Volcano Clues That Reveal Something Much Worse Is Coming

Frankenstein, unreasonably cold weather, and tons of lava. What do these things have in common? They all trace their origins back to Mount Tambora. This volcano in Indonesia had such a massive impact that the aftermath could be felt in Switzerland even a year later, and these spots are thousands of miles apart. Soon, we might be facing something similar again. Stick around because I'm about to reveal the exact Spot where the next eruption is expected to happen in [Music] 2025. Back in 1815, Mount Tambbora erupted with unprecedented force, sending a colossal cloud of fine particles into the

atmosphere. This cloud reflected sunlight, leading to global cooling and even the year without a summer in 1816. Temperatures plummeted, crops failed, and families worldwide faced food Shortages compounded by various health issues. Fun fact, Frankenstein appeared because of abnormally cold weather in the summer of 1816. The author got stuck indoors in Switzerland and wrote this story to pass the time. But that is the only positive aftermath. In England and Ireland, people struggled to find food. The crops were too bad that year. and this year without summer cost them lives. All because of the eruption in Indonesia.

While many other volcanoes have erupted since then, none have had consequences as dramatic as Tambora. However, climate professor Marcus Stafle from the University of Geneva believes potential serious eruptions aren't just a matter of luck, it's only a matter of time. So, it's up to us. We can sit back and wait for the inevitable, or we can start preparing today. This future eruption will happen in a world that's vastly different from The one in 1815. Not only is our planet more densely populated now, but we've also experienced irreversible changes that affect our daily lives. Now, if

you think volcanoes are always the bad guys, think again. They've actually played a crucial role in shaping our planet. They help with land formation, atmospheric development, and climate modulation. Just look at Yellowstone for Example. When thick lava ooze to the surface, it spread across the landscape and transformed the area forever. When volcanoes blow their tops, they release a mix of lava, ash, and gases, including carbon dioxide. But don't worry, compared to the emissions from fossil fuels, the amount from volcanoes is pretty tiny. What scientists are really keeping an eye on is sulfur dioxide because it

can have a big impact on our Climate. When a major volcanic eruption happens, it can send sulfur dioxide soaring into the stratosphere, which is about 7 mi up in the atmosphere. Once there, it transforms into tiny aerosol particles that scatter sunlight, helping to cool the planet. This cooling effect isn't immediate, though. Those particles can hang around for a couple of years and even circulate all around the globe. Nowadays, we've got special equipment to monitor sulfur dioxide Emissions from space. Take Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. During its eruption in 1991, it released around 15 million tons

of sulfur dioxide. Now, while that's a lot, it wasn't quite as massive as the eruption of Tambora. Still, Pinatubo managed to lower global temperatures by about.5° C for several years. Tambbora, on the other hand, dropped to average global temperatures by about 1° F. I know what you might be thinking. That's not much, but trust me, It makes a difference. If the planet warms up by just 1° F, it could really mess with sea levels. Experts think we might see a rise of up to 8 in by the end of this century. This could wipe out

a lot of farmland and coastal habitats, which would be a huge blow to many communities. So maybe a volcano eruption that can cool off the planet is like a natural mechanism helping us out. Not exactly. While it does cool the planet off, don't get tricked into thinking It's the kind of coolness our planet needs. Such temperature shifts can severely mess up with the crops like they did in 1816. There's also evidence that major eruptions can disrupt rainfall patterns, leading to drier conditions in monsoon regions across Africa and Asia. You see, the summer monsoon relies on

the temperature difference between land and ocean, which can be altered by volcanic activity. Interestingly, a warmer Climate may enhance the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions. Experts explain that the formation and movement of aerosol particles depend on climate conditions. As global temperatures rise, faster air circulation can lead to smaller aerosol particles, which are more effective at scattering sunlight and thereby intensifying the cooling effect. Oceans also contribute to this dynamic. A warming ocean surface creates A stratified layer, hindering the mixing of warm and cold water, which could mean that volcanic eruptions primarily cool the upper ocean layer

and the atmosphere above it, according to Stafle. Moreover, climate change may influence volcanic systems directly. The melting of ice can trigger more eruptions by reducing the pressure that allows magma to ascend more easily. Additionally, increased rainfall associated with climate change can seep into the ground and interact With magma, potentially sparking eruptions. While the prospect of a cooling period due to a volcanic eruption might seem beneficial amid climate change, scientists warned that the effects could be dire. The immediate consequences could be severe, particularly for the estimated 800 million individuals residing near active volcanoes. A major eruption

could devastate entire cities. For example, Campi Flegre located near Naples, Italy, is showing signs of increased activity and threatens the lives of about 1 million people. Now, if you're from Oregon, beware, as experts say, this state might experience volcano eruptions. Are you scared? Don't be. It's actually not as scary as it seems. Let me explain why. There are more than 80 volcanoes in Oregon, but we're not interested in a single one of them because it's an underwater volcano That is likely to erupt in 2025. Axial Seamount is the most active volcano in the Pacific Northwest.

Yet, it remains largely unknown to the public due to its location approximately 300 miles offshore and nearly a mile beneath the ocean surface. While its upcoming eruption is expected to pose no threat of a tsunami or significant land-based earthquakes because of its depth and distance from the Cascadia fault, the data gathered from studying its Eruptions can enhance our monitoring of potentially more hazardous volcanoes. Let's call it a friendly eruption, shall we? In reality, predicting eruptions is a complex endeavor. We often encounter alarming headlines such as Yellowstone is about to erupt. Should we take these claims

seriously? Not really. Yes, Yellowstone sits at top an active super volcano that has experienced three major explosive eruptions in the past 2.1 million years. The last eruption occurred approximately 70,000 years ago with the most significant explosion taking place around 631,000 years ago, forming the massive Yellowstone Caldera. Naturally, many people are curious about whether Yellowstone will erupt again and when that might happen. Fortunately, scientists are employing new techniques to delve into these questions. A recent study suggests that Yellowstone is Unlikely to experience another major eruption anytime soon. The reason is that the magma beneath the park

is divided into a network of separate chambers. While there is a substantial amount of magma present, it's not sufficiently interconnected to support an eruption. Previous studies proposed that the existence of a massive layer of magma beneath Yellowstone, but these latest findings change that notion. To Gain a clearer understanding of the subterranean dynamics, researchers utilized a technique called magneettoix, which employs Earth's natural electromagnetic fields rather than seismic waves. Since magma is a good conductor of electricity, this method is particularly effective for mapping molten rock and comprehending underground activity in volcanically active regions. By using Magnetoellurics, scientists

created a detailed map of the magma under Yellowstone, enabling them to make more informed predictions about future eruptions. But what will happen if an eruption similar to Mount Tambora occurs? By and large, there will be huge climate chaos. Yeah, the best scientists are looking for the solution should it really happen, but they don't have it yet. So technically, we're not ready for the second Mount Tambbora, but for now, We're pretty much safe. No major eruptions are predicted. The largest volcanic region on Earth is not in Africa or Japan, but under the ice of Antarctica. Scientists

found 138 volcanoes in its western part. And if they decide to go wild, you'll surely notice it. They could melt huge amounts of ice that will move into the ocean, raise its level, and make our planet uninhabitable for humans. But before you pack your things to fly away To another planet, hear me out. Only two of the Antarctic volcanoes are officially classified as active now. And it would take a whole series of eruptions decade after decade to seriously impact the whole world. Mount Arabus, one of the two Antarctic volcanoes currently in action, proudly bears the

title of the world's southernmost active one. It has been continuously erupting since at least 1972. It emits plumes of gas and steam And sometimes even spews out rocks, and scientists call it Strombolian eruptions. One of the coolest features is a lava lake in one of its summit craters with molten material on the surface. Such lakes are rather rare because they need certain conditions to make sure the surface never freezes over. The second active volcano is Deception Island, a horseshoe-shaped landmass. It is the calura of an active volcano that last erupted over 50 years Ago. Scientists

who monitor it say it shouldn't go wild anytime soon. Antarctica also has plenty of fummeralss. Those are volcanic vents that release gases and vapors into the air. In the right conditions, they can spew out enough stuff to build fummerlic ice towers up to 10 ft tall. Scientists keep an eye on the Antarctic volcanoes with seismometers that detect when the Earth starts trembling from volcanic activity. Sometimes they also use more complicated tech. But it's all really challenging because of how far away this polar region is and how tricky it is to get there. That's why no

one can predict when one of the continent's volcanoes that are now sleeping might erupt. We can guess what this waking up would look like if we analyze the events from nearly 20,000 years ago. So, shall we? One of Antarctica's sleeping volcanoes. Mount Takah had a series of Eruptions and spewed out a good amount of halogens rich in ozone back then. Some scientists say these events warmed up the southern hemisphere. glaciers started to melt and help finish the last ice age. For these events to repeat, we'd need a series of eruptions with substances rich in halogens

from one or more volcanoes that are now above the ice. It's an unlikely scenario, but since it already happened in the past, it's not completely impossible. As for volcanoes hiding under a thick layer of ice, it looks like their gases would hardly make it to the atmosphere, but they would be strong enough to melt huge caverns in the base of the ice and produce a serious amount of melt water. The West Antarctic ice sheet is wet and not frozen to its bed. So, this melt water would work as a lubricant and set the overlying ice

into motion soon. The volume of water that even a large volcano would generate in this way is Nothing compared to the volume of ice beneath it. So a single eruption wouldn't make a difference. But several volcanoes erupting close to or beneath any of the western Antarctica's big ice streams would. Those ice streams are rivers of ice that take most of the frozen water in Antarctica into the ocean. If they change their speed and bring unusual amounts of water into the ocean, its level will rise. As the ice would get thinner and thinner, there Would be

more and more new eruptions. Scientists call it a runaway effect. Something like that happened in Iceland. The number of volcanic eruptions went up when glaciers started to recede at the end of the last ice age. So it looks like for massive changes, several powerful volcanoes above the ice with gases full of halogens need to get active within a few decades of each other and stay strong over many tens to hundreds of years. Antarctica stores Around 80% of all the fresh water in the world. And if they melted all of it, global sea levels would rise

by almost 200 feet. And then we'd have to look for a new planet to live on. But this again is an unlikely scenario. It's more likely that the eruptions under the ice will lubricate ice streams and seep water into the ocean. But it wouldn't be the end of the world. A super strong, super angry super volcano could do it though, and it has Already happened in the past. Over 200 million years ago, the world went through a major makeover with not one, not two, but four massive volcanic eruptions and huge pulses. The super volcano called

Camp had been erupting over and over for 600,000 years. It all happened in Rangelia, a large chunk of land that used to be a super massive volcano stretching across what's now British Columbia in Alaska. And it wasn't the lava or the volcanic ash that Ruined the environment. The eruption made carbon levels skyrocket. The planet would never be the same again. This volcanic activity might have helped dinosaurs grow from cat-sized critters into giants we saw in Jurassic Park. It kicked off a 2 million-year rainy season. It made the whole world hot and humid. And the dinos

just loved it. Researchers dug deep into sediment layers beneath an ancient lake in Asia to uncover these secrets. They found Traces of volcanic ash and mercury, clear signs of those epic eruptions. There were carbon signatures showing huge spikes in carbon dioxide levels. It made the atmosphere toasty and the rain poured down. So, the bad news is another eruption like this could happen. The super volcano beneath Yellowstone National Park has been sleeping for nearly 70,000 years. But if it wakes up, it would be many times more catastrophic Than the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.

It's considered the most disastrous volcanic eruption in US history. It followed 2 months of earthquakes and injection of magma below the volcano that weakened and destroyed the entire north face of the mountain. The eruption column went 80,000 ft into the atmosphere and spread ash over 11 US states and several Canadian provinces. The last Yellowstone eruption was a thousand times greater than That. The ground above Yellowstone sits on a hot spot made of molten and semi molten rock called magma. This magma stuff flows into a chamber beneath the park about 4 to 6 mi down, making

the ground puff up like a balloon. But then as it cools down, the ground goes back to its usual state. Volcano watchers have been keeping an eye on this for a century. They noticed the ground lift up about 10 in around 20 years ago, but since 2010, it's been going back down. The experts say we have no big eruptions on the horizon, so Doomsday isn't coming anytime soon. But there's some underground activity going on lately which keeps us interested. Since humans haven't been around to witness every little thing Yellowstone does, it's kind of tough to

say for sure what's brewing down there. Yellowstone has had some epic eruptions within the last couple million years. They happened like clockwork with gaps of 6 to 800,000 Years between them. The last big one was around 640,000 years ago, and it basically reshaped the entire landscape, spreading ash and debris as far as Louisiana. You can still see the aftermath of the last big eruption in the Yellowstone Caldera today. Experts say a massive eruption like the last one is an unlikely scenario. We're more likely to see eruptions of steam and hot water or lava flows. When

and with what force it will wake up remains a mystery To scientists. Our planet's biggest and meanest super volcanoes are waking up. When they erupt, you'll surely notice it, even if you live thousands of miles away from the epicenter. Scientists are worried we might not have enough time to prepare and deal with the consequences of a super eruption. There's some volcanic activity close to the Italian city of Naples. And no, it has nothing to do with the famous Mount Vuvius, but with another volcano. This one is harder to see as it doesn't have a tall

peak like Vuvius. But don't let this bad guy trick you. It could be way more dangerous than its giant neighbor. It does have a huge crater that's about 8 mi wide. This volcano is called Copy Flee and it's actually one of the largest volcanoes in Europe sitting under the town of Pazoi. So Copy Flee erupted 39,000 years ago with a bang so massive it spread ash across the Whole Mediterranean region. It also caused the temperature to drop by over 16° F across Eastern Europe. It was the biggest volcanic eruption in Europe in 200,000 years. Since

then, Copy Flee has had smaller eruptions, and the last one happened in 1538. Now, the area is full of small craters, hot springs, and bubbling pools. And they're all proof that this volcano is still very much alive and brewing something. Since the early 2000s, the ground in the giant crater and the town nearby have been slowly rising by about 1 to one and a half inches every year. There were at least 150 earthquakes that shook this super volcano lately. In May 2024, there was a 4.4 magnitude in the area, the biggest in the last 40

years. Residents had to leave their homes and camp outside, fearing there would be more earthquakes. No one knows how Cappy Flegre is going to behave in the following months or Years, but the authorities are organizing evacuation exercises to prepare the population just in case. The Italian volcano looks like an innocent kitten compared to the real giants like Yellowstone. For a volcano to deserve the title of a super one, it must be able to produce catastrophic scale eruptions and eject huge amounts of magma, ash, and volcanic gases. The Yellowstone giant meets these criteria. Even though it

moves from time to time, The Yellowstone super volcano hasn't erupted for 640,000 years. But when it does wake up, it might erupt with incredible power. About the same amount as 10 huge nuclear power stations can produce. Under the ground beneath Yellowstone, there's a super hot area full of molten rock called magma. As more magma moves into a big space called a magma chamber, the ground above starts to swell or rise. When the magma cools down, the ground falls. Between 2004 and 2009, the ground at Yellowstone rose by almost 10 in, but then it started to

slowly go back down in 2010. Scientists aren't sure if it's going to erupt anytime soon. There's also another big volcano called Long Valley in California that has been active since 1980, and it can be a really big threat. Scientists studying this super volcano found out that before its biggest eruption 760,000 years ago, the buildup may have taken less than a Year. Now, that's bad news because a super volcano eruption can have a huge effect on the world. Like the eruption of the Toba volcano in Somatra around 74,000 years ago, it became the biggest volcanic eruption

the earth had seen in 28 million years. It covered parts of Indonesia, India, and the Indian Ocean with a thick layer of volcanic debris, almost like a 6-in blanket. The amount of rock it spewed out was like stacking nearly 3 million Empire State buildings. The giant crater it left behind can still be seen from space. All the ash and gases shot up into the air and blocked some of the sunlight. It caused a volcanic winter that lasted about 6 to 10 years. Some scientists think this eruption might have even affected early humans. Around the time

