Active volcanoes and earthquakes may present major hazards.
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© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Tsyganov
Indonesia is the world’s undoubted leader in active volcanoes and earthquakes. Photo: Mount Merapi, located in the center of the island of Java, ranks among the ten most volatile volcanoes in the world. It stands about 3,000 meters high. The word “Merapi” translates to “The Place Where the Fire Burns,” “Fiery Mountain,” or “Red Fire.” Mount Merapi started actively erupting in late October 2010.
The Yellowstone Caldera, located in Yellowstone National Park in the United States, is the largest volcanic system in North America. It is often referred to as a super-volcano because it formed as the result of a catastrophic eruption some 640,000 years ago.
The 1,117-meter tall Sakurajima strato-volcano is located on Japan’s Kyushu Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is listed among first-category volcanoes, which may erupt any time.
Sierra Negra, an active volcano on Isabel Island, part of the Galapagos archipelago, has the world’s second largest crater, measuring 11 km in diameter. The mountain, which stands 1,124 meters above sea level, last erupted in 2006.
