For ordinary person the difference between "sleeping" and "extinct" volcanoes is not obvious. But the differences between them are quite significant, since the "sleeping" volcano sooner or later can wake up, arranging catastrophic eruption. But extinct volcanoes are much more reliable in terms of perspective, they will never explode again, and therefore are completely safe. Tour operators who know about this and just lovers of active tourism are especially fond of such volcanoes. Below is a list of just some of the largest of a much longer list of extinct volcanoes on Earth.
1. Ojos del Salado, Chile and Argentina (6887 m)
This mountain is the second highest in South America, and among volcanoes - and the first in height. It is located on the Chilean-Argentine border, and the top went to the Argentines. West of the volcano to the very Pacific Ocean the rugged Atacama Desert. In the crater of the volcano, located on the eastern slope of the mountain, at an altitude of 6390 m, there is the highest mountain lake on the planet.
Since not a single case of the eruption of Ojos del Salado was recorded in the entire history of observations, it was classified as extinct. Although passive volcanic activity was sometimes noticed here. For example, in 1937, 1956 and 1993, weak steam and sulfur emissions occurred here. In 1937, climbers from Poland, Jan Szczepanski and Justin Vojznis, conquered this peak, who, during the ascent, discovered the remains of sacrificial altars made by the Incas at the top. Like many other mountains, this volcano was also revered by the Indians as a sacred mountain.
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2. Monte Pissis, Argentina (6795 m)
In Argentina, 550 km north of Aconcagua, in the province of La Rioja, there is another extinct volcano - Monte Pissis. Since it is located within the extremely dry Atacama Desert, snow only appears on its summit in winter. The mountain was named in 1885 in honor of the French geologist Pedro José Amadeo Piz, who worked on behalf of the Chilean government. For the first time this volcano was conquered in 1937 by Polish climbers Jan Szczepanski and Stefan Osiecki.
3. Sajama, Bolivia (6542 m)
In Bolivia, in Central Andes is the highest peak of the Saham country, which is an extinct stratovolcano. Spread around him national park Sajama is in the southwest of the country, about 20 kilometers from the Chilean border. Mankind does not remember the eruptions of this volcano, there are only scientists' assumptions that the last one could have been in the Holocene epoch. Above 6000 meters, eternal glaciation begins here, and below, in some places, semi-desert vegetation is found. The first ascent of the mountain was on the southeast ridge in 1939.
4. Chimborazo, Ecuador (6310 m)
The highest point in Ecuador is the extinct volcano Chimborazo. It is assumed that its last eruption occurred in the 5th-8th centuries. It is curious that it is the top of this volcano that is the point on the earth's surface, the most distant from the center of the planet. Up to early XIX centuries, people considered Chimborazo the highest peak planets. At the foot of the volcano is the source of the Guayas River. Its top is covered eternal ice, in some places they descend down the slope to a mark of 4600 m. Melt water from its top is the main source for the local population of the provinces of Chimborazo and Bolivar. AT recent decades due to global warming The glacier has melted significantly. Until refrigerators began to be widely used here, local population actively cut down ice, which was sold in the markets as a means of storing food and cooling rooms in cities, since it is incredibly hot for a person in summer.
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5. Marmolejo, Argentina and Chile (6109 m)
On the border between the Argentinean province of Mendoza and the Chilean metropolitan area is the stratovolcano Marmolejo. South of it is the active, younger San Jose volcano. The Marmolejo caldera is 4 kilometers wide and collapsed from the northwest, resulting in a massive landslide.
6. Cerro Nelli, Bolivia (5676 m)
In the Andes, in the Western Cordillera range, there is an extinct volcano Cerro Nelli, this is in the Bolivian province of Sud Lipes. The volcano is surrounded by lands that are part of the Andean National Fauna Reserve. E. Avaroa.
7. Sapaleri, Argentina, Bolivia and Chile (5653 m)
Another Andean extinct volcano, Sapaleri is notable for the fact that it is divided into three states: the Argentine province of Jujuy, the Bolivian department of Potosi and the Chilean region of Antofagasta. Sapaleri Volcano has two peaks: northern and southern, and in its crater there is a small lake. The territories around the mountain are under protection: from the Bolivian side natural park E. Avaroa, from Chilean - national reserve Los Flamencos, and with the Agrentine - the protected area of Vilam.
