What is an active volcano?
An active volcano is a volcano that is erupting or has erupted in the last 100 years. Active volcanoes have a magma chamber beneath them that supply the lava for eruptions and are considered geologically 'hot'. All volcanoes have the potential to be active as long as they have a supply of magma beneath them. These volcanoes pose a threat to humans, animals and the environment.
Examples of active volcanoes:
Mount Pinatube in the Philippines:
Mount Pinatubo is a strato volcano on Luzon in the Philippines. It is around the Tri- Cabusilan Mountain range, separating Luzon's west coast from the central plains. Before 1991 the volcano had gone unnoticed, heavily eroded and covered with dense forest, which was the home of several thousand indigenous people. The volcano erupted in June 1991, destroying thousands of buildings and houses and killing over 800 people. Mount Pinatubo's eruption effects were felt worldwide.
Mount Pinatubo is a strato volcano on Luzon in the Philippines. It is around the Tri- Cabusilan Mountain range, separating Luzon's west coast from the central plains. Before 1991 the volcano had gone unnoticed, heavily eroded and covered with dense forest, which was the home of several thousand indigenous people. The volcano erupted in June 1991, destroying thousands of buildings and houses and killing over 800 people. Mount Pinatubo's eruption effects were felt worldwide.
Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador:
Mount Cotopaxi is a volcano in Ecuador. The mountain is 5911m above sea level . It is high enough for snow to fall on it, even though it is near the equator. If this volcano were to erupt the damage would be devastating for the surrounding communities and farm land.
Mount Cotopaxi is a volcano in Ecuador. The mountain is 5911m above sea level . It is high enough for snow to fall on it, even though it is near the equator. If this volcano were to erupt the damage would be devastating for the surrounding communities and farm land.
Mount Yasur in Vanuatu:
Mount Yasur is a volcano that has been erupting 'nearly continuously' for over 800 years. It is located on Tanna Islands with a height of 361 m above sea level. It has a largely unvegetated pyroclastic cone with a nearly circular summit crater 400 m in diameter. It is a stratovolcano, caused by the eastward-moving Indo-Australian Plate being pushed under the westward-moving Pacific Plate.
Mount Yasur is a volcano that has been erupting 'nearly continuously' for over 800 years. It is located on Tanna Islands with a height of 361 m above sea level. It has a largely unvegetated pyroclastic cone with a nearly circular summit crater 400 m in diameter. It is a stratovolcano, caused by the eastward-moving Indo-Australian Plate being pushed under the westward-moving Pacific Plate.
Mount Nyiragongo in the Congo:
Mount Nyiragongo is an active straovolcano with an elevation of 3470m, in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Albertine Rift. It is located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main crater is about two kilometers wide and usually contains a lava lake. The crater presently has two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls - one at about 3,175 meters and a lower one at about 2,975 m. It is the most full lava lake in recent history. The depth of the lava lake varies constantly. At a maximum the lake was recorded at about 600 m. Nyiragongo and nearby Nyamuragira are together responsible for 40% of Africa's historical volcanic eruptions.
Mount Nyiragongo is an active straovolcano with an elevation of 3470m, in the Virunga Mountains associated with the Albertine Rift. It is located inside Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main crater is about two kilometers wide and usually contains a lava lake. The crater presently has two distinct cooled lava benches within the crater walls - one at about 3,175 meters and a lower one at about 2,975 m. It is the most full lava lake in recent history. The depth of the lava lake varies constantly. At a maximum the lake was recorded at about 600 m. Nyiragongo and nearby Nyamuragira are together responsible for 40% of Africa's historical volcanic eruptions.