Volcanoes are awe-inspiring forces of nature whose destructiveness is both terrifying and mesmerizing. From the most active volcano in the world to famous dormant volcanoes, these are some of the most amazing volcanoes found around the world.
Arenal Volcano
Located in the rainforest of northern Costa Rica, Arenal Volcano is historically the country’s most active volcano. It sits in the Arenal Volcano National Park and up until 2010, Arenal Volcano had nearly constant eruptions of lava and smoke. Seismic activity has since decreased and, at present, Arenal Volcano is in a dormant state. While you can’t hike to the summit of Arenal Volcano, there are plenty of adventures to explore in the surrounding park including hot springs, waterfalls, and ziplining through the rainforest.
Mount Yasur
One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mount Yasur is located on Tanna Island in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Mount Yasur is characterized by its strombolian activity, which consists of regular mild eruptions of lava, and has been continuously erupting for over 800 years. Captain Cook famously discovered the volcano in 1774 after observing ash eruptions while sailing in the distance. Mount Yasur is one of only a dozen or so active volcanoes that you can hike to its summit.
Mount Etna
Another amazing volcano around the world is Mount Etna– Europe’s tallest and most active volcano– located on the island of Sicily. Mount Etna has one of the longest records of volcanic eruptions, having been active for over 3,500 years. With its strombolian lava flows and eruptions of ash, Mount Etna is the second most active volcano in the world after Hawai’i’s Kilauea. The adventurous can take a cable car ride up and then hike to the summit for amazing views of the Mediterranean.
Mount Vesuvius
The only active volcano in mainland Europe, Mount Vesuvius is located near the Gulf of Naples in southern Italy. Mount Vesuvius is famous for its devastating eruption in the year 79 AD that engulfed the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The powerful blast of hot ash created casts of the victims that have since been filled with plaster, revealing amazing details of the victims’ final moments that can still be seen to this day in Pompeii.
Kilauea
Truly an amazing force of nature, the most active volcano in the world is Kilauea. Kilauea is one of five volcanoes that form the Big Island of Hawai’i and has experienced one of the longest on-going eruptions recorded, starting in 1983 and nearly continually erupting from its summit or rift zones. In 2018, Kilauea experienced one of its most violent eruptions in recent history, with massive lava flows covering the surrounding areas and its caldera collapsing.
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji, known locally as Fuji-san, is an active volcano and the tallest peak in Japan. Mount Fuji is one of Japan’s most sacred mountains and has been a pilgrimage site for hundreds of years. Famous for its nearly perfect symmetrical cone shape, Mount Fuji’s iconic silhouette has been the subject of countless works of art, most notably Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai. Hiking to the summit of the 12,000-foot tall Mount Fuji is still popular with visitors.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world at 20,000 feet above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones– two of which are extinct– named Mawenzi and Shira. The third and tallest, named Kibo, has been dormant for nearly 200 years but could awaken. Nearly 25,000 people attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro each year.