Toba erupted, the human population took a sharp dip and there were far fewer people. Some say this is why all modern humans come from a small group of survivors. According to the Toba catastrophe theory, most early humans in Europe and Asia didn't survive the cold and harsh climate after the eruption. But a lucky group lived through all that in Africa. Not all scientists agree with this idea, and some archaeological and climate records show a different story. Another volcano that changed the world in a big way was Mount Tambbora in 1815. The next year went down

in history as the year without a summer. It was Cold and rainy and there was snow and frost even in the middle of summer, especially in Europe and North America. This happened because the volcano sent out a lot of sulfur dioxide into the sky, which spread all over the world and made the planet colder. When Tambbora erupted, it caused huge tsunamis that smashed homes and took the lives of around 10,000 people. Afterward, about 80,000 more people passed away because of the consequences the eruption had Caused in the world. The cold weather ruined crops, so food

became really expensive. And because horses were the main way people traveled, the cost of oats that they ate went way up, too. Some people even think this led to the invention of the bicycle in 1817 as a new way to get around. The eruption made the earth colder for about 3 years. Now, even though the Tambbora eruption was so powerful, Crakatoa, another volcano in Indonesia, stole the show when it Erupted in 1883, it was just easier to spread information about it through telegrams and photos. Its final blast was the loudest recorded sound in history, and

people could hear it on 10% of the entire Earth's surface. The eruption started a tsunami with waves about half as tall as the Statue of Liberty. Now, if we only had 12 months to prepare for a super volcano eruption, it would be really hard to store enough food and Get ready. But don't panic just yet. Super volcano eruptions are very rare. And the last one happened 26,500 years ago in New Zealand. Scientists think that a super eruption happens once every 100,000 years on average. But the sad part here is that the Earth doesn't follow a

perfect timeline. There could be clusters of super eruptions with shorter gaps between them and then longer quiet periods. Since there have already been Two super eruptions in the last 100,000 years, there's always a chance one could happen again sooner than we expect. Plus, although there are places like Yellowstone and Long Valley where we expect volcanoes to erupt, there are less obvious possible hot spots. In Chile, there's a volcano called Lagona del Mau that has erupted in the past and left behind a huge crater. Over the last 20 years, the ground there has been swelling really

fast, rising up to Almost 1 ft a year. Some people are worried that this could be a sign of a big eruption coming. But scientists say there's not enough magma yet to cause a super eruption. In Bolivia, the Jutangu volcano is also acting up. It's part of a group of volcanoes that have caused super eruptions in the past. Since the 1960s, the ground around Judu Rancu has been lifting, but the last eruption was 250,000 years ago. Even though the magma might be rising, it's not enough to Worry about just yet. The chances of a super

eruption happening during our lifetime are 1 in 1,400, which is pretty low. So, you don't need to worry too much. But just like someone wins the lottery every week with very small chances, a super eruption could happen sometime in the future. And when it does, we'll need to be prepared. The ground suddenly starts shaking. Clouds of gas start forming in the sky, making it dark during broad Daylight. Bits of the ground start swelling, lifting, and even collapsing. These are the telltale signs of a volcano that is bound to erupt. And this is what could easily

happen again with Mount Spur. It's only about 75 mi from Anchorage, one of Alaska's busiest cities. More than half of the population of the northernmost state of the US live there. There's also a huge amount of air cargo that passes through its international airport daily. So, anytime A volcano this close to such a vital hub begins to get restless, people start paying attention. Just FYI, approximately 350 million people in the world live within the danger range of an active volcano. That means that around 1 out of 20 people live in an area at risk of

volcanic activity. Alaskans probably wish that Spur's reawakening was fiction, but it's actually true. The Alaska Volcano Observatory picked up on several of These I'm about to erupt signs from Mount Spur. So much so that they raised the alert level to yellow, which means unrest above normal background levels. Spur erupted twice in the '90s, and it was pretty intense. If we were ranking volcanic eruptions on a scale from 1 to 10, these eruptions would rank a 6 or seven. Not that terrible, but still worth 10 to 17 million in damages. However, these numbers are nothing compared

to Alaska's 1988 Redout Eruption. Another volcano that erupted and summed up a staggering $345 million in damages. Mainly because its ashes hit aircraft engines, such as the KM747 that lost power after all its engines went off due to the ashes. If people weren't paying attention to Alaska's unstable geology before that, well, they surely started to after it. When you think of the hazards of volcanic activity, the first thing that Might possibly pop in your mind is Pompei, Italy. Of course, that's the worst case scenario, a city being engulfed by lava. Spur may seem innocent compared

to Vuvio, but it still took its toll. The last time it erupted in the '9s and it threw volcanic aerosols over 60,000 ft into the atmosphere. Let's get our science straight here. Think of volcanic aerosols like liquid particles that are Released into the atmosphere during an eruption. These particles are usually created when gases from a volcano, such as sulfur dioxide, combined with water and other particles that exist in our atmosphere. These aerosols can actually cool the Earth's surface since they reflect sunlight directly back into space. And that's not the worst part. It can stay in

the atmosphere for several years after an eruption, causing lots of Health issues. The eruption unleashed blazing fast avalanches of hot gas and ash called pyrolastic flows along with thick muddy floods known as laahars. Oh, and there were also the massive volcanic boulders. These rock chunks were huge, some over 3 ft long, and they blasted out from the volcano like nature's cannonballs, landing more than 6 miles away. All that volcanic heat melted part of a nearby glacier, kicking off debris Flows that damned up the Chakachna River and created a whole new lake along the valley. Some

good came out of Spur's first eruption, though. The main lesson was volcanic monitoring pays off. The local monitoring was able to reduce the economic damage done by the eruption, especially for a city that has an intense air traffic. Spur is deemed as dormant for the moment, but it could go off anytime soon. You see, volcanoes are classified As active, dormant, or extinct, depending on how much action they're putting on. If it's still active, it's still rumbling and erupting somewhat regularly. Dormant means it's had some recent activity, but it's still lying low for now. And extinct,

that's when it's been quiet for such a long time that we figure it's done for good. One of the US's most dangerous active volcanoes is Mount St. Helens. This volcano is actually responsible for The most powerful eruption in US history. Its last blast was so intense it threw off about 1,300 ft off its summit. Basically, the top of the mountain vanished. And if you thought Mount Spur's ash cloud was impressive, St. Helens wins the competition since it launched its ashes 80,000 ft into the sky. Eastern Washington plunged into total darkness. But it wasn't just that.

In a matter of 3 minutes, the eruption hurled 3.7 billion cubic yards of blazing rock and dust, enough to fill a million Olympic sized pools across 230 square miles of lush forest. Actually, the earthquakes that anticipated the eruption started weeks before May 18th, 1980. A ground shake of magnitude 5.0 went off, triggering a landslide on one side of the volcano. By the end of the official eruption date, 57 people had lost their lives. Nearly 7,000 big game animals Like deer and elk were wiped out and millions of birds laid scattered on the burnt earth. Researchers

don't think St. Helens will blow at the same magnitude again anytime soon. But they're keeping an eye on it because this volcano is not exactly finished. By the way, the word volcano comes from the Roman name Vulcan, which was the Roman deity of fire, and they often happen at the meeting point of tectonic plates, which are the pieces of the Earth's surface that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. The so-called Ring of Fire, located in the Pacific Ocean, is the world's danger zone when it comes to volcanoes. It contains between 750 and 915 active volcanoes.

The largest volcano located in the Ring of Fire, also the largest active volcano in the world, is the Monoloa. It's over 13,000 ft high and it's located in Hawaii. Researchers say that Monaloa has been erupting for at Least 700,000 years. Its most recent eruption began on the 27th of November, 2022, and it lasted until December 13th. It's been quiet since the 80s until it decided to wake up again. Thanks to constant monitoring by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, it didn't cause any casualties when it last erupted. Scientists have been investing big time on volcanic monitoring, not

only to reduce economic hazards, but also to save lives. The most recent Attempt has been to drill into volcanoes. Recently, a group of scientists went all the way to Iceland in one of the world's volcanic hotspots. There are around 33 active volcanoes in Iceland alone. But the one that is the most interesting to them the most is the Crofta volcano. The Crofta has erupted around 30 times in the last 1,000 years, and its most recent eruption was in the mid 1980s. The project named Crofta Magma Test Bed Or KMT for short is hoping to advance

the understanding of how magma behaves underground. The main advantage of this drilling research is predicting the risk of eruptions. But it can also help to push geothermal energy forward. I mean, can you imagine having electricity that is run by the limitless source of volcano power? The KMT team will begin drilling holes deep into volcanic ground in 2027. They're aiming at reaching over a mile Into the ground. After all, it's different to monitor lava activity when it's on the surface than when it is still below ground. This will allow researchers to listen to the pulse of

the Earth. According to them, they're saying this research is as revolutionary as the first time man went to the moon. Oh, and speaking of that, I was shocked to discover that volcanoes exist all throughout the solar system. Yep, other planets and moons Have volcanoes, too. The largest volcano in our solar system is Olympus Mons on Mars. It's a shield volcano, much like the ones that make up the Hawaiian Islands. It's about 370 mi wide. If we transported it all the way back to Earth, it would almost occupy all of Poland. Yikes. The moon's volcanoes are

not dormant and they can erupt any minute. For years, we lived knowing nothing about it. But now, it's officially Proven thanks to China's Chong 5 mission shocking discovery. The lunar soil samples it brought back to Earth contained something absolutely unexpected, hinting that volcanic eruptions may have occurred on the moon. as recently as 123 million years ago. Geologically, that's practically yesterday. But the big question is, are we safe down here on Earth? We've long known that the moon was once volcanically active due to the dark Regions, lunar maria, on its surface. These maria, the dark plains

that give the moon its characteristic markings, are ancient lava flows that date back to around 3 to 3.8 8 billion years ago. Until recently, scientists thought that those ancient flows marked the end of the moon's volcanic activity. But the Chong 5 mission brought back lunar soil that included several microscopic glass beads. And three of them in particular revealed an extraordinary story. They Formed around 123 million years ago from volcanic eruptions. An uncertainty range is a mere 15 million years. The discovery of those tiny beads is super important because of their composition and rarity. Measuring between

20 to 400 microns, which is smaller than a grain of sand, these beads are volcanic in origin. And this fact sets them apart from most other lunar glass beads, which typically form due to meteor impacts. Impact events on the moon create glass By melting surface rock with incredible heat and pressure. The result is tiny glass beads scattered all over the landscape. Yet, the volcanic beads identified in Chong 5's sample were formed by magma erupting from beneath the moon's crust and cooling it into glass as it reached the surface. By using uranium lead dating, which measures

the decay of uranium into lead within the beads, scientists managed to pinpoint their age with striking Accuracy. The results suggest that the last known volcanic activity on the moon happened within the past 200 million years, making it a recent event in the moon's long history. This discovery also aligns with prior observations of unusual surface features known as irregular mare patches. Those are smooth mounds surrounded by rocky terrain. They were first spotted by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2014. These patches appear much younger than other Lunar features, potentially formed by volcanic eruptions less than 100 million

years ago before Chong 5's glass beads. These irregular mare patches were among the best evidence of recent volcanic activity on the moon. Yet without confirmation, their origins remain uncertain. And now the glass beads confirm volcanic action. The findings raise new questions about the moon's inner workings. In particular, how could it retain enough heat to sustain Volcanic eruptions? We thought that the moon had cooled significantly after its formation 4.5 billion years ago, which made it volcanically inactive and without tectonic activity or an atmosphere. The moon should have shed its internal heat long ago. Yet, the beads

suggest the possibility of some localized heat sources within the moon's mantle. Scientists think that heat producing elements such as potassium and thorium might be creating small warm Pockets which generate enough heat to melt rock and trigger isolated volcanic eruptions. But wait, beyond rewriting the moon's history, this discovery adds an intriguing twist to ongoing studies of transient lunar phenomena. These sightings, often reported as ghostly glows or hazes by amateur astronomers, remain unconfirmed by scientific probes. Some experts just dismiss them as illusions caused by Earth's atmosphere. But if the moon has small pockets of Volcanic or outgassing

activity, TLP might have a real basis. gases emitted from beneath the surface could explain such mysterious glows and possibly be a hint of residual volcanic action on the moon. Now, if volcanic activity still lingers on the moon, this might have exciting implications for future lunar missions. In the coming decades, astronauts might be able to use volcanic heat for generating power, melting ice into water, or even warming bases built Into the frigid lunar surface. But recent geological discoveries aren't limited to Earth's natural satellite. We learn more about volcanic moons beyond our solar system, too. The detection