8. Altar, Ecuador (5321 m)
This ancient extinct volcano is located in the Ecuadorian province of Chimborazo. There are 8 more peaks around it, only slightly inferior in height to it. The Sangay National Park is located around the volcano, the capital Quito is located 170 km to the north, and Riobamba is 20 km west of this place. According to ancient Indian evidence, around 1460, the volcano was active, which lasted about 7 years. Then a new formation appeared on its caldera, which collapsed so that the base of the volcano passed over the old caldera. Although studies by volcanologists say that the eruption was more ancient. The body of the mountain is composed of basalts and andesites. Small lakes appeared near the volcano, the water in which has different colour, since basalt rocks have different types impurities.
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9. Istaxihuatl, Mexico (5230 m)
The name of this extinct volcano in the Nahuatl language means the following: "istak" - "white", and "cihuatl" - "woman", it turns out " white woman". This mountain is the third highest in Mexico, second only to the volcanoes Orizaba (5636 m), and Popocatepetl (5426 m). The Mexicans call her simply Ista. The mountain has 4 peaks at once, the highest of which is Pecho (in Spanish “chest”). The silhouettes of these peaks, when viewed from the east or west, actually resemble the chest, head, feet, and knees of a sleeping woman. And the snow caps on the tops make it white. And nearby, as if guarding her dream, stands the volcano Popocatepetl, and at the same time tries to hide his lust, but periodically it breaks out in the form of eruptions. The mountain is located 70 kilometers southeast of the capital, from which you can see its peaks sparkling with snow. Since this mountain has always been close to the capitals (at the beginning of the Aztec empire, and then modern Mexico), its image often flashed in works of art. AT modern history the first time this peak was conquered in 1889, although according to the archaeological finds, it became obvious that the Aztecs and even people of earlier civilizations climbed here.
10. Big Ararat, Turkey (5165 m)
On the territory of Turkey there is now the Armenian Highlands, in which the cones of the Ararat volcanic massif are located, one of which is the Great Ararat stratovolcano. Its height above the local highlands is 4365 meters. Not far from Big Ararat - just 11 kilometers away - there is a cone of Small Ararat.
BAKU, April 19 - "News-Azerbaijan". Great amount The ash that fell into the atmosphere after the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull (Eyjafjallajokull) in Iceland paralyzed air traffic in most of Europe, RIA Novosti reports.
The following is reference Information about dormant volcanoes on Earth.
A volcano that has never erupted in 10,000 years is called dormant. The volcano can remain in this state for up to 25,000 years. If it has never erupted before, it is considered extinct.
Mount Fuji (Fujiyama) is a dormant volcano (according to other sources, active), whose last eruption occurred in 1707. It is located 150 kilometers southwest of Tokyo and, together with the adjacent area, is included in national park Fuji-Hakone-Izu.
The most high mountain Japan has an ideal conical shape and is the object of special reverence for the Japanese.
Elbrus is a dormant volcano lying to the north of the Main Caucasian Range, has two main peaks 5621 m (eastern) and 5642 m (western) high. The western peak of Elbrus is highest point Europe. Are the vertices separated by a saddle? 5200 m and are separated from each other by about 3 km.
According to scientists, the last time Elbrus erupted was approximately 1700 years ago (according to some sources, in the 12th century AD). This eruption was accompanied by powerful mudflows, fires, and traces of ash were found at a distance of 300 kilometers from the crater.
Scientists have tried to model possible situations in the event of an eruption of Elbrus, and the data turned out to be disappointing, especially considering that during the last eruption, he "launched" powerful volcanic "bombs" for 700 kilometers and they ended up in the vicinity of modern Astrakhan. One has only to look at the map, estimate the distance, and it becomes clear what power lurks in this giant. If a there will be an eruption, then magma heated to several thousand degrees will begin to melt millennial glaciers, and debris flows will destroy the picturesque areas of the Elbrus region. A sharp rise in the level of Caucasian rivers, such as Baksan, Malka, Kuban, Terek, Podkumok, Kuma, will cause unprecedented floods. Tons of erupting ash will cover under them huge territories. According to some reports, red-hot magma can even reach Black Sea coast Caucasus.
