico | 9,210 | 2,807 | 1943 | One of the youngest volcanoes on Earth, it was born of a continuous eruption of lava and ash that lasted from 1943 to 1952. | |
| St. Helens, Washington, U.S. | 8,363 | 2,549 | 1831 | A gigantic eruption in 1980 devastated 550 square km (210 square miles) of mountain terrain and spread ash over Washington, Idaho, and Montana. | |
| Pavlof, Alaska, U.S. | 8,264 | 2,519 | 1790 | This active volcano forms a striking landform with its nearby twin peak, Pavlof Sister. | |
| Veniaminof, Alaska, U.S. | 8,225 | 2,507 | 1838 | Two cones rise from a huge glacier-filled caldera at the top of this volcano. | |
| Katmai, Alaska, U.S. | 6,716 | 2,047 | 1912 | The summit of this volcano collapsed in 1912 following the gigantic explosion of nearby Novarupta Volcano—the largest eruption recorded in the 20th century. | |
| El Chichón, Chiapas, Mexico | 3,773 | 1,150 | 1982 | A powerful blast in 1982 destroyed most villages within 8 km (5 miles) and left behind a crater that is now filled with an acidic lake. | |
| Central America and Caribbean | Tajumulco, Guatemala | 13,845 | 4,220 | 1821(?) | The highest volcano in Central America, its twin peaks rise almost from sea level near the city of San Marcos. |
| Acatenango, Guatemala | 13,044 | 3,976 | 1924 | This peak and its twin, Fuego, rise above the old colonial city of Antigua Guatemala. | |
| Fuego, Guatemala | 12,346 | 3,763 | 1524 | This twin of Acatenango is one of Central America's most active volcanoes, frequently erupting ash and lava. | |
| Irazú, Costa Rica | 11,260 | 3,432 | 1723 | The highest volcano in Costa Rica, it is a popular tourist spot that offers views of the country's Pacific and Atlantic coasts. | |
| Poás, Costa Rica | 8,884 | 2,708 | 1828 | Two of the three craters at the summit contain lakes that regularly attract tourists and observers. | |
| Pacaya, Guatemala | 8,373 | 2,552 | 1565 | Lava explosions are visible from Guatemala City, 30 km (18 miles) away. | |
| Santa Ana, El Salvador | 7,812 | 2,381 | 1521 | El Salvador's highest volcano. | |
| San Miguel, El Salvador | 6,988 | 2,130 | 1510 | The slopes of this active volcano are home to coffee plantations and to the important city of San Miguel. | |
| Izalco, El Salvador | 6,398 | 1,950 | 1770 | Born of a series of eruptions in 1770; its frequent glowing activity caused it to be called the "lighthouse of the Pacific." | |
| San Cristóbal, Nicaragua | 5,725 | 1,745 | 1528 | The highest volcano in Nicaragua. | |
| Concepción, Nicaragua | 5,577 | 1,700 | 1883 | This active volcano rises from the northern half of Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua. | |
| Arenal, Costa Rica | 5,436 | 1,657 | 1922 | Frequent explosions and effusions of lava have made this volcano a popular destination for sightseers. | |
| Pelée, Martinique | 4,583 | 1,397 | 1792 | An eruption of hot gas and ash in 1902 killed 26,000 people in the port city of Saint-Pierre. | |
| Momotombo, Nicaragua | 4,255 | 1,297 | 1524 | The cone of this volcano, rising on the northern shore of Lake Managua, is a prominent landmark. | |
| Soufrière, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 4,003 | 1,220 | 1718 | An eruption in 1902 killed 2,000 people and ruined half the island of Saint Vincent. | |
| South America | Guallatiri, Chile | 19,918 | 6,071 | 1825 | This volcano is occasionally observed venting steam and gas. |
| Cotopaxi, Ecuador | 19,393 | 5,911 | 1534 | Though Cotopaxi is Ecuador's best-known volcano, it has not erupted since the first half of the 20th century. | |
| El Misti, Peru | 19,101 | 5,822 | 1542 | This volcano, its symmetrical cone towering over the city of Arequipa, holds an important place in Peruvian culture. | |
| Lascar, Chile | 18,346 | 5,592 | 1848 | This active volcano frequently ejects clouds of ash and pumice. | |
| Ruiz, Colombia | 17,457 | 5,321 | 1570 | In 1985 a relatively mild eruption melted a glacier on this volcano, triggering mudflows that buried several villages and killed more than 25,000 people. | |