of a possibly volcanic exomoon orbiting exoplanet WASP 49b around 635 light years away means that volcanic activity may be a common feature among moons. Up until now, Jupiter's moon Io held the title of the most volcanic body we know about. But researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory may have found a new candidate. This potential exomoon came to light when scientists observed a cloud of sodium gas around the exoplanet. But the thing is sodium clouds are unusual in planetary atmospheres and can suggest volcanic activity. The sodium cloud near wasp 49b had a bizarre unexpected behavior. It

was moving erratically, shifting size and occupying a space too large to be explained by the exoplanet's own Atmosphere. Scientists thought the cloud could actually be generated by a volcanically active exomoon in orbit around WASP 49b. Volcanic moons like Io are known to release gases such as sulfur dioxide, sodium, and potassium, which form massive clouds around their parent planet. Io, for instance, regularly produces vast amounts of gas that form a cloud encircling Jupiter up to 1,000 times the size of the gas giant itself. If something similar occurs near WASP 49b, the gas cloud could be a

clue to volcanic activity on an exomoon orbiting the planet. Observations from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile seems to confirm this theory. The sodium cloud around WASP 49b is positioned high above the exoplanet's atmosphere and behaves in ways that don't match the exoplanet's 2.8 Earth Day orbit. This could suggest that it originates from a separate body, likely a volcanically active moon. Additionally, WASP 49b and its host star consists primarily of hydrogen and helium, which makes the sodium cloud even more unusual. The observed rate of sodium release over 220,000 lbs per second can

be a sign of an immensely powerful volcanic source. If scientists verify the existence of this exomoon, it would be the first discovery of a volcanic exomoon. Back in our solar system, Eio remains the main space object, helping us Understand volcanic moons. Recently, NASA's Juno spacecraft provided some of the closest images of Io since the Galileo mission over 25 years ago. IO's intense volcanic activity is caused by tidal heating, the result of the gravitational pull of Jupiter and nearby moons like Europa. This tugof-war generates immense friction within Io, producing heat that fuels continuous volcanic eruptions. One

of Juno's most exciting recent findings was a new Volcano that appeared just south of Io's equator. Juno's images show a large complex volcanic region approximately 111x 111 mi in size. The craziest thing it wasn't there when Galileo imaged the same spot in 1997. This new volcano formed near the previously known volcano Kahek. Researchers say that this new volcanic structure is a great change that highlights the dynamic nature of Io's surface. Io's equatorial region is Home to most of its volcanoes because of the concentrated tidal heating it experiences. The most powerful eruptions emit sulfurous gases and

produce bright lava flows. They cover the moon in colorful sulfurrich deposits. Juno Cam's image taken from about 1,570 m away shows Io dramatically lit by sunlight reflected off Jupiter. And you can see a stunning view of its constantly changing volcanic surface. Despite these detailed observations, There are still many mysteries about Io's volcanism. Scientists are particularly curious about how tidal heating affects Io's interior and whether it has a subsurface magma ocean. Plus, researchers try to understand what triggers different types of eruptions, for example, plumes versus lava flows, and how volcanic gases shape Io's surface and thin

atmosphere. The study of volcanic moons from Io to the possible exomoon near W wasp 49b sheds Light on how tidal forces create volcanic activity in different moons. In icy moons like Europa, tidal heating sustains liquid oceans beneath the surface, creating potential habitats for life. But for Io without an ocean, the same forces instead generate powerful volcanic activity. Plus, if volcanic exomoons do exist, like the one possibly orbiting WASP 49b, we might soon discover more volcanic bodies across the galaxy. The latest super eruption of Yellowstone occurred 640,000 years ago, and it was long before Homo sapiens

saw the light of day. But we were around during another, no less devastating natural disaster. This super eruption took place on the island of Sumatra around 74,000 years ago. That's when an erupting super volcano wre havoc on huge territories, sending up plumes of debris and ash that spread for thousands of miles and cause temperatures on the planet to Plummet. The effects of this super eruption were visible as far away as southern Africa. Experts believe they could have impacted early humans there. By the time the volcano erupted, our ancestors had already been using stone tools and

had likely known how to produce yard. And some specialists even think that the Toba super eruption was so powerful it could push our ancestors to the brink of extinction. They claim that Toba might Be the largest volcanic eruption to occur on Earth within the last 2 million years. The eruption disorgged so much pyrolastic rock it would be enough to cover the entire United States to the depth of a one-story house. About a third of that deposit piled up on northern Sumatra, while a lot more ended up beneath the floor of the Indian Ocean. The super

eruption left an elliptical crater lake around 60 mi long. The caldera is so large it's hard To feel that you're indeed in a volcano. Pummus deposits from the eruption remain in the canyon walls and go deep below the ground. There aren't many arguments about the amount of pummus and ash involved in this disaster. At the same time, experts aren't sure how much sulfur ended up in the atmosphere. Even some sulfur layers in the polar ice could be potential candidates, but so far scientists haven't found any Connection between them and Toba. But let's get back to

the dramatic impact the super eruption had on early humans. It turns out some not only survived, but even thrived after this natural catastrophe, at least judging by the artifacts they made during and after the eruption. The disaster might not have posed a serious threat to those of our ancestors who took refuge along the coast. Genetic evidence hints that modern humans descend from a few Thousand people that ventured out of Africa around 60,000 years ago. Why just a few thousand? According to some experts, the rest of our ancestors could have been devastated by the Toba eruption.

After all, the super volcano spewed out a thousand cubic miles of dust and rock in a flash, leaving a scar in the ground that was dozens of miles wide. All that dust and sulfur Toba sent into the atmosphere potentially cooled The surface of our planet, which led to the appearance of glaciers and the lowering of Earth's sea levels. And since Toba might have had an important role in shaping humankind, scientists have been working hard trying to understand precisely how early humans reacted to this disaster. In 2011, several researchers found an enigmatic soil sample in South

Africa's Pinnacle Point, an archaeological site overlooking the Indian Ocean. This Sample contained some volcanic ash. After examining the layer, they found more than 400,000 artifacts left by early humans. Those ranged from heat treated stone tools to signs of fire and animal bones. Based on this finding, the team suggested that early humans on the South African coast thrived after the eruption, living in that area for thousands of years and improving their tools. The region might have served as a Refuge during and after the Toba eruption. A 2009 study suggested that the eruption could have lowered global

temperatures by 14° F. It would have made survival tough elsewhere in Africa. If there had been a volcanic winter, it wouldn't have been as cold along the coastline. On the other hand, newer studies claim that Toba spewed out so much sulfur into the atmosphere that the resulting aerosols could have stuck together, which would have limited their Cooling effect in the long term. In other words, right after the eruption, temperatures would have plummeted, but only in some regions. And after 3 years or so, the effects of the eruptions would have calmed down altogether, becoming not dangerous

to humans. Well, apparently more research is needed. Meanwhile, let's figure out if we should watch out for any volcanoes these days. Last year, thousands of Small earthquakes shook the ground near Iceland's Fartzangi geothermal power plant. Magma rose to the surface there and now it has opened wide fractures slicing through the small town of Grindavic. The ground there is still swelling and an eruption might happen with little notice. But of course, that's not all. Over the planet, 45 other volcanoes keep rumbling. For example, Italy's Vuvius, that infamous thing that finished the City of Pompei in 79

CE. Over the last 17,000 years, the volcano has experienced eight explosive eruptions followed by powerful pyrolastic flows. Dense masses of super hot ash, lava fragments, and gases flowing at high speeds. The volcano's last eruption happened in 1944. Mount Rineer is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the USA. its high elevation, chemical composition, and proximity to Washington's Seattle and Tacoma suburbs, and the volcano's ability to produce massive pyrolastic flows make Mount Reineer a threat to consider. The heat from this volcano could potentially melt the ice and snow covering it, leading to rapid downstream flows of

debris, mud, and rocks. The Novarupta volcano in Alaska's Catmy National Park and Reserve formed in a 1912 eruption, which was the world's largest in the 20th century. The volcano sent almost 7 cubic Miles of ash and debris into the air. It also produced such a powerful ash flow that it created the valley of 10,000 smokes. Mount Pinatubo is located in a populated region in the Philippines. It became notorious after a 1991 massive eruption, which was the second largest eruption of the 20th century. More than 700 people lost their lives during that natural disaster. Today, more

than 21 million people live within 62 mi of Pinatubo. Mounted Gun, a continuously Erupting volcano in Indonesia, had its last major eruption in 1963. It was one of the most tragic eruptions in the country's history. It lasted for 11 months, producing ashfall and pyrolastic flows that led to the loss of more than 1,000 lives and serious property damage. People saw ash plumes above the volcano throughout 2018 following the eruption in November 2017. Japan's Mount Fuji hasn't erupted since 1707. That year, a massive Earthquake likely set it off. In 2014, experts warned that Fuji could be

at risk of another eruption following the 9 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan in 2011. Experts believed the earthquake had raised pressure below Fuji. The eruption in 1707 sent so much ash and debris into the air that all this mass even reached Tokyo. Should Fuji erupt again, it would affect more than 25 million people in the surrounding Areas. The eruption of Washington's Mount St. Helen in 1980 was one of the most destructive volcanic events in US history. 57 people as well as thousands of animals lost their lives during that natural disaster. The eruption also destroyed around

200 square miles of forest. Experts think that Mount St. Helen's history of massive eruptions means that future catastrophes are bound to happen. The next explosive eruption might send large amounts of ash all over The Pacific Northwest. No wonder the volcano is under close monitoring. One of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, Mount Morrai, has been erupting for centuries. NASA claims that the biggest risk of this volcano is pyrolastic flows which can spread over vast areas and harm loads of people. For the last time, Morappi erupted in January 2024, sending plumes of smoke into the air. These days,

more than 24 million people live in the area Surrounding this volcano. It's the 15th of January, 2022, 4:47 p.m. local time. It will start any moment here. Do you feel these jolts? The South Pacific is about to experience one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded by modern instruments. The eruption begins at Hunga Tonga Hunga Haapi, an underwater volcano in the Tongan Archipelago. The eruption itself is enormous. Its volcanic explosivity index Is at least VI5 with the maximum being 8. It's as powerful as such historic catastrophes as Mount St. Helens in 1980 and Mount

Vuvius in 79 CE. The eruption releases a staggering 2.4 cubic miles of volcanic material and sends over 150 million tons of water vapor into the stratosphere. This amount of water vapor would have been enough to fill 58,000 Olympic swimming pools. Additionally, the eruption generates the fastest underwater currents ever recorded and Triggers large tsunamis that struck areas as far as Peru, more than 6,200 m away from the volcano. And it takes at least four lives with even more missing. But the craziest thing is that just before the eruption, 15 minutes ahead of time, there was a

kind of warning. But as it often happens, people simply missed them. Two seismic stations about 466 mi away from the volcano, which is pretty far for this kind of thing, picked it Up. They figured out it was a wave, which is a type of seismic wave that moves along Earth's surface. This wave was caused by a fracture in the ocean floor where magma and seawater started to interact under a lot of pressure. That's likely what triggered the eruption. The crazy thing is that normally volcanic seismic signals are pretty small and can only be detected close

to the volcano. But this wave traveled way farther than usual and was Much stronger. It means there had to be a massive amount of movement going on beneath the surface before the eruption. While people on the ground didn't feel it, those distant sensors picked it up. And this discovery is great for identifying volcanic threats earlier in the future and for improving early warning systems. If scientists can detect these seismic precursors, they could give a heads up before an eruption happens. That would give people time to Evacuate and reduce the chances of injuries or property damage,

especially for underwater volcanoes like this one, which can also trigger fatal tsunamis. Now, the eruption was big, but its impact was mostly contained. However, this discovery underlines how important seismic data is for predicting and preparing for these disasters. Even though this precursor wasn't used to issue a warning during this eruption, the idea that we could use this kind of Information in real time during future eruptions is really promising, especially for underwater eruptions, which apparently might give us more warning time than we thought. Even though we wouldn't have been able to hear that precursor warning signal,

there is a sound so loud it could actually finish you. And while such sounds are incredibly rare, the loudest noise ever recorded was indeed fatal to those who were close Enough. On 27th August 1883, the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia created the loudest noise ever measured. It's thought to have been an astonishing 310 dB at the source. To put this in perspective, a hand drill produces the sound of 98 dB. The noise produced by a jet engine measures 140 dB. And the sound of 180 dB is capable of destroying your hearing tissue. So

the sound Krakatoa produced reached more than 170 dB at a distance of 100 m. and Sailors aboard a ship just 40 miles from the eruption had their eardrums burst from the sound. The explosion's reverberation was so powerful that it was heard 3,000 m away. In fact, at a farm in Alice Springs, Australia, over 2,200 m away, sheep farmers reported hearing what they thought were gunshots. The sound from Crakatoa traveled around the world multiple times. Although no one heard the explosion beyond 3,000 mi, spikes of Atmospheric pressure were recorded in places as far away as Canada

and England. Those must have been the sound waves produced by the eruption traveling around the globe. Sound above 150 dB can potentially cause life-threatening harm. In particular, sounds between 170 and 200 dB can result in lethal conditions, including burst lungs. Anything over 240 dB could cause fatal injuries, and you don't even want To know what those are. I'll just say that those sometimes happen to cartoon characters, but rarely to people. The scientific explanation behind this is that sound is essentially a wave of pressure which can travel through both solids and liquids and in the case

of an incredibly loud sound pass right through the human body. If the pressure from such a sound is high enough, it can rupture eardrums and internal organs causing significant and often fatal Damage. Now, you probably know how volcanoes sometimes have small earthquakes before they erupt. Well, they often produce this weird sound called a harmonic tremor. The sound kind of hums and the frequency of the hum gets higher and higher until it suddenly stops just before the volcano erupts. The sound has been recorded at a bunch of volcanoes around the world. But the thing about Redown

volcano in Alaska is that its Tremor is so intense people can actually hear it. It's like the volcano is letting out this crazy scream right before the eruption. According to a geoysicist at the University of Washington, the frequency of Reedout's harmonic tremor is so high that it is barely perceptible as a low bass hum. And that's at its highest pitch. All because the pitch of Reedout's tremor exceeds that of any other recorded volcano. It questions the Limits of the existing models used to explain these phenomena. That's why researchers had to propose a new model to

account for these unusually high-pitched tremors. Most volcanoes produce sound when magma bubbles vibrate as they rise through cracks in Earth's crust. But in the case of readout, scientists believe that the harmonic tremor and associated earthquakes occur when magma is forced through a narrow opening under immense Pressure. The thick magma sticks to the rock surface inside the conduit, a channel or pipe that carries magma from a reservoir or chamber to the vent. As the pressure builds, the magma moves upward. This makes it stick again until the pressure forces it to move once more. These sudden movements

cause small earthquakes which as the pressure increases occur more rapidly and blend into a continuous rising noise. So it's actually the rocks making the Sounds. This new model is important because it could help scientists better understand the eruptive cycles of volcanoes like Reed. It could also serve as a limited early warning system. By the time Redout began to scream like this, the volcano had already been erupting for a few days. So, the tremor might only provide a few minutes or hours of warning before the next explosion. The harmonic tremor at readout reaches an extremely high

