Showing almost no signs of attenuation, the volcanic ash plume in Iceland has proved to be a menacing sight for all. In fact, it is increasing slowly but surely. No-fly restrictions, ash spill, harmful emissions, are some of the penalties the world has to endure. There had been such eruptions in the past also that were loud enough to shake the humanity. Here, after the jump, we’re listing some of the biggest volcanic flare-ups that almost changed the face of Earth:
1. Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland:
The Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption has been producing clouds of steam rising up to 5,000 feet over the glacier. Smoke and ashes can be seen drifted south, settling over England and parts of Europe, causing travel chaos. Many flights throughout the continent had to be canceled. Geologists claim that activity at the volcano has increased and the volcanic debris could shut down engines of aircrafts.
2. La Garita Caldera, Colorado:
La Garita Caldera is a large volcanic caldera located in the San Juan volcanic field in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, United States, to the west of the town of La Garita, Colorado. Perhaps, the largest known explosive eruption in all of Earth’s history, it spread out more than 1,200 cubic miles of lava. The eruption that took place 28 million years ago left these beautiful these ash formations behind.
3. Novarupta eruption:
The largest eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1912, from June 6 to June 8, to form Novarupta. The VEI 6 Novarupta eruption left the Alaska Peninsula in more material than all other Alaskan eruptions in history. Ashes kept falling for three days across the Shelikof Strait on Kodiak Island, accumulating one foot in the main town. The eruption was so immense that it caused the top of Mt. Katmai, some six miles away, to collapse.
4. Tambora, Indonesia:
The Mount Tambora eruption is marked as the largest during the last two centuries. Exploded April 10-11, 1815, the deadliest volcano that claimed nearly 92,000 lives rated a VEI 7. The eruption and the resulting massive clouds of dust and ash lowered the global temperatures by more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit. It failed crops so badly in 1816 that it came to be known as the “year without a summer”.
5. Krakatau, Indonesia:
Would you believe that the sound of the explosion in Mount Krakatau was heard some 2,000 miles away in Australia? Such was the intensity with which the volcano on August 27, 1883 erupted. The VEI 6 eruption created a series of 150 feet tall tsunami that that reached the Hawaiian Islands and the coast of South America, killing more than 36,000 people. The dust spread five cubic miles, leaving the surrounding areas in darkness for two days. The entire years some of the most dramatic sunsets were seen all across the world.
6. Pinatubo, Philippines:
The VEI 6 eruption, Mt. Pinatubo that claimed some 800 lives was the second most powerful volcanic event of the 20th century. Mount Pinatubo lies in the provinces of Pampanga, Zambales and Tarlac, Philippines. A tropical storm that struck at the same time behaved much like a catalyst carrying the magma produced by the volcano that erupted in 1991. Result of the eruption was the global temperatures dropped for three years and ozone depletion increased temporarily.
7. Kilauea, Hawaii:
Kilauea is an active volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, one of five shield volcanoes that collectively form the Island of Hawaii. This volcano started erupting in 1983 and has been continuously emitting since then. You will be amazed by the dramatic flow of the lava into the Pacific Ocean. The desire to the eruption during sunset brings in a lot of tourist to Hawaii.
8. Mount St. Helens, Washington:
Located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, is an active stratovolcano that after staying dormant for almost 100 years, the volcano erupted in 1980. The hot volcanic ash that rose some 80,000 feet into the air and lopping almost 1,400 feet off the mountain peak swallowed 57 people and caused immense monetary damage. $3 billion is a lot of money for an impressive sight.
9. Santa Maria:
Santa Maria Volcano is a large active volcano in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, close to the city of Quetzaltenango. The first eruption of Santa Maria in the recorded history occurred in October 1902. The eruption had a VEI of 6, spew ash as far away as San Francisco. The 1902 crater has left the southern flank of the mountain above Santiaguito highly over-steepened, and a large earthquake or eruption from Santiaguito could trigger a huge landslide, which might cover up to 100 square kilometers.
10. Mount Pelee, Martinique:
Mount Pelee is an active volcano on the northern tip of the French overseas department of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles island arc of the Caribbean. It is among the deadliest stratovolcanoes on Earth. The eruption on May 8, 1902, killed 29,000, destroying the port town of Saint-Pierre four miles away. A deadly, fast-moving cloud of hot gas and dense liquidized volcanic particles caused great destruction.
