Forget Fireworks-The Biggest Volcanoes on Earth!

You’re absolutely right. We should all be very afraid that a large meteorite is headed on a collision course with Earth and will cause catastrophic damage not just to the blue planet, but to the human race as we know it.  Aren’t you glad you pulled all of your money out of the bank back in December 1999? You were one of the lucky few to suffer the inconvenient and non-existent effects of the Y2K crisis!

Photo By C. Heliker (US Geological Survey) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Well, at least you’re paying attention to what’s going on around you.  You probably already know that at any point in time there are around 20 volcanoes erupting at any point in time, including those safely buried at the depths of our oceans shifting the plates of our Earth around. 

For eons volcanoes have been a natural source of obsession for us little people around the globe; in spiritual offerings, as a photographers fanatical and fatal subject, for scientists, mountain climbers and especially adrenaline junkies. The unpredictable and explosive nature of volcanoes perhaps remind us of certain aspects of ourselves, hence a red face (magma) when one is about to blow (erupt) their lid.

The 1997 movie “Dante’s Peak” described a dormant volcano coming back to life, and this year’s 3-D epic “Pompeii” which chronicles the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD (it’s last eruption was actually in 1944during World War II) proves that we are all still infatuated and intimidated by these prehistoric mountainous and gaseous beasts.

By Sm313 at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

Most people can name a few volcanoes or have been lucky enough to get close or even climb one (including myself); Mount Saint Helens, Mt. Etna, Mauno Loa, Mt. Fugi, see-you’ve heard of all of those! Yet it’s actually surprising that many people have never heard of any of the volcanoes that make the “Biggest Volcanoes on Earth” top ten list. Starting with the tallest to smallest, test your knowledge and see if you’ve heard of, can pronounce, or already knew where geographically the Biggest Volcanoes on Earth are. 

Unofficially (and not numerically listed) leading the list of is the 2013 discovery of what is believed to be the worlds largest volcano called Tamu Mastif.  There’s no need to worry about this hidden sleeper, since even the very tippy top of the inactive volcano is buried 6,500 feet beneath the ocean. Located approximately 1,000 miles off the Japanese coastline in an area of the Pacific known as Shatsky Rise.

Photo by NASA from Earths Observatory

1.Nevado Ojos del Salado 22,595 ft/6887m location: Chile/Argentina

Also part of this range is #3 Tipas 21,850 ft/6,660 m Argentina Cerro Cazadero 

Photo By Gerhard Haubold (Own work) GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2. Llullailaco 22,110 6,729 m location: Argentina/Chile

Llullaillaco is a stratovolcano on top of an older stratovolcano. NASA reports that the last know eruption based on historical archives occurred in 1877 By far the best known archaeological site on this list after the amazing discovery in 1999 of three mummified children were unearthed. Due to the particularly dry and arid climate of the Atacama Desert where Llullailaco looms, and the high altitude of 6,739 meters (22,109 feet) the mummies and artifacts found buried with them were distinctly frozen in time and are considered the best mummified remains ever discovered. The pristine preserved remains of the children indicate that they were likely all Incan children. 

3. Incahuasi 21,722 ft/6,621 m location: Argentina/Chile

Photo By ch images (originally posted to Flickr as [1]) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons-Icahuasi

4. Nevado Sajama 21,463 ft/6,542 m location: Bolivia (highest peak in Bolivia)

Photo By Canopus24 (Own work) [GFDL ) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons-Nevado Sajama

5. Cerro El Condor 21,430ft/6,532 m location:Argentina

Photo  by USGS-Cerro el Condor

6. Coropuna 20,922 ft/6,377 m location: Peru

Photo By Alexson Scheppa Peisino(AlexSP) (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons-Coropuna

7. Parinacota 20,827ft/6,348m location: Boliva/Chile

Photo By Nilsf (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons-Parinacota

8. Ampato 20,630ft/6,288m location : Peru

Photo USGS, Public Domain, Pahoeoe_fountain_sharpen.jpg

9. Chimborazo 20,561ft/6,267m location: Ecuador 

Photo Philippe Lavoie [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons-Chimborazo

10. Pular 20,449ft/6,233m location Chile

Photo John [CC-BY-SA-2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

Sarychev Peak, June 12, 2009 Matua Island

Now that you've made it around the world in 11 volcanoes (and through this article), congratulations! You can proudly challenge anyone who tells you that they already know the Biggest Volcano on Earth, the truth is -they are likely wrong and will chose the most familiar one (and that is easiest to pronounce). 

Did you know?

There are at least 1,500 "active" volcanoes on Earth, According to the USGS (not counting the ones beneath the ocean), and of those only 500 have erupted in all time (since we can trace back historically). The area known as the "Ring of Fire" is the site of the most active and violent volcanic activity on our serene blue planet.  

Forget Fireworks-The Biggest Volcanoes on Earth!