Frequency, then falls eerily silent before the volcano erupts again. This pause occurs when the earthquake activity slows down and the two sides of the fault slip smoothly against one another. Maybe that's when even earthquakes can't keep up anymore. The new model may also apply to other volcanoes such as the Sufriier Hills volcano on the Caribbean island of Monserat. The research team is now planning to investigate why the pressure At readout is concentrated in one specific spot. To move ahead in their research, the scientists have created two recordings of Readout's seismic activity. The first, a 10-second

recording, compresses about 10 minutes of seismic sounds and harmonic tremors, sped up 60 times. The second, a 1-minute recording, condenses roughly an hour of activity, including more than 1,600 small earthquakes that had occurred before Redout's first explosion with Harmonic tremor. These recordings could provide crucial insight into the dynamics of volcanic eruptions and the signals that precede them. These ominous rumbling sounds, the ground shaking under your feet. Wait a minute, that's my tummy. Or it might be Washington State's Mount Adams waking up. It's the largest volcano in the state by both area and volume. And it's

recently started to show signs of life after staying silent for thousands of Years. Scientists have noticed an alarming uptick in seismic activity around the mountain. And since the last eruption here happened between 3,800 and 7,600 years ago, humanity was still in the stone age at that time. This sudden chattiness has scientists, let's say, curious. The US Geological Survey has hurriedly installed temporary seismic stations around Mount Adams to keep an eye on the situation. At the same time, they reassure the public there's no need To panic. Mount Adams doesn't reach the height of the better known

Mount Reneer and still it covers a massive area making it Washington's largest active volcano. Interestingly, records show that before September of this year, Mount Adams had experienced an average of just one small earthquake every 2 to 3 years since 1982. And then the Cascades Volcano Observatory and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network detected a staggering six earthquakes in Just one month, September. These quakes were all rather tiny with magnitudes ranging between 0.9 and two on the RTOR scale. It means they were so weak you wouldn't feel them at the surface. Plus, satellite imagery confirmed there was

no ground deformation in the area. Now, at the moment, the USGS keeps Mount Adam's alert level at green or normal. So, we shouldn't worry about the ground opening and swallowing towns and cities, but the most recent seismic blips have Encouraged the agency to install additional equipment for more precise monitoring. Such an expanded network will help scientists notice even the smallest earthquakes, which will help them understand what's happening under Mount Adams. This extra equipment might also shed light on whether this recent activity is a signal of future eruptions or just a random anomaly. If Mount Adams

eventually erupted, it would likely produce slowm moving lava flows rather Than explosive eruptions like Mount St. Helens. After all, past eruptions have only led to lava flows that travel just a few miles from the volcano. So, that's not what we'd need to worry about. A much more dangerous thing would be laars. These are mud flows that can happen when volcanic ash, rock, and melted ice mix during eruptions. Laars have occurred near Mount Adams without even eruptions. Rock weakened by hydrothermal processes at the volcano Summit suddenly broke loose, creating fastmoving, destructive mud flows. Exactly for this

reason, the USGS categorizes Mount Adams as a high threat volcano. While it doesn't erupt frequently, it still poses serious risks to nearby settlements. Another volcano we should carefully watch is Codla in Iceland. It's one of the country's most powerful and dangerous volcanoes. It last erupted over a century ago in 1918. But if it Erupts again, it could be 10 times as powerful as another Icelandic volcano whose name I can't pronounce. See that one erupted in 2010, completely disrupting air travel all over Europe. An eruption of Codla could release large amounts of sulfur dioxide, which could

form sulfate aerosols in the atmosphere. Such aerosols reflect sunlight, which could even cause temporary global cooling. This phenomenon often followed catastrophic volcanic eruptions in the Past. Although eruptions are common in Iceland, Cotla's ash cloud would likely shoot higher into the sky and cover larger areas of Europe than that other one did. It would ground flights and negatively affect economies. If Cotla erupted, it would also harm agriculture, water supplies, and air quality. In 2014, scientists noted that a large eruption could even cause a tsunami that might travel along Iceland's south coast and out to sea. But

the potential impact Of such a tsunami is still unclear. Cotler tends to erupt on a regular schedule every 40 to 80 years which means that another eruption is statistically very likely soon as why Cotla remains under close scientific observation. The Canary Islands Kumbra Viea erupted recently in 2021 reminding people of its destructive potential. The lava flow from this eruption was devastating. It covered whole neighborhoods and flowed into the ocean, Destroying more than 3,000 homes. Thousands of people had to be evacuated. But the craziest thing, even though the damage was significant, scientists believe it could have

been far worse. A massive eruption of Kumbra Viea could have caused the volcano's entire western flank to collapse into the Atlantic Ocean, triggering a mega tsunami. This hypothetical tsunami could have potentially created waves hundreds or even thousands of feet high. They could Have flooded coastlines around the Atlantic basin, including parts of the US and Europe. Luckily, recent studies claim that a collapse of that scale is unlikely. But even though the chance of a mega tsunami is low, scientists still think it's wise to prepare for possible eruptions because there's a chance of extensive damage. The lava

flows that occur at this volcano tend to be extensive and dangerous to both human life and the infrastructure on the Island. If you decide to travel to Ecuador, you should be wary of Kotapoxy, one of the most active volcanoes in this country. It's been rumbling with minor eruptions since 2022. While these eruptions have been relatively small, Kottoaxis has a great potential for a major eruption and it has scientists on high alert. If Kodapaxi erupted on a large scale, it could produce a massive ash cloud over 12 m high, threatening the lives of around 200,000 people

in The neighboring area. A serious danger is Kotapaci snow cap summit. It would melt super rapidly in a major eruption. It could lead to destructive floods and landslides that would flow down the mountain and potentially reach populated areas. This combination of volcanic activity and glacial floods makes Kotapaci a high-risk volcano. A powerful eruption could occur soon or it could be years or even decades away, but monitoring efforts are in place to catch Any warning signs. The next volcano we should watch out for is already infamous. Mount Vuvius. Its catastrophic eruption in 79 CE destroyed the

Roman cities of Pompei and Herculinium. Its last eruption occurred in 1944, but Vubvius remains highly active and poses a great risk to nearby Naples, one of Italy's largest cities. A large eruption would threaten over 3 million people. Many of them live in the vicinity or even directly on the slopes Of the volcano. If Vuvius erupted, it would be an explosive event with ash, rocks, and volcanic gas ejected at extremely high speeds. And even though such a destructive event isn't expected for a few hundred years, the Suvius remains one of the world's most closely watched volcanoes.

After all, it has a real potential to cause catastrophic damage in a densely populated area. Then we have Popo Cate Pedal, often called El Popo. It's one of North America's tallest active volcanoes, which lies about 40 mi from Mexico City. Exactly this proximity to a metropolitan area with a population of 22 million people makes Popo Pedal especially hazardous. A large eruption could send a massive ash cloud over Mexico City, causing widespread disruptions. Ash could clog the city's drainage systems, contaminate water supplies, and even cause power outages by shortcircuiting electrical systems. Plus, Laar could Rush down

the volcano, reaching nearby towns. Popocate Pedal has been showing near constant seismic activity since the early 2000s, and smaller eruptions are pretty common here. In early 2024, there were 13 recorded minor eruptions, which alarmed nearby towns. At the same time, volcanologists consider such eruptions normal for Popo Kadipedal. While talking about super dangerous volcanoes, we can't skip Yellowstone National Park. It houses one Of the world's largest super volcanoes. Its last massive eruption occurred about 640,000 years ago. But if this monster were to erupt today, the impact would be much more devastating for the entire planet. States

closest to Yellowstone, including Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, would be most affected, likely experiencing disastrous pyrolastic flows. These flows, which are made of a dangerous mix of lava, ash, and gases, can obliterate everything in their path. Large parts of the country would also be blanketed in volcanic ash, over 3 ft in some areas. On a global scale, an eruption at Yellowstone would send tons of ash and gases into the stratosphere, potentially blocking sunlight and causing global temperatures to drop for a few years. This would disrupt agriculture, collapse transportation systems, and create food shortages on a massive

scale. Still, even though there's a popular myth that Yellowstone Is overdue for an eruption, geologists clarify that this isn't true. Volcanoes don't follow precise timets and the activity at Yellowstone doesn't indicate an imminent eruption. So yeah, that's good news. So this huge volcano everyone thought to be extinct woke up and spat out a black ash cloud 50 mi high. That's about nine times as tall as Mount Everest. Located in what is now Indonesia, the powerful Crakatoa had Caused huge tsunamis that rocked over ships as far away as South Africa. It also changed the temperatures around

the world for several years. The volcanic island of Crakatoa in the Sunda Strait was likely born thanks to another major eruption several centuries ago. It hadn't erupted for at least 200 years before 1883. So, the first tremors and blasts in May of that year came as a total shock to people living nearby. Then, ships sailing through the busy Water passage started reporting clouds of ash above the volcano. It went quiet again for a while, but they could still see ash above it. The eruption culminated at the end of August. It was so powerful that it

shattered the island into fragments. Witnesses heard the sound produced by it in Australia around 3,000 mi away. They described the noise as the roar of heavy cannons. Some say it was the loudest sound ever heard. During the next 5 Days, the pressure wave from the eruption traveled around the globe three and a half times and was seen on baragraphs on different continents. Hot avalanches of ash spread down the volcano as far as 25 m away at crazy speeds. They ruined the surrounding islands and took 36,000 lives. Tens of thousands more drowned in tsunamis that happened

after the volcano had collapsed into the Calura. Over a 100 coastal villages on Java and Somatra were Completely wiped out. All this made the waking up of Krakatoa one of the most devastating in the entire recorded history. The Earth's crust is like a giant puzzle made up of massive pieces known as tectonic plates. These plates are constantly sliding against each other over the mantle, which is the molten layer beneath. Indonesia is right in the middle of the so-called subduction zone. Here, the IndoAustralian plate collides With part of the Asian plate as it moves northward. As

the oceanic plate dives down, it gets heated up, and you've got the perfect recipe for a volcanic hot spot. Crakatoa had three peaks, each serving as an exit door for a massive magma chamber beneath it. During a previous eruption, debris blocked one of these exits, and the pressure built up beneath. When Crackatoa finally blew its top, the blast split the magma chamber wide open. The eruption led to a so-called volcanic winter. Crakatoa had sent 6 cubic miles of rock ash and debris into the atmosphere. They created a thick veil that surrounded the Earth. The particles

scattered sunlight and the troposphere below cooled down. The effect stayed strong for several years. The northern hemisphere experienced colder than average temperatures and in some regions, summer temperatures didn't rise to typical levels. Southern California Received a record amount of rainfall in the months following the eruption. The sky became darker in different parts of the world for years afterwards. The sun sets for many months turned into a spectacular show of red and orange. One astronomer supposed it was the source of the inspiration for the scream by Edward Mch. The painting shows exactly what the sky over

Norway looked like after the eruption. It also produced a rare type of halo called Bishop's ring and a volcanic purple light at night. For several years after Crackrakatoa had blown up, the moon looked blue and sometimes green. That's because some ash clouds were full of particles large enough to scatter red light, only letting other colors pass. Someone even witnessed lavender sun and night shining clouds. Crakatoa became the first scientifically well-recorded and studied eruption of a volcano. Between the moments the first Clouds of ash were seen by a ship passing by and the disastrous eruption, scientists

managed to organize geological expeditions. They studied the volcano and gathered samples of volcanic rocks. It became useful for understanding volcanic activity. Krakatoa was sleeping tight until the 1920s when some locals noticed a column of steam and debris spewing from the collapsed caldera. Within weeks, the rim of a new cone sprang up above sea level. After a year, it was a small island named Child of Crackatoa. It continues to erupt, but fortunately without serious consequences so far. In April of 1815, Mount Tambbora unleashed a massive eruption, wreaking havoc on the Indonesian island of Sambawa. It destroyed

homes and claimed 10,000 lives. Another 80,000 perished because of diseases that spread in the aftermath. The following went in history as the year without a summer. Cold, wet Conditions wrapped Europe and North America in an unexpected chill. It became the coldest in at least 250 years. In the summer of that year, the temperatures dropped the most. Crops didn't grow, livestock didn't survive, and famine took over Western Europe and North America. New England had snow and terrible frost in the summer months. Food prices went up. Oats for horses became a luxury. Some people say it even

inspired the invention of the bicycle in 1817. Scientists used early data and climate models to see if it was all because of the Tambora eruption. They compared the data to similar years. They showed that precipitation was around the same, but the temperatures were much warmer. When they introduced the volcano into the scenario, they got the exact data for the year without summer. They say that a powerful volcanic eruption like that one increases the likelihood of extreme cold By up to 100 times. The explosion of the Toba super volcano on the island of Somatra around 74,000

years ago became the Earth's largest volcanic eruption in 28 million years. Parts of Indonesia, India, and a slice of the Indian Ocean got a cozy blanket made up of 6 in of volcanic debris. It spat out a volume of rock comparable to almost 3 million Empire State buildings. The crater it had left behind is still seen from space. All the ash and Volcanic gases that sprang into the atmosphere because of the eruption partially blocked the sunlight. A severe volcanic winter began and lasted for 6 to 10 years. Some anthropologists see a connection between the Toba

eruption and how limited modern humans are when it comes to genetic variety. Around 74,000 years ago, exactly when the Toba erupted, there was a population nose dive. That's why all modern humans trace their roots back to a tiny group of Survivors. The Toba catastrophe theory proposes that most early humans in Europe and Asia didn't make it through the post eruption climate chaos. Instead, a lucky genetically limited bunch found their safe haven in Africa. But archaeological and paleocclimate records disagree with this theory. Benjamin Black from Rutgers University and his team set out to crack the code

and discovered a hidden paradox. Maybe we were peering through The wrong climate lens. They ran 42 different climate model simulations varying the magnitude of volcanic emissions, time of year of the eruption, background climate state and eruption column height to see what climate disruptions the Toba eruption might have caused. There was a significant drop in temperatures in the northern hemisphere in the first year after the event up to 18° F. The southern hemisphere, where the early humans were settling, didn't Go through a rough cooling that could have affected them all. The most significant eruptions that can

seriously change the world's climatic patterns come from super volcanoes like Yellowstone or Mount Toba. Luckily, these erupt very rarely, about every 100,000 years or more. Still, climate scientists study volcanic eruptions to understand and explain short periods of cooling in the history of our planet. Every few decades or so, A volcanic eruption lets out a substantial number of particles and gases. Some of them will block enough sunlight to start a brief global cooling period. Nothing like the real volcanic winter, but still felt across the globe. Wow. Earth surface is shaking. Long cracks split the ground open.

