11 most terrifying eruptions in history

History has witnessed a series of terrifying volcanic eruptions, from Pinatubo to Tambora - one of the highest peaks of the Indonesian archipelago.

The intensity of these eruptions, measured by the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), was developed in 1980 and closely resembles the intensity of earthquakes. The VEI measure consists of 8 levels and each level 10 times apart.

Statistics have not recorded any level 8 volcanic eruption in the last 10,000 years. However, human history still has quite a number of extremely catastrophic explosions and the 11 eruptions of the following volcanoes are the most typical.

1. Tambora Volcano, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, VEI 7 (1815)

Tambora volcano in Indonesia

The volcanic eruption of Tambora was noted as the biggest eruption in human history when the VEI was assessed at level 7. The eruption took place on April 10, 1815, burying 88,000 people. Lava layer with terrible heat.

According to information reported by NASA scientists, the Tambora volcanic eruption had an effect on the island of Sumatra, more than 1,930 km away, and spread about 150 km3 of ash into the air.

2. Changbaishan and VEI 7 volcanoes (1000 years ago CN)

Known as Baitoushan, this eruption was so terrible that it caused lava flows to reach southern Japan with an estimated distance of 750 miles, equivalent to 1,200 km, and created a Crater is about 4.5 km wide and nearly 1 km deep. This crater is today Thien Tri Lake, which attracts a large number of tourists thanks to its natural beauty and what the Truong Bach volcanic eruption has created.

Changbaishan Volcano (Changbai Mountain)

Located on the border of China and North Korea, Changbai was recorded as the last eruption in 1702 and according to geologists, after this time it was no longer active. Although exhaust gas still appeared in 1994, there is no clear evidence of Changbai's return.

3. Thera Volcano, VEI 7 (about 1610 BC)

Location of Thera volcano on the map

The volcanic eruption of the Thera volcano, which took place around 1610 before the Sun, is considered a catastrophe that shook the Mediterranean, creating a large pit on the Aegean Island and fierce waves. Archaeologists believe that the eruption is related to the disappearance of the Minoan civilization due to the dusting of the city and engulfing their fleets. Currently, Thera is the Greek island of Santorini.

4. Volcano Ilopango, VEI 6+ (450 AD CN)

Ilopango is located only a few miles east of the city of San Salvador and has two huge eruptions. The first time was in 450 AD CN made the center and west of EL Salvador flooded with ash and pumice, and also made the city of Mayan completely destroyed, forcing them to move to an area other land.

Ho was created after the eruption of Ilopango volcano

The eruption has also formed a crater lake and is currently classified as one of El Salvador's largest lakes.

5. Ambrym Volcano, VEI 6+ (50 After Sun)

Ambrym has an area of ​​about 665 km, is part of the Republic of Vanuatu - a small country in the Pacific southwest. The Ambrym's eruption in the 50s created a 12km-wide ridge and caused a large amount of ash to descend to the foot of the mountain.

Ambrym volcano location on the map

Currently, Ambrym is one of the most active volcanoes in the world with about 50 eruptions since 1774 and is considered a potential danger to local people living nearby. In 1894, an Ambrym eruption killed six people and four people were buried in lava. In addition, acid rain (identified as part of this eruption) in 1979 also claimed the lives of many species.

6. Pinatubo Volcano, VEI 6 (1991)

Image of the eruption of Pinatubo volcano

Pinatubo was once a peaceful volcano located on Luzon Island, Philippines. However, in June 1991 Pinatubo really broke out when its "rage" created a column of smoke up to 35 km high, 1,100 km wide, carrying 5 km3 of rock and lava flow. Down to engulf the surrounding area. In addition, the eruption also caused sulfur dioxide gas and other particles to spread everywhere, causing global temperatures to drop by 0.5 degrees Celsius during the 1992 - 1993 period.

7. Volcano Novarupta, VEI 6 (1912)

A village was devastated after the volcanic eruption of Novarupta

Novarupta is one of the volcanoes of the Alaska Peninsula volcano range (part of the Pacific Ring of Fire) and the 1912 eruption of this mountain is considered the largest in the 20th century when 12.5 km3 lava and ash have spilled into the air, and buried an area of ​​about 7,800 km2.

8. Volcano Sannta Maria, VEI 6 (1902)

Volcano Sannta Maria

Sannta Maria's 1902 eruption created a 1.5km crater after nearly 500 years of inactivity. This is part of the Sierra Madre volcano range, located between Guatemala's Pacific coastal plain and over 3,700 m high.

9. Krakatoa volcano, VEI 6 (1883)

Krakatoa volcano on the Pacific Ocean

Krakatoa is a volcanic island of the Pacific Ring of Fire, located between Indonesia's Sumatra and Java islands. The shocking explosion occurred on August 27, 1883 of the volcano with a level VI VIE, 13,000 times stronger than the destructive power of the "Litte Boy" atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Hirosima in 1945. , leaving 36,000 people dead and 165 villages destroyed. Dust and pumice are also blown in a radius of more than 25 Km.

10. Huaynaputina Volcano, VEI 6 (1600)

The area around the volcano Huaynaputina

The intense eruption of Huaynaputina volcano occurred in 1600, causing the cities of Arequipa and Moquengua to be buried in lava, while 1500 people were killed and ash was covered in a radius of 50 km.

11. Super mountain half Yellowstone, VEI 8 (640 thousand years ago)

Yellowstone National Park

The entire Yellowstone National Park is a volcanic continent operating at the foot of visitors and scientists have had horrible numbers of its power: 3 level 8 eruptions have rocked all the area 2.1 million years ago, the violent eruption followed 1.2 million years ago and the last time 640 thousand years ago. According to the US Geological Survey, "the total amount of lava and foam from these three eruptions is enough to fill the Grand Canyon."