14 of the World’s Most Incredible Volcanoes
DESPITE being terrifying natural phenomena, volcanoes are also fascinating — we never know when the fiery power contained deep within the Earth will manifest itself, but we know the spectacle will be formidable. We selected some beautiful photographs of volcanoes from around the world that we hope will inspire you to go see them in person.
Guatemala
Volcán de Fuego
Photo: Christian Hartmann/Shutterstock
Volcán de Fuego is a highly active volcano. If you’re lucky, you can see its full fury.
Indonesia
Mount Sinabung
Photo: FootageLab/Shutterstock
Mount Sinabung’s last eruption was in May 2016.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Nyiragongo Volcano
Photo: Grace Wangui/Shutterstock
Nyiragongo Volcano contains the world’s most active and largest lava lake.
Hawai’i
Kīlauea, The Big Island of Hawai’i
Photo: jo Crebbin/Shutterstock
You can take boat tours to check out Kīlauea’s lava pouring into the Pacific Ocean up close.
Haleakalā, Māui
Photo: Evan Austen/Shutterstock
Haleakalā volcano is currently dormant, but the Haleakalā National Park on the Hawaiian island of Māui is still a great place to check out craters. Note: Once a volcano has been dormant for more than 10 000 years, it is termed extinct.
Ecuador
Tungurahua Volcano
Photo: Ammit Jack/Shutterstock
Ethiopia
Erta Ale Volcano
Photo: Tatyana Druzhinina/Shutterstock
Erta Ale is a continuously active shield volcano. It last erupted in January 2017.
Iceland
Holuhraun Lava Field
Photo: Pedro Carrilho/Shutterstock
Eyjafjallajökull
Photo: Dominik Robellaz/Shutterstock
Eyjafjallajökull’s eruption in the spring of 2010 threw volcanic ash several kilometers up in the atmosphere, which led to air travel disruption in Europe for several days.
Bolivia
Volcán Licancabur
Photo: Delpixel/Shutterstock
Volcán Licancabur stands 19,400ft in southwestern Bolivia, fronted by the minerally colored Laguna Verde. It can be reached and climbed in conjunction with tours to the nearby Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. Volcán Licancabur is dormant.
Italy
Mount Etna
Photo: Alberto Masnovo/Shutterstock
Mount Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano.
Russia
Volcano Gorely
Photo: Ravil Sayfullin/Shutterstock
Volcano Gorely consists of five overlapping stratovolcanoes and is one of the most active in southern Kamchatka. It last erupted in June 2010.
Volcano Vilyuchinsky
Photo: Olga Gavrilova/Shutterstock
Volcano Vilychinsky seen from volcano Gorely on a misty morning.
Papua New Guinea
Tavurvur Volcano
Photo: Wayne Via/Shutterstock
Tavurvur Volcano last erupted in 2010.