Lava rivers are rapidly flowing down the slopes. Deafening noise is filling the air. Rocks and other debris are flying high up. Clouds of volcanic gas and ash Cover the sky. Now, this is not a plot of a blockbuster disaster movie. It's what happens when super volcanoes decide to erupt. But this is likely not the scenario that will take place when the world's largest volcano, Monoloa, decides to finish its long, long nap. In 2021, scientists were sure it would happen soon, but so far nothing. The volcano's seismicity keeps increasing and then going back to normal, but

you never know when this giant will finally Come back to life. That's why experts have been monitoring geological activity on Hawaii's largest island for quite some time. The Big Island of Hawaii is made up of five volcanoes, including the most active on the planet, Kiloa, and the largest, Monaloa. This gigantic thing makes up almost half the land mass of the island. And what lava Kiloa emits in one day, Monoloa could spew out within 20 minutes. That's what it did in 1984. While Monoloa's smaller sibling has been throwing tantrums for a while, the giant has been

slumbering ever since its last eruption. But very recently, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory has recorded more than 200 many earthquakes below Monoa. It likely means an increased flow of magma down there. Good morning. The volcano might be waking up or not. If Monaloa did suddenly erupt, lava flows could reach the ocean and the most populated and touristy places like Captain Cook very, very quickly in a matter of hours. In 1984, the last time the volcano erupted, lava got as far as the outskirts of Hilo on the other side of the island. That's where a campus of

the University of Hawaii is found. Luckily, people had a few weeks warning to get ready for the disaster. These days, locals have special go bags ready with the most important stuff, including documents and money. Such precautions can come in handy in case of an Emergency evacuation. Even though most Monoa eruptions have so far only affected the summit area, several of them sent lava all the way down to the ocean. And you never know how powerful the next eruption will be. Now, what is the highest mountain on Earth? Mount Everest, you say? Well, it depends. From

seafloor to the summit, Monoloa, is 1,000 ft taller than the famous Himalayan peak. The volcano is so big it makes the Pacific plate it's sitting on Literally slump under its weight. Scientists say that when this monster of a volcano erupts, the volume of lava coming out per unit will be life-threatening. Over its recorded history, Monoloa has been erupting regularly, almost every 6 years. And even though the last eruption of the volcano occurred about 40 years ago, scientists are certain it'll happen again. Now, remember the scene I showed you at the beginning? Well, you can Relax.

It's not likely to happen with Monaloa. The thing is, big island volcanoes, including Monaloa, aren't very volatile. That's because they're shield volcanoes. These volcanoes got such a name because they aren't really very high and resemble a warrior's shield placed flat on the ground. Shield volcanoes get formed by very fluid lava. It travels farther and forms much thinner flows than lava erupted from a strat volcano which is conically shaped And tall like the infamous Crakatoa in Indonesia. So if or should I say when Monaloa erupts, there probably won't be ash clouds and tons of debris. The

most dangerous thing will be lava. Since Monaloa is a shield volcano, its lava is extremely fluid and voluminous, which allows it to flow far and fast. Using theoretical vent maps, experts from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory have made charts of possible lava flows. They're kind of worried About earthquakes clustering at high rates. It likely means that lava is on the move under the surface. 500 to 600 earthquakes per day are a serious reason to be on high alert. On the other hand, it doesn't necessarily mean a disaster or inevitable eruption. Around a decade ago, several earthquakes

that happened at the same time signaled that something was happening under Monoa. But an eruption didn't occur. Instead, half the volcano shifted a bit to the south. This Way, it probably gave more room to magma so that it had enough space to stay beneath the surface. Now, let's get back to the catastrophic eruption we saw at the beginning of the video. That's what often happens when a super volcano erupts. Those are volcanoes that have at least once had an eruption with a volcanic explosivity index of 8, which is the largest recorded number on the index.

Super volcanoes are often extremely large with no cone at all. That's because they're typically the remains of gigantic magma chambers that once flared up, leaving behind a caldera. They're usually found over hot spots. Super volcanoes can produce super eruptions, and when they do, they blow more than 240 cubic miles of ash, molten rock, and hot gases up into the air. In other words, four super eruptions could fill the Grand Canyon to the brim. Super volcanoes get formed when gigantic volumes of scorching hot magma are Trying to escape from deep underground. This magma rises close to

the surface, but can't break through Earth's crust. That's why a huge pressurized pool of bubbling magma gathers at a depth of only several miles. The pressure keeps growing because more magma is trying to get to the surface until bam, a super eruption occurs. The most recent super eruption happened in New Zealand. Well, when I say recent, I mean around 26,500 years ago. Nah, I wasn't around Then. That's when a super volcano beneath the surface of Lake Tabo spewed into the air more than 300 cubic miles of ash and pummus. Imagine 500,000 great pyramids of Giza

flying up at the same time. That's how incredibly powerful that eruption was. But the most exciting and confusing thing about the eruption was that the Tao volcano simply didn't go off like many others. At first, everything was going as usual. More than 200 square miles of magma had built up Under the surface and the pressure was getting higher and higher. But after the rock crashed and the first part of lava rushed out of the crater, something went wrong and the super volcano took a break. Only several months later, the disastrous eruption shook the ground, and

thousands of tons of lava, rocks, and ash flew high into the atmosphere. But the age of super volcanoes isn't over. The most infamous of them all is probably the one in Yellowstone National Park. This giant handles at least three mega powerful eruptions, and who knows how many smaller ones. If this monster erupted anywhere as strongly as it did 2.1 million years ago, it would spit out more than 588 cubic miles of red hot material. You can probably picture it more vividly if I tell you that this volume is comparable to 65 million capital rotundas in

Washington DC piled together. Wow. Anyway, scientists are sure that Yellowstone doesn't present Any danger these days. For an eruption to happen, magma inside must be at least 50% molten. With a Yellowstone caldera, this number is just 5 to 15%. But of course, Yellowstone isn't the only super volcano on our planet. There's also New Zealand's Tabo. You already know about Japan's Eric Cauldra, California's Long Valley, Indonesia's Toba. Any of them can one day produce a super eruption. There are also several so-called super volcanoes that haven't lived up to this Name yet because they've never produced anything

like a super eruption. For example, in 1883, Indonesian volcano Crakatoa went off. The power of the eruption tore the volcano's walls open and cold seawater rushed into its molten insides. The difference in temperature made the volcano blow up with a deafening boom. It was clearly heard 2,000 mi away in Australia. It earned the blast the title of the loudest sound in history. But even though the Consequences of this event were truly catastrophic, it still turned out not powerful enough to be called a super eruption. So you notice anything weird? Recently there have been alarming changes

in the water levels in different parts of Yellowstone Lake. At the same moment, the water level can be rising on one side of the lake and falling on the other. Ooh, it looks as if the lake basin gets lifted by some underground forces. Can it be a sign of a looming Disaster? Geysers, mud pods, and hot springs turn Yellowstone National Park into some extraterrestrial world. And all these wonders are fueled by a mighty super volcano. Super volcanoes produce super eruptions. When it happens, they launch more than 240 cubic miles of ash, molten rock, and hot

gases up into the air. To make it easier to imagine, four super eruptions could fill the Grand Canyon to the brim. The Yellowstone giant was thought to be responsible for At least three enormous eruptions and countless smaller ones. In that region, the volcanic deposits are scattered over tens of thousands of miles. Scientists believe they had been created by many weak eruptions. But after doing more research, experts found out these deposits had been left by two previously unknown super eruptions. Those probably took place about 9 and 8.7 million years ago. This discovery means that the area

around the Yellowstone volcano used to Face a super eruption every half a million years. But over the last 3 million years, the hot spot has seen only two super eruptions. It makes scientists believe these catastrophic events are slowing down. Or just maybe, one is overdue. Anyway, if the Yellowstone super volcano went off with as much power as it had 2.1 million years ago, it would spit out more than 588 cubic miles of boiling lava. That's more than 4,500 times the volume of Sydney Harbor. That's a lot of lava. Whether it's likely to happen or not

is another question. There's no doubt that something is going on with the volcano. The water level changes in Yellowstone Lake mean the caldera is lifting under the surface. And the caldera is what's left over after a volcano erupts and then collapses. The Yellowstone caldera is not just going up creating a dome-shaped uplift. It also moves up and down in a kind of breathing motion. It Might be because the magma is seeping into the crust or because this magma is heating up the Yellowstone hydrothermal system, making it expand and raise the crust. Yellowstone has the status

of an active volcano. Its volcanic explosivity index is 8 out of 10. Such a high number means that if this volcano erupted, it would be an apocalyptic event. Right before the disaster, the ground around the national park would lift. Geothermal pools and geysers would heat up to Boiling temperatures and get more acidic than usual. The magma would start to rise toward the surface. At some point, the rock roof of the magma chamber wouldn't be able to resist anymore, and the explosion would kick off. A massive column of lava and ash would shoot up to a

height of over 16 miles. After that, the volcano would keep pumping ash for days on end. The mixture of lava, ash, and gas would be hotter than 1,800° F. It would travel through the area at a Speed of 300 mph, faster than a racing car. The air near the center of the eruption would heat up to 570° F. One of the most dangerous consequences would be ash fallout. Volcanic ash can turn into glassy cement within seconds after being inhaled and getting in the lungs. People and animals would have problems with breathing. Okay, so that's an

understatement, just so you know. Buildings would start to collapse under the weight of this dense substance. It Would take just several days until a 10-ft layer of ash covered the territory of about 50 m around the center of the eruption. After the ash got into the stratosphere, the temperatures all over the world would start to drop. If the eruption was rich in sulfur, an effective sun blocker, it would get so cold, there would be no summer in the entire world for the next several years. The monsoon seasons would change. Agriculture would face serious problems. There

would be issues with food supplies. Over the past 50 years, the Yellowstone caldera has risen almost 2 feet. It shouldn't alarm you though. Experts are sure it's a natural behavior for Yellowstone. Periods of dome-shaped uplift are followed by the caldera lowering. Scientists think the super volcano doesn't present any danger at the moment. For an eruption to happen, the magma inside has to be at least 50% molted. With Yellowstone, this number is Just 5 to 15%. The probability of the eruption is 1 in 730,000. Safe to say it's a long shot. Even better, a recent study

made the researchers believe the hot spot might be in a state of decline right now, even despite all the breathing and dome raising activity. Still, there have been tons of discussions about what people could do to prevent the disastrous super eruption from happening. And the most popular and seemingly effective idea was To cool the Yellowstone super volcano down. Unfortunately, there's a catch. The volcano leaks out only 70% of the heat which comes from its magma fil chambers, but the rest of the heat stays inside. As soon as it reaches a particular threshold, the volcano erupts.

If it was possible to extract at least 35% of the Yellowstone volcano's heat, the eruption could be avoided. The cooler the magma is, the thicker and stickier it gets. it stops being so Fluid and doesn't try to get out to the surface anymore. After considering these facts, NASA scientists came up with a plan. They suggested drilling a 6 mi deep well and pumping down cold pressurized water. The temperature of the water that would get back to the surface would be approximately 662° F. This way, the heat would be gradually extracted from the volcano. And if

a geothermal plant was built on the site, it would generate plenty of electric Power. It would be very simple to produce and its price would be very alluring, about 10 cents per kilowatt hour. At first glance, it was an amazing idea. But sometime later, it started to receive a lot of criticism. Imagine drilling through the Earth's crust, getting deeper and deeper, and then wham bam, you hit a hypothermal pocket. Uh-oh. will get ready for a catastrophe. This can release gases that are likely to cause a series of super powerful Explosions. In the worst case scenario,

it may even trigger a fullscale volcanic eruption. Now, you already know about its catastrophic outcomes from fountains of lava and avalanches of molten rocks to climate changes all over the globe. Yeah, not good. Or let's say you're drilling a well to deliver cold water to the volcano and then you suddenly hit its magma chamber. In this case, instead of cooling the giant down, you'll make the top of the magma chamber much more Fragile than it used to be. And the whole construction will be at risk of collapsing at any moment. And don't forget that your

drilling may also release toxic gases. They often accumulate at the top of the reservoir with magma. Can it get any worse? Well, yes it can. The whole process would stretch for more than 16,000 years. This method is too risky to cool the volcano down as fast as people would probably want. And scientists aren't even 100% Sure that when the cooling system construction is finished, the volcano will stay cold for at least another hundred years. And last but not least, the project of making the Yellowstone super volcano a bit cooler would cost a mind-boggling $3.5 billion.