| Sangay, Ecuador | 17,159 | 5,230 | 1628 | This steep-sided, glacier-covered volcano is almost constantly erupting. | |
| Tungurahua, Ecuador | 16,479 | 5,023 | 1640 | Lava and mixtures of hot ash and gas frequently flow down the sides of this steep and active volcano. | |
| Guagua Pichincha, Ecuador | 15,695 | 4,784 | 1566 | Rising just west of the capital city of Quito, this volcano regularly has small eruptions. | |
| Llaima, Chile | 10,253 | 3,125 | 1640 | Ash columns and lava flows frequently issue from this glacier-clad volcano, which, like Villarrica, is a popular ski area. | |
| Villarrica, Chile | 9,340 | 2,847 | 1558 | Ash columns and lava flows frequently issue from this glacier-clad volcano, which, like Llaima, is a popular ski area. | |
| Hudson, Chile | 6,250 | 1,905 | 1891 | This southernmost volcano in the Chilean Andes exploded violently in 1991. | |
| Pacific Ocean | Mauna Kea, Hawaii, U.S. | 13,796 | 4,205 | … | This dormant volcano, often snowcapped because of its great height, is home to an astronomical observatory. |
| Mauna Loa, Hawaii, U.S. | 13,681 | 4,170 | 1832 | Every three to four years, this huge shield volcano erupts with fountains and streams of incandescent lava. | |
| Erebus, Ross Island | 12,447 | 3,794 | 1841 | The southernmost active volcano in the world, Erebus ejects lava almost constantly. | |
| Kilauea, Hawaii, U.S. | 4,009 | 1,222 | 1790 | Since 1983 Kilauea has been in almost continual eruption, producing rivers of lava that flow to the sea 50 km (30 miles) away. | |
| Loihi, Hawaii, U.S. | −3,199 | −975 | 1996 | Frequent effusions of lava from this submarine volcano will bring it to the surface between 10,000 and 100,000 years from now. | |
| East Asia | Klyuchevskaya, Kamchatka, Russia | 15,863 | 4,835 | 1697 | The highest and most active volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula. |
| Fuji, Honshu, Japan | 12,388 | 3,776 | 781 | Dormant since 1707, this volcano has a graceful conical form and is a sacred symbol of Japan. | |
| Tolbachik, Kamchatka, Russia | 12,080 | 3,682 | 1739 | Tolbachik is enormous, composed of a rounded shield volcano and a conical stratovolcano. | |
| Shiveluch, Kamchatka, Russia | 10,771 | 3,283 | 1854 | Rising dramatically from a plain north of Klyuchevskaya Volcano, Shiveluch occasionally spouts plumes of ash. | |
| Ontake, Honshu, Japan | 10,049 | 3,063 | 1979 | Second only to Mount Fuji in elevation and popular esteem, Ontake is an object of worship for pilgrims who climb it each year. | |
| Bezymianny, Kamchatka, Russia | 9,455 | 2,882 | 1955 | This volcano was considered dormant until 1955–56; in the latter year a gigantic blast created a large crater that has since been filled by a growing lava dome. | |
| Alaid, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7,674 | 2,339 | 1790 | The largest volcano in the Kuril Islands, Alaid has been observed ejecting huge plumes of ash. | |
| Aso, Kyushu, Japan | 5,223 | 1,592 | 864 | The gigantic caldera of this volcano is occupied by many peaks, including Naka-dake, one of Japan's most active volcanoes. | |
| Unzen, Kyushu, Japan | 4,921 | 1,500 | 1663 | A 1792 eruption caused a debris avalanche and tsunami that killed more than 10,000 people. | |
| Southeast Asia and Oceania | Kerinci, Sumatra, Indonesia | 12,467 | 3,800 | 1838 | Located in a national park in central Sumatra, Kerinci is the highest volcano in Indonesia. |
| Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia | 12,224 | 3,726 | 1847 | The caldera at the summit of this volcano is the site of a lake and of an active cone that frequently issues lava. | |
| Semeru, Java, Indonesia | 12,060 | 3,676 | 1818 | The highest volcano on Java, Semeru is almost continuously erupting lava or ash. | |
| Slamet, Java, Indonesia | 11,247 | 3,428 | 1772 | Slamet periodically ejects plumes of ash, often in conjunction with mild ground tremors. | |
| Raung, Java, Indonesia | 10,932 | 3,332 | 1593 | Explosive eruptions frequently originate in vents located within a broad caldera at the peak of this volcano. | |