Dormant supervolcanoes on Earth are Long Valley volcanoes in California, Toba on the island of Sumatra, Taupo in New Zealand, Yellowstone and Kamchatka supervolcanoes.
The open caldera of the Kamchatka Supervolcano is a giant oval about 35 kilometers long. The caldera begins in the upper reaches of the Paratunka River and ends behind the Banny thermal springs. Scientists believe that these springs, in particular, are heated by the heat of an ancient supervolcano. Last time supervolcano erupted one and a half million years ago. It was believed that there are no such ancient volcanic formations in Kamchatka, since it is seismologically much younger.
The last eruption of the Tobo supervolcano occurred 74 thousand years ago in the region of the present island of Sumatra in Indonesia. After the explosion, a column of hot gas and ash escaped from the ground at supersonic speed, which almost instantly reached the edge of the stratosphere? marks at 50 km. Over three days, more than 2,800 cubic kilometers of magma poured onto the surface: in some places, a thickness of solidified lava? tens of meters. When the dome of the volcano collapsed inward, giant hot clouds of ash rose into the air. They moved at a speed of almost 400 km per hour, melting stones in their path and burning out all life. After the eruption, colorless ash fell over an area with a radius of 300 km for several weeks. The sun was not visible for six months. The temperature on the whole Earth has decreased by 15 degrees.
According to the leading authority on supervolcanoes, Professor Bill McGuire of the Banfield Graig Hazard Research Center in London, the Yellowstone and Toba supervolcanoes are the two places to watch first.
On the ruins of a volcano in Yellowstone, the Americans built the world-famous Yellowstone National Park. Here are the most grandiose geyser fields in the world: 3,000 geysers and 10,000 hot thermal and mud springs are fed by the heat of the largest volcano in the Americas, which last raged 642,000 years ago.
Until 2004, it was believed that the underground giant was immersed in a "lethargic" sleep, which would end in final attenuation, but the volcano stirred: the earth's crust began to rise in some places. According to the global navigation satellite GPS systems, as well as satellite radar measurements, the ground is rising at a rate of 7 cm per year, more than three times the average since the 1920s. Other signs of geological activity were also noted: new powerful geysers with hot streams appeared, and the former ones dried up.
According to the seismologists of the Yellowstone Volcanic Laboratory, most likely the main driving force lifting process earth's crust- natural circulation of cold and hot layers of lava. At the same time, scientists do not exclude accumulations of magma that can cause a new eruption. At present, magma occurs here at a depth of more than 10 km. Molten area rock, according to estimates, is comparable in size to Los Angeles.
According to Bill McGuire, the possibility of a supervolcano eruption is 12 times greater than the fall of a meteorite.
For common man, who knows little about volcanology, the difference between a dormant and an extinct volcano is small. You might think that the mountain has stopped its volcanic activity forever, but in fact it is just sleeping and can wake up at any moment. What do volcanologists think about this? What differences do they see between an active, extinct, and dormant volcano?
active volcanoes
In fact, these concepts are quite subjective. The easiest way to deal with an active volcano, because any giant that is on this moment pours out lava, throws out ashes and smoke. Some volcanoes may not show external signs eruptions, but still considered active, because they regularly tremble, produce earthquakes, emit colorless gases. At the moment, active can be called or in Indonesia.
Lava on Kilauea
According to the US Geological Survey, any volcano that has erupted over a period of time is considered active. historical period time. Although many of them are rather "potentially active" (which is closer to the concept of "sleeping"), since they do not show any signs of activity. These could be attributed, for example, to its eruption in 2014.
dormant volcanoes
When it comes to dormant (dormant) volcanoes, their definition becomes more complex. Geological Survey The US claims that a dormant volcano is one that shows no signs of unrest, but may become active again. A prime example stands out for such a giant. He is currently considered dormant, but only until rising levels of anxiety make him active again.
It is rather difficult to define the line between inactive and extinct volcanoes. This is due, first of all, with the time of their rest. Some peaks can sleep for tens and even hundreds of thousands of years, but if they have sufficient potential for an eruption and can erupt again, then it would be reckless to call them extinct.