A huge price for something that might not work out altogether. Oh, by the way, Yellowstone isn't the only volcano that has a lava dome that's lifting at the moment. Lava domes are created when magma gets to the Surface and then gathers around the vent. Scientists have found one of those inside an underwater volcano in Japan. This dome is more than 2,000 ft high and more than 6 miles wide. Even though the Japanese super volcano seems to be sleeping, experts don't let their guard down. A volcanic system can go from being calm and docile to teetering

on the edge of an eruption in the blink of an eye. Another massive dome is growing in the central Andes on top of the Planet's largest active magma store. The Alto Plano Puna Plateau, well, there's a tongue twister. And where the dome was found, is the second highest plateau in the world. And the dome itself is more than half a mile tall. You might wonder how come experts have known nothing about this enormous uplift until recently. The answer is simple. It was hidden within the plateau. It's an arid region littered with volcanoes and it stretches

for thousands of miles. Yep, Another case of hiding in plain sight. It happened in Iceland on Friday, March 19th, 2021 at 8:45 p.m. about 20 m southwest of the capital. Molten rock suddenly burst through the surface from below. Bright lava fountains then lit up the night sky. A volcano in this valley finally woke up after almost 800 years of sleeping soundly. We divide volcanoes into three categories: active, dormant, or extinct. Around 1,900 of them around the globe are considered active. That Means they've erupted in the recent past and will likely do it again in the

possible near future. Dormant volcanoes haven't popped off for a long time, but they still may in the future. You could say they're sort of sleeping. As for extinct ones, those guys haven't done anything in more than a million years. The eruption in Iceland wasn't super explosive. And this all happened 6 miles from the nearest town, so everyone was perfectly safe. Many even came to see it Up close. While other brave visitors tried to fry eggs and bacon on the lava, just be careful not to burn your breakfast black. Lava can be over 2,000° F. It

burns everything in its bath. Yet, it also produces some of the most fertile land for agriculture. This eruption gave a relatively small amount of lava at first, but it's been spreading across the valley in different directions, forming a sort of shield that's Constantly growing. You can never really predict how fast a lava flow will be until you see it. It all depends on how thick it is and how steep the mountain slope. Lava can ooze slowly at about 20 ft a minute, a fraction of the average person's walking speed. Or it can flow as fast

as 30 mph, which even the fastest person on Earth can't outrun. But the lava isn't even the most dangerous thing about volcanoes. That would be the toxic gases spewing from The eruption, and those spread faster and further than the lava flow. Luckily, in Iceland's case, the wind has been blowing these gases away from residential areas. Scientists weren't surprised this volcano erupted. They knew it was coming. Increasingly stronger earthquakes had been shaking this area for the past 15 months. There were 50,000 earthquakes within just the 3 weeks leading up to the eruption. That's 100 per hour.

The volcano has Been active since March. And geologists say this could last for weeks, months, years, or even decades of constant eruptions in the area. Mount Shasta is in the top five most dangerous volcanoes in the US. So geologists are keeping a close eye on it. The last eruption was in 1250. I wasn't around then. But this volcano erupts every 600 to 800 years, which means tick- tock, we're due any day now. About an hour from Portland, Oregon, There's an active volcano that last erupted in the 19th century. Next time it goes off, scientists think

it'll produce larger amounts of ash and dust. This could cause an electrical blackout and make water unsafe to drink in the area. But the experts pay close attention to Mount Hood. They'll be able to give plenty of warning so people can react in time. Kilawea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It's been Erupting almost constantly since 1983, making it also one of the longest eruptions known on Earth. It's the youngest land volcano in Hawaii. Volcanoes can take thousands of years to form, but others can pop up practically overnight. A volcano in

Mexico just erupted in an open field in 1943 and started growing from there. Within a year, it was almost 1,500 ft tall. When the eruptions finally stopped 9 years later, the mount had reached a Height of over 9,200 ft. Mount Fuji is an iconic symbol of Japan. The last time it erupted was in 1707, and it sent a shower of burning rocks as far as 60 mi away. If a similar eruption happened today, Tokyo would be within that vicinity. Mount Fuji is right on the Ring of Fire, that horseshoe shaped region in the Pacific Ocean,

full of active volcanoes and earthquakes. From one end to the other, it's almost 25,000 m long. It could wrap all the way around The Earth's equator. In January 2020, tall volcano in the Philippines started spewing lava, sending huge plumes of ash half a mile up into the sky. The eruption even triggered a rare phenomenon, a dirty thunderstorm. That's when the smoke cloud above a volcano produces its own lightning. The chance of volcanic tsunamis was also high. Those are usually caused by tectonic movements that occur because of volcanic activity. Tall has erupted more than 30 times

in the last 450 years. This volcano in Ecuador last erupted in 2016. Scientists think it might be showing some early warning signs of magma on the move. This is an active strat volcano, a specific cone-shaped type with steep sides. They form from sticky lava that doesn't flow that easily. That lava goes around the vent, cooling and piling on itself to form these steep walls. These types are more Likely to produce explosive eruptions like the ones we see in movies. Rua Peeu is the oldest national park in New Zealand. A volcanic wonderland where you can closely

see all those steaming craters, magnificent lakes, and unusual rock formations. It last erupted in 2007 and has had 10 eruptions since the mid 19th century. But eruptions, lava flows, and toxic gases aren't the only danger coming from volcanoes. There's also a thing called laahar, a kind of volcanic Mud flow of debris. In between eruptions, snow melts and a lake forms in the caldera. If the last eruption brought mud, ash, and rocks in the lake, it becomes dangerously full. In that case, only a temporary dam holds it back. Indonesia has the biggest number of active volcanoes

in the world, including one called Anac Krakatoa. It means child of Krakatoa and its famous parent isn't far away. A huge tsunami in 2018 partially woke Junior. A scary Thought since Senior had one of the most powerful eruptions ever seen on this planet in 1883. Crakatoa's boom was the loudest sound ever heard. People over 2,000 m away could hear the explosion. The soundwave circled the globe seven times. And scientists say it's hard to predict this volcano's eruption patterns. Mount Ysur in Vanuatu is one of just a few volcanoes in the world where you can see

a lava lake. Tourists even go there to Peer over the edge and get a look at the burning bubbling lake below. Well, except for when the volcanic activity goes to levels three and four out of five. That means there are more intense earthquakes, volcanic tremors, or steam, gas, or ash ejections. Then this place is off limits because, duh, this volcano in the DR Congo has the most active and largest lake volcano in the world. And all that lava is unusually fluid, meaning it travels Faster and further than the stuff coming out of most volcanoes. It's

certainly not amongst the tallest ones, but Ethiopia's Ali is unique in that it has a lava lake almost constantly, which is pretty rare. The locals call it a smoking mountain because its lava lake often causes eruptions. This volcano is near the Danakill Depression, one of the hottest places on our planet. Marupi has been erupting on a Regular basis since the mid6th century. This volcano helps scientists do crucial research on how eruptions work and how they can warn people in time. After it was dormant for a while, this volcano in central Mexico sprang back to life

in 1994. Ever since then, it's been producing huge mud flows and strong explosions in unpredictable intervals. In the past, enormous eruptions coming from this giant buried entire cities in pyramids. Imagine staying in a hotel and Waking up to the magnificent view of a massive volcano covered in glowing rivers of lava and clouds of ash. When it lets off heat, visitors to this area in Guatemala take a chance to roast some marshmallows there. One of the most active volcanoes on Earth is on a small island north of Sicily. Stromboli has regular explosions together with glowing lava

coming from vents inside the crater. Not too far away is Etna, Europe's most active volcano and one of the biggest continental ones in the world. By the way, Earth definitely isn't the only planet with volcanoes. The largest one in our solar system is on Mars. It would cover the entire state of Arizona and it rises nearly three times higher than Mount Everest. Oo, don't look down. The last time this volcano erupted was about 500 years ago, but recently small tremors have grown really frequent To such an extent that scientists have been recording more than a

thousand a month. I'm talking about the Campy Flagry super volcano in Italy. At one point just a few weeks ago, the area was rattled by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake with 150 tremors in just one night. It was the strongest earthquake in over 40 years. A lot of locals spent the night in their cars. But in the morning, the shakes were followed by another earthquake, a bit weaker, with a Magnitude of 3.6. So, is Italy in danger? Well, the quake itself wasn't big enough to cause serious damage, but it evoked a lot of panic. At the

moment, local authorities are working on grandiose emergency plans. If worse comes to worse, they'll have to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people. One of the reasons is the proximity of this area to Naples with more than 3 million inhabitants. At the moment, they're even Considering an option of paying people to leave their homes. Right now, schools remain closed in the Campy Flagry area. The authorities are allocating more than 500 million euros to ensure the safety of buildings and constructions in the area. A yellow alert is still in place in the region where 80,000 people live.

There's the so-called red zone, which is the most dangerous area. There are 1,250 houses in this red zone, and all of them will be at high seismic risk if an eruption begins. Plus, more than twice as many will be at medium risk. Italy is a country prone to seismic activity. And Potui is a densely populated area that is located on one of the most dangerous super volcanoes in Europe. Campy Flaggery has 24 hidden underground craters and dwarfs the better known Vuvius. Yes, the very volcano that wiped the ancient Roman City of Pompei off the face

of the earth in 79 CE. This city thrived near the base of Mount Vuvius at the Bay of Naples. In the time of the early Roman Empire, 20,000 people lived in Pompei. They were merchants, manufacturers, farmers, and others. The soil in the region was rich and fertile, so there were lots of orchards and vineyards. Strangely, no one knew that this black earth was the legacy of an earlier eruption of Mount Vuvius. The area was a favorite summer destination for rich Romans. Sadly, at noon on August 24th, 79 CE, all this prosperity came to an end.

The peak of Mount Vuvius exploded, sending a 10-m high mushroom cloud of ash and pummus into the stratosphere. For the next 12 hours, the eruption was wreaking havoc on the city. Volcanic ash and a hail of pummus stones, some of which were 3 in in diameter, showered Pompei. It forced the city's occupants to flee in terror. Around 2,000 people holed up in stone structures and cellars, paralyzed by fear. They hoped to wait out the eruption. Who knows, maybe if they had decided to leave the city immediately after the beginning of the eruption, they would have

had some chances to survive. A westerly wind protected the city from the first stages of the eruption. But soon, a giant cloud of hot ash and gas rushed down the western slope of Vuvius. It engulfed the city, Burning everything in its way. This disastrous cloud was followed by a flood of volcanic mud and rock which completely buried the city. As if the volcano was making sure no one would survive, a cloud of toxic gas poured onto the city, finishing the lives of a few survivors. On August 25th, a flow of rock and ash followed. It

collapsed roofs and walls and turned the city into a giant cemetery. When a super volcano erupts, The consequences are usually catastrophic. Super volcanoes have at least once had an eruption with a volcanic explosivity index of 8, which is the largest recorded number on the index. Super volcanoes are often extremely large with no cone at all. That's because they're typically the remains of gigantic magma chambers that once flared up, leaving behind a caldera. They're usually located over hot spots And appear when huge volumes of magma are trying to escape from deep underground. Eventually, they burst through

Earth's surface. Sometimes all this magma gets stuck, unable to break through the planet's crust. And then massive pools of pressurized magma gather at a depth of several miles. The pressure keeps growing because more and more magma is trying to get to the surface. At one point, a super eruption goes Off. The most recent super eruption happened in New Zealand. Well, when I say recent, I meant around 26,500 years ago. That's when a super volcano beneath the surface of Lake Tapo spewed into the air more than 300 cubic miles of ash and pummus. Imagine 500,000 great

pyramids of Giza flying up into the air at the same time. That's how incredibly powerful that eruption was. But the most exciting and confusing thing about the Eruption was that the Talpo volcano didn't simply go off like many others. At first, everything was going as usual. Tons and tons of pressurized magma had built up under the surface, and the pressure was getting higher and higher. But after the rock cracked and the first portion of lava rushed out of the crater, something went wrong and the super volcano took a break. Only several months later, the disastrous

eruption shook the ground. Thousands of tons of Lava, rocks, and ash flew high into the atmosphere. The unusual pattern of Taopo still confuses scientists. The Indonesian eruption at Toba Caldera 75,000 years ago was the largest eruption in the last 2 million years. Experts estimate that the eruption could have released hundreds of thousands of tons of sulfuric acid, which might have even caused a several degree cooling of the planet's surface. But nowadays, the impact is hard to detect because of Glaciers that covered the ground afterward. There are also several so-called super volcanoes that haven't lived up

to this name yet because they've never produced any super eruptions. For example, in 1883, Indonesian volcano Crakatoa went off. The power of the eruption tore the volcano's walls open and cold seaater rushed into its molten insides. The difference in temperatures made the volcano blow up with a deafening boom. It was clearly heard 3,000 m away in Australia. It earned the blast the title of the loudest sound in history. But even though the consequences of this event were truly catastrophic, it still turned out not powerful enough to be called a super eruption. It only had a

volcanic explosivity index of six. Then there's also Mount Aloa. It's a shield volcano, which means it won't produce explosive eruptions, but its sheer size makes this monster of a volcano Extremely dangerous. At the moment, the volcano seems to be at peace with its surroundings. Research equipment doesn't show any signs of activity on Monaloa, but if Monaloa did suddenly erupt, lava flows could reach the ocean and the most populated and touristy places like Captain Cook very fast. in a matter of hours. The last time the volcano erupted, lava got as far as the outskirts of Hilo

on the other side of the island. That's where the University Of Hawaii is located. Luckily, people had a few weeks warning to get ready for the disaster. Over its recorded history, Monaloa has been erupting pretty regularly, almost every 6 years. On the bright side, big island volcanoes, including Monaloa, aren't really very volatile. That's because they're shield volcanoes. These volcanoes got such a name because they aren't really very high and resemble a warrior shield placed flat on the ground. Shield Volcanoes are formed by very fluid lava. It travels way farther and forms much thinner flows than

