7 Active Volcanoes to Visit ...

By Neecey

7 Active Volcanoes to Visit ...

Volcanoes have played a huge part in sculpting the landscape of our earth, and being rather fascinated by them, I love to know there are active volcanoes to visit. Exciting, thrilling and adventurous, what could be more of an ultimate adventure than climbing an active volcano? Here are some of the world’s active volcanoes to visit.

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1

Kilauea Volcano

Kilauea Volcano Since 1983 Kilauea Volcano has been constantly erupting and is one of the world’s most active volcanoes to visit. It is the newest of the 5 volcanoes that form Hawaii and is in the southern part of the islands. The Hawaiian name of the volcano, ‘kilauea,’ translates as ‘much spreading’ and was given to it because of its constant eruptions. Only experienced people should consider hiking here as it is very demanding and there are risks. Tours by boat and helicopter can be taken to see the volcanic activity, especially lava flowing into the sea.

2

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius In 79 AD this volcano erupted and destroyed the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Tourists today can take a very popular tour around the ruins of Pompeii. The volcano is inactive in fall and spring, making it a great time to visit. 1944 was the last time Mount Vesuvius erupted but the volcano is carefully monitored as around three million people live close enough to be affected if it does erupt.

3

Mount Etna

Mount Etna Sicily’s Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe at around 3350m high. The Ancient Greeks believed that deep inside the volcano’s core lightning bolts were forged for Zeus by Cyclops. Situated in Etna Regional Park, Mount Etna is one of the wonderfully scenic active volcanoes to visit. In winter there is great skiing and in summer you can try some of the hiking treks. The volcano’s last major eruption was in 2001 and it is a popular volcano with volcanologists.

4

Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens There was a cataclysmic eruption of this volcano in 1980 lasting 9 hours and it was the most devastating eruption in the United States. The massive amount of damage included 57 people dead, 250 people homeless, the destruction of 298km of roads, 24km of railway and 47 bridges obliterated. Stable at the moment, Mount St. Helens is one of the volcanoes you can visit to see the effects of a recentish eruption. You can climb to the mountain’s peak and from here you can see the devastation to the forests and landscape. The moon-like quality to the landscape makes it a great active volcano to take a trip to.

5

Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo Located in the Philippines, Mount Pinatubo is a 1780m high volcano. In 1991, after 600 years of dormancy, the volcano erupted with catastrophic results. The nine hour long eruption killed over 800 people and left around 100,000 more homeless. This was the 20th century’s second largest eruption. The eruption spread through the atmosphere millions of tons of sulphur dioxide, which affected temperatures around the world in the years following. There is now a lake in the crater, Lake Pinatubo, and one of the great volcano tours is to see the beauty of this lake.

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6

Pacaya Volcano

Pacaya Volcano Located in Guatemala, this volcano has been regularly erupting since 1965. On a number of occasions these eruptions have necessitated the evacuation of numerous villages. It’s one of the favourite volcanoes to climb, but it pays to be well prepared before attempting it as there have been a few deaths because of eruptions. A safer option is to take a guided tour to visit this active volcano and you can find numerous tour operators in Guatemala. In Guatemala City, on a clear day, you can get spectacular views of the volcano’s eruptions.

7

Stromboli Volcano

Stromboli Volcano Part of the Aeolian Islands, Stromboli Island has the world’s longest recorded period of activity, spanning over 2000 years. Its frequent eruptions have lead to the Stromboli volcano being called the ‘lighthouse of the Mediterranean.’ The eruptions are caused by minor gas explosions creating lava bubbles and can occur several times each hour and are only small eruptions. If this type of eruption occurs at other volcanic sites they are actually called ‘strombolian eruptions.’ There are regular tours available to watch this volcano do its thing.

It is an adventure to visit active volcanoes but of course, safety must be your major consideration. Guided tours are often the best bet because locals usually know what’s going on with their mountains. Have you been up a volcano?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

I saw Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica and it was smoking the whole weekend. I thought it was awesome! There are also a lot of hot springs around!

I don't know is it active. But I loved El Teide in Tenerife :)

There are a lot in Iceland, probably not very interesting, but Laki, Katla, and Hekla (?).

Mt. Pinatubo is really a beauty. You may also want to check out Mt. Mayon here in the Philippines. Its beauty is also nice, and even after several eruptions, it still has a perfect cone-shaped crater.

Hey this is great but does New Zealand not exist to you guys. Bottom of the world most amazing place on earth here! Do we not get a say?

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