Extinct volcanoes
The body of magma in any volcano has big sizes, and its temperature reaches 700 °C. It takes quite a long time for all this mass to cool down - sometimes from 1 to 1.5 million years. As a rule, a volcano can be considered extinct if it last erupted at least 1 million years ago. For example, the peaks of Sutter Bute and Clear Lake in California have been silent for 1.4 million years. With a high probability they will no longer erupt, but this does not mean at all that new volcanoes will not arise in their place over time.
If you look at the history of the Baker or Lassen Peak volcanoes in the Cascades, you can see that they appeared on the remains of ancient volcanoes that have not erupted for many millions of years. It is believed that if one day the volcano grew into specific location, then in the future new cones will also appear here, since the most preferable path for the movement of magma is located in this area.
Thus, we can conclude that if the volcano is noisy, then it is active. If it erupted in the not so distant past, but is now silent, then it is sleeping, and if its last volcanic activity occurred more than a million years ago, then it is extinct. Of course, the differences are approximate, but this is how volcanologists look at the life of volcanoes.
Hidden threat: dormant volcanoes awakenScientists around the world are seeing a dramatic increase volcanic activity on the ground. Many "sleeping" volcanoes began to show signs of life. Of particular danger are the so-called supervolcanoes, the force of the eruption of which is equal to the explosion of several nuclear bombs simultaneously. The possibility of their eruption is 12 times greater than the fall of a meteorite. The probability that this will happen within our lifetime is 0.15%, experts say. "Ytro" has compiled a rating of hidden volcanoes that can wake up at any moment.
In the list of awakening volcanoes, this one is not the most terrible. Located in an intermountain depression called Death Valley, in the Californian Mojave Desert, the crater reaches 1 km wide and 237 m deep. The magma that accumulates in its bowels can meet with groundwater, which will cause a fairly strong explosion. Gases will escape to the surface at a speed of 320 km / h, but since the volcano is located in deserted desert, a person will not be harmed by its eruption.
Ubehebe. The volcano is located in the California Mojave Desert, so its eruption will not lead to casualties.
Much more serious will be the consequences of the eruption of the Katla volcano, which on December 2, 2011 showed signs of life. This giant, hidden in the thickness of one of the largest glaciers in Iceland, threatens Europe with serious cataclysms. The diameter of its crater is 10 km, so the eruption can cause a catastrophic flood, melting the glacier, causing hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of water to rush into the Atlantic, sweeping away everything in its path. The ash cloud will become so dense that Sun rays will be reflected, due to which the planet will overtake a cooling. There is no need to talk about the poisonous properties of caustic smoke - within a radius of several kilometers, all living things will die out.
Katla. This giant, hidden in the thickness of one of the largest glaciers in Iceland, threatens Europe.
Uturunku
And a month earlier, in October 2011, scientists noted the activity of the Bolivian Uturunku, which inexorably quickly accumulates magma, which means that it will also explode soon. And the forecasts at the moment are not encouraging. Ash and sulfur gases, when released, can reach the stratosphere and, like a blanket, cover Earth. Gases are converted to sulfuric acid, which will fall to the Earth along with precipitation. The expected nuclear winter will have a similar effect.
Uturunku. Ash and sulfuric gases, when released, can reach the stratosphere and, like a blanket, cover the globe.
yellowstone caldera
One of the most dangerous volcanoes Earth is considered a supervolcano, lying on the territory of Yellowstone National Park in the US state of Wyoming. In fact, the entire park is located in the caldera, that is, in the depression of the volcano. Its eruption will give rise to a cataclysm on a planetary scale. All living things will die for thousands of kilometers around, lava flows can cover half the territory of the United States, and ash will envelop the Earth. The global temperature will drop by several degrees at once.
Yellowstone Caldera. The eruption of the supervolcano on which the national park is located will cause a catastrophe on a planetary scale
The volcano from the island of Sumatra is most famous for strong eruption in the history of mankind. About 70 - 80 thousand years ago, he threw out so much lava that it could cover the entire territory of Russia with an eight-centimeter layer. The ash column rose 50 km and reached the edge of the stratosphere. Due to the coming volcanic winter the number of living beings, including humans, has sharply decreased. Because of this, evolution literally stopped for a while.
Toba. A volcano on the island of Sumatra once almost destroyed all life on Earth, stopping evolution for several years.