the lava erupted from a strat volcano which is conically shaped and tall like the infamous Krakatoa in Indonesia. So, if Monaloa erupts, there probably won't be ash clouds or tons of debris. The most dangerous thing will be lava. Since Monaloa is a shield volcano, its lava is extremely fluid and voluminous, which allows it to flow far and Fast. Brighter green plants might give us a warning when a volcano is stirring. Turns out, unlike earthquakes, which are super unpredictable, volcanoes can sometimes show early signs. Plants growing around volcanoes look healthier when volcanic activity ramps up because

they thrive on increased carbon dioxide levels, a gas that volcanoes emit during eruptions and through underground magma. They also turn browner when the volcanic activity peaks, likely due to harmful Gases and heat harming the vegetation. Scientists use satellites to figure this all out. They analyze satellite data spanning from 1984 to 2022. Future changes might be tracked through satellite imagery as well. Now, this isn't easy to measure directly, especially when volcanoes are tucked away in hard-to-reach lush areas such as Tall Volcano in the Philippines and Mount Etna in Italy. This way, plants could give us a

heads up about volcanic Eruptions years before they happen. With this new weird method, we could save nearby communities by enhancing safety measures, minimizing property damage, and improving evacuation plans. Volcanoes and plants are often tied in mysterious ways. For example, volcanic eruptions in Crakatoa, Indonesia gave a surprising boost to Seguero cacti in Arizona's Sonora Desert, even though they're thousands of miles away. When the infamous Crakatoa volcano erupted in The 19th century, it sent shock waves around the world and suddenly helped nurture a generation of cigaros. These incredible cacti can be up to 40 ft tall as

adults, but they start life as tiny seedlings that struggle to survive in the desert's harsh conditions. However, thanks to the cooler and wetter conditions caused by volcanic eruptions like Crakatoa, they can get unbelievable growth spurts. Chillier summers and milder winters that follow such Eruptions create perfect conditions for young saguaros, which usually don't make it due to extreme heat and cold. But volcanoes not only influence plants, they're also Earth's jewelry makers. Deep beneath the surface, in the fiery heart of a volcano, conditions are just right to form dazzling gems. When volcanoes erupt, they can bring these

treasures up to the surface. One of the most famous gems created by volcanic activity is the diamond. They're usually Found in rare type of volcanic rock called kimberlite, which forms deep within the earth under extreme pressure and temperature. Millions of years ago, kimberlite eruptions, small but powerful volcanic events, hauled diamonds from deep within the earth. This created sources for many of today's diamond mines. Now, these eruptions didn't happen just anywhere, but originated from the stable hearts of continents known as kratons. They were bursting Forth from as deep as 75 mi underground. Fueled by a mix

of carbon dioxide and water, they were like natural rockets blasting through the earth to form parrotshaped channels filled with diamondladen rocks. Recently, scientists have delved into why these eruptions happen. They suggested that the breakup of ancient superc continents like pangia disrupted the mantle's flow underneath, triggering these spectacular kimberlite eruptions. When a volcano that hosts kimberlite erupts, it can propel these precious stones toward the surface where we eventually find them. There are other gems that can be found in solidified lava like paridote, a bright green stone that forms in the molten rock of the upper mantle

and is brought to the surface by volcanic activity. There's also obsidian, a shiny glass-like rock that forms when lava cools rapidly. And then there are some insane rocks like The ones that can hold water in them even in lava. The deeper we dive in volcanoes, the rarer are the gems we can find. If we dive into the thick layer known as the mantle, we might find olivine, a resilient, pretty green mineral that makes up about half of this layer. It loves high temperatures and happily forms in lava, eventually crystallizing into the ignous rocks we find

scattered across the Earth's surface thanks to volcanic eruptions. As Olivine cools, it starts to crystallize. Sometimes these crystals are tiny, but other times they grow large and can be polished into beautiful gemstones used in jewelry or industrial processes like metal casing. But as we venture deeper, about 250 mi down, olivine undergoes a fascinating transformation. Here we encounter the layer that's called the transition zone. In the transition zone, the pressure is intense and the heat is on the rise. In this place, olivine Morphs into exotic materials like Wadley side and ringwoodite. They show a lovely blue

green hue and a glossy sheen. While they're too rare and small for jewelry, they have a unique ability to hold water within their structures, not as droplets, but as hydrogen and oxygen components, making up to 3% of their volume. Later, it turned out that the transition zone is not just a pressure cooker for minerals. It's a giant sponge holding a vast underground water Reservoir. This was a groundbreaking discovery. Do you get the pun? This hidden water doesn't form an ocean as we know it, but suggests vast amounts of water are stored deep within the earth.

Volcanoes can help us learn more about life, not only on our planet, but on others as well. In the fiery heart of Costa Rica's Pois volcano lies Lagona Caliente. This hydrothermal crater lake is among the most brutal environments on Earth. We've got a whole bunch here. Scalding temperatures, toxic minerals, and water so acidic it can corrode metal. But despite all that, there's a few tough microorganisms that manage to thrive in these conditions. And this remarkable survival has caught the attention of scientists because it might just hold clues about life on Mars. Scientists are studying these

extreme microbes. Turns out they've developed a myriad of genetic adaptations to withstand their harsh surroundings. They Have genes that help them process everything from sulfur and iron to carbon and bioplastic granules. All these things could be crucial in environments as challenging as Mars. NASA's Perseverance rover is currently exploring the crater rim of Jazerero Crater on Mars. Previously, we looked for Martian life signs in places like old stream beds and river deltas. However, the discovery of Lagona Caliente suggests that we should Probably look for life in the remnants of ancient Martian hot springs as well. These

spots might have once had the right cocktail of heat, water, and energy sources that are thought to be essential for kickstarting biology. Volcanoes can help planets in many ways, but they can also destroy life. Scientists believe that volcanic activity was one of the main reasons for at least three of Earth's five mass extinctions. Take the mass extinction of Dinosaurs. We're used to blaming it on the Chickixaloo meteorite, but there's a chance it could have been caused by volcanoes. The consequences of the eruptions can be horrifying. Mount Tambbora, located on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, erupted

in 1815 and was the most powerful eruption ever recorded in history. This massive eruption was so strong it ejected between 8 to 11 cubic miles of material. It was so loud that the sounds of the Eruption were heard as far away as Somatra, over 1,600 m distant. Before its catastrophic eruption, Tambbora had been dormant for centuries, and its magma chamber slowly cooled and crystallized. This process built up immense pressure inside the volcano. It was eventually released in a series of terrifying events starting on April 5th, 1815. The climax came on April 10th when massive plumes

of ash and pummus were thrown into the atmosphere. The Aftermath of the eruption was dire. Tsunamis devastated the surrounding area. It's estimated that around 4,600 people passed away immediately from the eruption itself with ash fallouts affecting air quality and water sources across the region. This event came down in history as the year without a summer. This was due to the vast amount of sulfur dioxide Tambbora ejected into the stratosphere. It created a veil of aerosols that reflected sunlight and Significantly lowered global temperatures. A similar thing happened to our planet 66 million years ago during the

dinosaur extinction. The sky turned black for months. I mean, I wasn't there, but that's what they say. This is not some hypothetical situation or fairy tale. The Vuvius super volcano that erased the city of Pompei may wake up again and destroy many other towns built near the mountain. And to understand what Consequences humanity would face if it wakens this time, it's smart to note what the eruption did 2,000 years ago with the ancient city. So Pompei was a thriving city in the Roman Empire, located just 5 miles from Vuvius on the west coast of Italy.

It was a resort where the noblest and richest people rested. They walked along cozy streets, lived in beautiful villas, and had fun beside fountains. The soil in this region was Fertile since the ground around the volcano had a lot of useful elements. Olives and grapes from Pompei were sold throughout the empire. About 12,000 people lived in Pompei by the time of the eruption. It seems not so much compared to modern standards, but it was considered a big city in those days. The catastrophe began unexpectedly in 79 CE. At first, everyone felt the ground tremble. Birds

flew away from the Volcano as far as possible. There was tension in the air because of the impending catastrophe. The volcano started to release thick smoke, soot, and ash. There was so much of it that soon it obscured the sky over the city with a heavy gray cloud. Vuvius spat out gases, rocks, and dirt. Hot ash polluted the air and made it difficult for people to breathe. Locals couldn't see inside this gray haze. And then it started raining Heavily. The water mixed with ash and soot and fell on Pompei. Roofs of houses broke under the

heavy weight of mud. Streets, fountains, alleys, and squares were hidden under millions of tons of soot. The next day, the destruction continued with renewed force. There was an explosion of hot gas and crushed rock at the top of the mountain. A devastating blast wave at a speed of 100 mph dispersed in all directions and vaporized all the trees In its path. When the wave reached Pompei, it turned the city into ruins. On the second day, the eruption stopped. By this time, the great town had been lying under a thick blanket of ash. By the way,

this type of eruption is called an explosive one. But when lava flows out of a volcano and causes a fire, this is a quiet eruption. The last time Vuvius erupted was in 1944. But even today, it's still one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the World. But nobody's afraid of it. 3 million people live around the mountain about 20 m from the crater. If the volcano wakes up, it could be one of the most enormous cataclysms in the modern world. Pompei was destroyed almost 2,000 years ago. Since then, science and technology have advanced a lot.

We're planning to colonize Mars someday. We've created a metaverse. But so far, we're still powerless before the forces of nature. An erupting super volcano can Destroy nature around it and cause technogenic catastrophes in big cities. The phone lines would be overloaded and people wouldn't be able to call their loved ones or the rescue service. There would be big traffic jams on the roads. Panic would spread throughout the streets. Fires would start because of falling hot soot. All flights would be cancelled and locals would have to hide in airports, supermarkets, and the subway. A large Gray

cloud would obscure the sun and make the air hot. The only thing that can help us in such a situation is a preliminary warning about the upcoming eruption and good preparation. So, if the disaster starts while walking on the streets, you should take shelter in a car or building. It's better to buy a dusk mask in advance that allows you to breathe freely. If there's no mask, cover your nose and mouth with any cloth. If you stay at home, close all Doors and windows so volcanic ash can't get into your apartment or home. These incandescent

particles can easily set fire to a carpet or curtains. Put wet towels under the door sills. If you need to go outside for some reason, wear a suit covering your body completely. Don't forget about the protection for your eyes. Put on special glasses that have a dustproof function. And remember about the mask. If you have a house, you need to Disconnect the downpipes from the gutters to avoid clogging the drains. If your house has a rainwater collection system, you need to disconnect the pipes from the tank. Rain with ashes is a hot, dense mess that

can easily break the water supply system. Fill the tub and sink to have water for washing and cleaning in case the central water supply is turned off. Set the lowest temperature on the fridge and freezer. Your food will be stored much longer if Electricity is shut down in the city. Go to a room without windows above ground level and wait for a message from authorities on the radio or TV. Keep the receiver close to you so you don't miss anything important. The device must have a full charge, a strong body, and a powerful antenna. Here's

an excellent option for survival in the Ashp apocalypse. The eruption is intensifying, and you hear on the radio About the evacuation. At this point, you need to calm down and follow the instructions from rescuers. Collect a bag at home with food, water, and medical supplies. Your emergency kit should include flares, maps, a first aid kit, sleeping bags, flashlights, a fire extinguisher, a portable phone charger, car tools, and a few charged batteries. You should always have a filled gasoline canister if you live near an active Volcano. Going to the gas station is not a good idea

during the evacuation. You can get into a long traffic jam and spend too much time in it. If you don't have a car, ask your friends for help or pay someone for a ride. It's possible the city administration would organize buses for evacuation. You would find out about it through the radio. In any case, before leaving the house, don't forget to turn off the gas and electrical devices and Shut off the valve with the water supply to prevent your home from a gas leak or flooding. Government officials. So, you're driving a car. The authorities must

announce the plans for evacuation. Don't go off the route because some roads can be blocked. Perhaps they will say the eruption is over and you can return home. Maybe the eruption will be so strong that it will destroy the city. Anyway, if you're prepared, you'll have fewer things to worry about. Modern Seismic sensors monitor the fluctuations of tectonic plates and the volcano's activity, so the eruption won't be a surprise. Pompei is far from the only city destroyed by the eruption. In 1785, a similar disaster occurred in the Japanese town of Alushima. It was located right

in the crater of an active volcano. And one day, it woke up. It was sunny weather and no one suspected a disaster was coming. At some Point, the birds rose in the air and flew away. Then the ground began to shake. A heavy low sound came from the depths of the island and thick streams of smoke and ash erupted from the volcano. The volcano threw dirt and big red hot stones into the sky. It looked like a meteor shower. People evacuated and the mountain continued to erupt for several weeks. When the ashes settled, the volcano

fell asleep again and people Began to return to their city. Despite the risk of a new eruption, they continue to live and work there today. Since then, more than 200 years have passed, and the volcano never woke up. Meteorological and seismological services monitor the situation and seismic activity. After all the horrors and devastation that a volcanic eruption leads to, Harmony and Nature eventually comes. Decades and centuries later, Volcanic ash, rich in helpful food elements, settles on the soil and makes it fertile. Then life will rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Fraser Island sits off

the coast of sunny Queensland, Australia. But don't fall for its beauty. It's home to the most dangerous beach in the world. There's nowhere on the island to seek medical attention. If you do run into danger, you're on your own. Dingo attacks are super common Here. If you don't know what a dingo is, it looks like an adorable dog. But beware, this wild breed is extremely dangerous. And the dingo's nashing teeth aren't the only thing to be scared of. The seas around the island are swimming with great white sharks. There's jellyfish in the water, too. Fraser