| Agung, Bali, Indonesia | 10,308 | 3,142 | 1808 | The highest and most sacred point in Bali, it is traditionally considered to be a throne of the gods and the centre of the world. | |
| Merapi, Java, Indonesia | 9,737 | 2,968 | 1548 | Located in a densely populated region, Merapi ("Mountain of Fire") is known for ejecting dangerous mixtures of hot gas and ash. | |
| Apo, Mindanao, Philippines | 9,691 | 2,954 | … | The highest peak in the Philippines, Apo is the site of a national park. | |
| Marapi, Sumatra, Indonesia | 9,485 | 2,891 | 1770 | Sumatra's most active volcano, Marapi has had more than 50 reported eruptions, most of them small or moderate explosions. | |
| Tambora, Sumbawa, Indonesia | 9,350 | 2,850 | 1812 | In 1815 Tambora blew 1,400 metres (4,600 feet) off its top in the largest explosive eruption ever recorded. | |
| Ruapehu, North Island, New Zealand | 9,176 | 2,797 | 1861 | Permanently snow-covered above the tree line, this volcano is in a popular ski area. | |
| Papandayan, Java, Indonesia | 8,743 | 2,665 | 1772 | The collapsed summit of this volcano contains a famous area of sulfurous vents known as Kawah Mas ("Golden Crater"). | |
| Mayon, Luzon, Philippines | 8,077 | 2,462 | 1616 | The Philippines' most active volcano, Mayon frequently ejects plumes of ash and streams of lava. | |
| Canlaon, Negros, Philippines | 7,989 | 2,435 | 1866 | The highest point in the Visayan Islands, Canlaon is located in a national park that includes craters, hot springs, and a variety of wildlife. | |
| Ulawun, New Britain, Papua New Guinea | 7,657 | 2,334 | 1700 | The highest peak on the island of New Britain, Ulawun ("North Son") forms a pair with its nearby twin, Bamus ("South Son"). | |
| Kelud, Java, Indonesia | 5,679 | 1,731 | 1000 | The summit crater contains a lake that caused devastating mudflows in previous eruptions but is now controlled by drainage tunnels. | |
| Lamington, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea | 5,512 | 1,680 | 1951 | Lamington was not known to be a volcano until 1951, when a powerful blast swept the area with hot gas and ash, killing 3,000 people. | |
| Pinatubo, Luzon, Philippines | 4,875 | 1,486 | 1991 | A gigantic explosion in 1991 may have produced more ash and smoke than any other volcanic eruption of the 20th century. | |
| Krakatoa (Krakatau), Sunda Strait, Indonesia | 2,667 | 813 | 1680 | In 1883 a series of tremendous explosions collapsed the island of Krakatoa; since 1927 a new cone, Anak Krakatau ("Son of Krakatoa"), has risen from the submerged caldera of the old volcano. | |
| Taal, Luzon, Philippines | 1,312 | 400 | 1572 | Taal Volcano, also called Volcano Island, rises from Taal Lake, which fills the caldera of an ancient volcano. | |
| Africa and Indian Ocean | Cameroon, Cameroon | 13,435 | 4,095 | 1650 | Lava frequently flows down the flanks of this volcano, located near the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. |
| Nyiragongo, Congo (Kinshasa) | 11,384 | 3,470 | 1884 | Lava flowing from its crater in 1977 and 2002 killed thousands of people and damaged the city of Goma. | |
| Nyamulagira, Congo (Kinshasa) | 10,033 | 3,058 | 1865 | The most active volcano in Africa, it often emits lava and ash, though fatalities are rare. | |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania | 9,482 | 2,890 | 1880 | Masai for "Mountain of God," Ol Doinyo Lengai still issues lava from its summit crater. | |
| Fournaise, Réunion | 8,632 | 2,631 | 1640 | One of the world's most active volcanoes, it regularly issues flows of lava and is the site of a French volcanic observatory. | |
| Karthala, Comoros | 7,746 | 2,361 | 1808 | Lava flowing from the summit and flanks of this shield volcano frequently reaches the sea. | |
| Erta-Ale, Ethiopia | 2,011 | 613 | 1906 | Ethiopia's most active volcano; its summit caldera frequently overflows with lava. | |
| Barren Island, Andaman Islands, India | 1,161 | 354 | 1787 | Located in the Andaman Sea some 1,300 km (800 miles) east of the Indian mainland, Barren Island is the only historically active volcano on Indian territory. | |