Beneath a picturesque lake on New Zealand's North Island lies a dormant volcano. After powerful explosion 26.5 thousand years ago, when about 530 cubic kilometers of magma poured onto the surface, covering 80 km around, water filled the formed caldera. Now the volcano is calm, but the eruptions of such giants usually occur at intervals of a thousand years.
Taupo. Beneath a lake on New Zealand's northern island lies a dormant volcano that erupts powerfully once every thousand years.
Long Valley
The crater of the volcano, which is located in the state of California, next to Mount Mammoth, reaches 2600 meters. It last erupted 700 thousand years ago. Then the red-hot magma burned everything for thousands of square kilometers around. Volcanic ash covered most of western part USA.
Long Valley. During last eruption Then the red-hot magma burned everything for thousands of square kilometers around.
The third largest volcano of the world is located in Tenerife - one of canary islands. Teide is currently inactive, but the risk of an eruption is very high. International association volcanologists called it one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. In the event of an explosion, a colossal stone block can break off from it, which, when falling into the ocean, will cause a powerful tsunami.
Teide. The International Association of Volcanologists has named the volcano on the island of Tenerife one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.
The Neapolitan volcano has already once shown its destructive abilities. In the 1st century BC. powerful eruption destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Then 25 thousand people died. Now Vesuvius is silent, but this causes concern. Experts believe that the longer its dormant period lasts, the stronger the imminent eruption will be. The ash that breaks free is capable of covering the entire territory of southern Europe.
Vesuvius. It has already destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum once, and now it threatens the lives of several million Italians.
It is expected that this giant may wake up in 50 years. During the eruption of Elbrus, melted snow will lead to the descent of volcanogenic mudflow from east slope, which will spread over 50 kilometers. The flow velocity will be up to 20 m/s. This may cause real disaster, since the city of Tyrnyauz is located nearby, where more than 20 thousand people live.
Elbrus. It is expected that he may wake up in the next 50 years and destroy the neighboring city of Tyrnyauz.
A volcano is a geological formation that often resembles a mountain. Volcanoes differ from mountains in that they have an opening extending below the earth's crust. This means that volcanoes have direct access to lava and gases stored under earth's surface, and therefore can release these elements into the atmosphere. This article discusses the main differences between active, dormant, and extinct volcanoes.
active volcanoes
Currently, researchers do not agree with the official definition of active volcanoes. However, they are often considered geological features that have had some activity over the past 10,000 years. In other words, active volcanoes are those that have erupted since the last ice age. Weakness This definition, according to critics, is that volcanoes that have woken up in the past few thousand years are unlikely to become active in the near future. Other definitions of active volcanoes provide that given object should be showing some activity at the present time, and not just an eruption in the past. Such activities may include seismic activity, insofar as tectonic plates begin to move around the base of the volcano. This movement can release significant amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or other gases into the atmosphere.
Examples of currently active volcanoes include: Etna (Sicily, Italy); Nyiragongo ( Democratic Republic Congo); and Kilauea (Hawaii, USA).
dormant volcanoes
Dormant volcanoes are usually considered active volcanoes because they have erupted since the last ice age but are not currently active. A dormant volcano may erupt again at some point in the future. Some scientists assume that the volcano is dormant, not extinct, if there is some evidence of its past activity. Other researchers believe that dormant volcanoes are geological features that have not erupted since the last ice age, but are expected to occur in the future. Scientists suggest that climate change may trigger the eruption of some dormant volcanoes. This reactivation can occur if severe weather change the pressure of nearby ocean waters, which can lead to volcanic activity and possible eruptions.
Examples of dormant volcanoes include: Fourpicd (Alaska, USA); Pinatubo (Philippines) and Soufriere Hills (Montserrat).
Extinct volcanoes
Unlike dormant volcanoes, extinct volcanoes did not erupt during the last ice age, which ended approximately 10,000 years ago, and are not expected to erupt again in the future. Although a dormant volcano should never erupt again, several geological and seismic records show that this assumption is not always true. An example of this is Fourpicd in Alaska mentioned above. This volcano was considered extinct until 2006, when it began to show signs of activity and is now classified as dormant. The definition of an extinct volcano is based on the calculated assumption that it no longer has a lava source, but this cannot be determined with absolute certainty.
Volcanoes believed to be extinct include: Zuidwal (Netherlands); Hawaiian Ridge (Hawaii, USA); and Kulal (Kenya).
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