Island is home to some of the world's most dangerous kinds, including the Portuguese blue bottle. One sting from its venomous tentacle is Enough to take down an adult human. Even if you manage to avoid the creatures on the island, the sea itself is perilous. The waters are incredibly rough and have powerful rip tides. These are strong currents that will pull you away from the shore. And remember, there are no lifeguards to come to your rescue if you get in trouble. Even the sand is dangerous. Car rollovers in the thick dunes happen all the time. It's

definitely best to swap Your car for a dune buggy. Travelers also often drive down the dunes straight into the lakes below, but the lakes are incredibly shallow, which is not very safe. Fraser Island is also known for its beautiful lookout points, but you'll need to watch your step. You might feel on top of the world, but stay well away from the edges as jagged rocks and crashing waves line the shore below. There's an island in Brazil known as Snake Island, which is equally Dangerous. I wonder what the hazard could be here. It's home to thousands

of golden lance head vipers, which are one of the most venomous snakes on the planet. They grow to over 20 in long, and their fast acting venom melts the flesh from around their bites. There are around 4,000 snakes on the tiny 106 acre isle. Snake Island has become so dangerous that the Brazilian authorities had to ban everyone from going there. For years, the only human inhabitants to Brave the island were a lighthouse keeper and his family. But local legend says that one night, a group of snakes crawled in through a window to attack, and the

family was never seen again. Known as the gas mask town, the island of Miyaki is not one to visit in a hurry. It's home to a fiery, active volcano that has erupted several times over the past few years. There were several massive eruptions leading to the spread of a highly poisonous gas across The island. Residents are now required to carry gas masks at all times, and a terrifying alarm blar across the island whenever the poison levels get too high. The island is also in the middle of the Devil's Sea. Ships mysteriously vanish in the area,

and experts have no idea why. The North Sentinel Island is home to a remote and unwelcoming tribe. They lived alone on the island without any modern technology or contact with the outside world for over 60,000 years. And That's just the way they like it. They've been known to fire arrows at anyone who attempts to enter the island. There are many stories of people visiting the island and they are never seen again. It's not ghoulish ghosts or slithering snakes that you have to worry about on the Caribbean island of Saba. It's hurricanes. The tiny island has

been hit by more severe hurricanes than anywhere in the world over the last 150 years. There have even been seven Tropical cyclones, which is an intense circular storm. The winds in these storms can reach 254 km an hour. Try standing up in that. You'll also struggle to find a pilot who'll even land on the island. It's incredibly dangerous, not because of the winds, but because it's home to the shortest runway in the world. It's only 440 yd long. Two huge rocky ridges surround the runway, so there's no room for mistakes. The Kiloea beaches of Hawaii

used to be one Of the most dangerous in the world. The Kilawea volcano has been almost consistently erupting for the past 35 years, spewing red hot lava into the surrounding waters. The water temperatures have even passed boiling point as a result of the lava. Happily, it's no longer active. While the island of Bikini Atoll might sound like the perfect summer vacation destination, it's most certainly not. The problem is that this place has dangerously high Radiation levels, and the locals had to leave it. Although the island was declared safe in the9s, its original inhabitants have refused

to return. The lack of fishing in the area has also led to a massive increase in sharks who swim the waters in search of their next meal. Strangely, the corals and reefs are thriving. From the distance, Ramry Island looks idyllic. White sand, swaying palms. But beware, they say thousands of hungry saltwater crocodiles Used to lurk there, ready to strike at any time. The exact number of those animals was unknown, and some scientists claim that there are quite a few of them right now. I'd stay well clear of the island, though. I don't really feel like

becoming crocodile food. Skeleton Coast in Namibia is appropriately named as the harsh landscape and lack of water make life almost impossible. Whale carcasses, turtle shells, and elephant rib cages Litter the shore. If that isn't bad enough, lions and hyenas patrol the beach in search of their next meal. The surrounding waters are just as dangerous as they are home to 11 different species of shark. Many sailors have become lost on this coast and have never been seen again. Cape Tribulation in Australia also lives up to its name as it is packed full of dangers. Swimmers have

to wear special stinger suits because the water is teeming with stinging Jellyfish. Saltwater crocodiles also hide in the water, but they don't make a suit to keep you safe from those. It's not just the jellyfish that sting. The area is covered in stinging trees. The trees have jagged leaves that give the crocs teeth a run for their money. On land, there's angry casawary birds. There are flightless birds that are the same size as an ostrich. They have sharp talents that can easily slice through skin. The Otakiv beach in Norway is one Of the best places

to see the northern lights, but you'll be lucky if you survive more than one night there. The seas surrounding the island can reach 46° F, and that's just in the summer. It probably feels like swimming in ice cream. For years, Gansby Beach has remained a habitat for the most dangerous creatures on the planet. Sharks are particular fans of its waters, and the coastal stretch is known as the great white shark capital. The Sharks are attracted to the 60,000 sea lions that flock to the beach every year. Not just shark food, wild sea lions can be

unpredictable and aggressive towards humans. Kamaro Islands are the worst vacation destination for those who don't really like mosquitoes. The place is swarming with the little guys. Locals say all the water on the island must be contaminated because of them. So, they like to sterilize water before drinking, Making ice, and even brushing their teeth. If you're really into coconuts, there's one place you should probably go to grab some. I'm talking Danger Island. Yep, it's the real name of one of the islands in the Chagos Archipelago. It shouldn't scare you off, though. The major problem it has

is parking. I mean, safe anchorage for those who come there. Finally, while it may sound dreamy, you're probably going to want to avoid the beaches of the Amazon. Sharp tothed Red-bellied piranhas, anacondas, and electric eels are just some of the beach's regular residents. It has one of the widest varieties of animal species on the planet, including the Amazonian giant centipede, which has a poisonous bite. It's not just the animals of the Amazon that you have to watch out for. Stricknosse and Kurari are the two Amazonian plants that are super poisonous. One of the few places

you haven't traveled to yet is a volcano. It's an opening in the Earth's crust through which hot gases, molten rock, and other stuff get to the surface of the planet. But which one should you choose? There are different kinds of them. For example, shield volcanoes are built almost entirely of solidified lava flows or lava domes formed by small masses of lava that are too thick to travel great distances. You can also pick a cinder cone. It's the simplest kind of volcano out there. It's built From blobs of almost solid lava that erupts from a single

vent. This lava is ejected into the air with great force. Then it breaks into tiny fragments that become solid and fall back as cinders. With time, they form an oval or circular cone around the vent. Such cones rarely rise more than a thousand feet. But what if you choose something even more impressive? How about traveling down a strat volcano? Huge, steep-sided, and powerful. Once you've made your choice, You also decide to opt for an active volcano that is erupting at this very moment. What you're observing now is called a glowing avalanche. The volcano has just

erupted a huge portion of lava which has created a pyrolastic flow. Its temperature can reach an insane,300° F. You see how this flow gets formed from rock fragments and surges down the flank of the volcano at a speed of several hundred mph. Ash is raining down on Earth like grayish Powdery snow. Volcanic ash consists of tiny particles of pulverized rock, volcanic glass, and minerals. When the ash gets mixed with the water from mountain streams and rivers, raging mud flows appear. Despite how scary it all looks, you get closer. Good thing you're wearing a protective suit

that can withstand any temperature. The nearer you get, the more fummeralss you spot. These are holes and cracks at the base of the volcano and in its slopes. They Emit huge clouds of steam and volcanic gases, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Some of the cracks are so large you can probably squeeze through and sneak a peek inside the volcano. But you have a different destination, the crater. On your way there, you spot a strange conical structure on the side of the volcano. It looks like a horn growing on the main cone. It must be a

secondary cone, also known as a parasitic cone. Such cones form around Secondary vents that reach the surface of large volcanoes. In this case, an eruption can occur not only through the main vent at the top of the volcano, but also through these additional vents. In any case, that's not where you're heading. Soon, you reach the crater. It's a massive circular basin. When you go to its edge and look inside, you see it's also very deep. The lava vent, which is where you need to go, is at the bottom of the crater. But even before Jumping

into the vent, you spot some strange tubes hiding under the lava flow. Those are lava tubes, natural passages through which fresh liquid lava travels beneath the surface of the lava flow. You decide to make a detour and follow one of the tunnels. It's the main lava tube. You also spot several smaller tubes. They supply lava to one or more lava flows. If the volcano wasn't erupting at the moment, the lava would drain down slope from this tube system. The passages would have lava marks on the walls, a flat floor, and lava stellactites hanging from the

ceiling. But even now, there's some empty space above the flowing lava. That's because it has eroded downward, making the tube deeper. But right now, you need to get back. You take the next turn and get back to the cradle. You wait till the volcano spews another portion of boiling lava and dive into the volcano's throat. It's the entrance of the volcano. Lava And volcanic ash get ejected from here. The volcano's throat is wide and you easily travel deeper down. The lava around you glows bright red and orange. That's because when it first bursts to the

surface, its temperature can reach 2200° F. That's hot enough to melt iron. You move down the volcano's main vent. It's a weak point in our planet's crust. There, scorching hot magma manages to escape from its chamber and reach the surface. while going deeper and deeper Into the vent. You notice sills. Sometimes lava intrudes between the crack in the crust, pools there, and crystallizes. This creates deposits of ash and solidified lava. That's what sills are. Pretty soon, you reach a magma chamber. It's a large pool of molten rock. The one you're in at the moment is

quite shallow. That's because it's not the main one. After traveling several more miles down through the vent, you get to another huge magma Chamber. It supplies the small one beneath the base of the volcano. The main magma chamber lies in Earth's crust, which stretches from 3 to 44 m deep. The molten rock there remains under extreme pressure, and the temperatures inside are incredibly high. With time, the rock surrounding the magma chamber starts to break and fracture. This creates outlets for the magma. And since it's made of a much less dense material than the surrounding Rock,

the magma begins to seep through the cracks to the surface. From the main chamber, it rises to the upper one. Then it makes its way to the surface in a powerful eruption. You explore the magma chamber and then decide to go even deeper than that, to the place from where all that molten rock gets into the magma chamber. You're moving through the crust. The volcano is located on land. That's why your trip takes longer than it would if you were traveling through The oceanic crust. It's only 3 to 6 m wide. But the continental crust

is much thicker. It can be 28 mi thick in some places. As you're going through the crust, you can't but notice its light color. That's because it consists mostly of granite. If you were going through the oceanic crust, the material surrounding you would be dark or nearly black because it has a different composition. The deeper you go, the hotter it becomes. Sure, the temperature Here isn't as high as in the magma chamber, but still, at the boundary with the mantle, your thermometer shows 750° F. At a depth of about 20 m, you reach the boundary

between the crust and the Earth's upper mantle. There, the pressure reaches a mind-boggling 10,000 atmospheres. That's where magma comes from. You could finish your journey and get back to the surface, but your curiosity gets the better of you. You decide to go deeper, all the way to the Center of the Earth. The next layer on your way is the mantle. It makes up 2/3 of the Earth's mass and 84% of our planet's volume. It's 1,800 m thick. The rock closer to the inner part of the mantle is semi-olid, like caramel candy. The upper part of

the mantle as well as the crust is broken into massive pieces. They look like a colossal jigsaw puzzle. Those are tectonic plates. They drift at a speed of 1 to 2 in per year. You're moving through the upper mantle and feel The temperatures rising up to 1,600° F. Near the boundary with the core, the temperature is already as high as 7,000° F. The pressure in the lower mantle reaches 240,000 atmospheres. You'd feel the same pressure if 3,300 elephants made a tower on your head. At a depth of about 1,800 m, you see the boundary between

the mantle and the outer core. The insides of the planet around you are heated up to 9,000° F. Such temperature is high enough to keep the outer core Liquid. The pressure there is almost 2 million atmospheres, but it's not enough to make the iron that the core is made of solid again. The outer core is 1,500 m thick. It churns in massive turbulent currents and generates a magnetic field. In the outer core, Earth's magnetic field is 50 times more powerful than at the surface. You are now more than 3,000 m underground and you've reached the

inner core. It's a solid metal sphere around 1,500 m across. The inner core is Immensely dense and spins faster than the rest of the planet. The temperature there is as high as on the surface of the sun, 9,800° F. And the pressure inside the inner core is 3 million times greater than on the surface. It took about 500 million years for the inner core to form, which means it's younger than some parts of the crust. Quan volcano in Indonesia is not your ordinary lava belching mountain. Instead of producing black smoke and red lava as Most

volcanoes do, this eccentric guy lets out a blue flame and electric blue lava. This phenomenon occurs because the volcano contains some of the highest levels of sulfur in the world. And when the sulfuric gases interact with scorching air and get lit by the molten lava, they start to turn blue. Unfortunately, you can see this messmerizing site only at night, but you can smell it all day long. By the way, the world's largest acid lake is also Located inside this crater. The Dead Sea has a high concentration of salt and minerals compared to other seas, even

though it's technically a lake. Swimming is almost impossible, but people go there for the natural chemicals for the body. Floating on the surface is a great way to relax. This ancient body of water got its name because no macroscopic organisms can live there since it's 9.6 times saltier than oceans. Only a few bacteria and fungi can be found enjoying The salt. It's also Earth's lowest elevation on land at 1,400 ft below sea level. An underground crystal cave exists in Mexico and it looks like some interstellar world. It's roughly 1,000 ft beneath the surface with each

spike measuring up to 35 ft in length and weighing up to 55 tons. These are some of the largest crystals in the world. Lescent Beach is an endless strand of white sand dunes in Azure water, but don't let the tropical vibes Fool you. It's located in Scotland. That's why it mostly looks like this during May and June only. In December, the place gets only an average of one hour of sunshine per day, making it way more dramatic and monochrome. The Georgia Guide Stones is a collection of giant stones in a star pattern. It has inscriptions

in eight languages, including Hindi, Chinese, and Swahili. It also has an astronomical calendar finished in 1980 and was built The last centuries. No one knows who built it or why. All the way over in sunny California is Sequoia National Park. Home to the giant forest. It's been around for thousands of years. More than 8,000 of these colossal trees rule the land, including 10 of the largest living plants in the world. The General Sherman sequoia is estimated to be up to 2,700 years old and is recognized as the world's largest known living tree by volume. The

famous stone heads of Easter Island have been around for hundreds of years. No one knows exactly why they were built. Some scientists think that local people believe the statues would make the soil more fertile. Soil analysis proved the heads did their job well. It's the best agricultural spot on the island. The chemical composition of the ancient hot springs in Pamuk, Turkey, makes the water pouring over the edge look magical. They're not only good for Cleansing your body, but the mind, too. All the way in Saudi Arabia is a rock sliced perfectly in the middle with

two pieces sitting parallel. What makes Al-Nashla so unique is that it wasn't artificially done, but is a result of nature's work over the years. Now, this glacier may look like someone dropped tons of red paint in the middle of Antarctica, but it's actually the natural color. Blood Falls is a result of extreme salted water mixed with iron Oxide, giving out this eerie vibe in the middle of nowhere. In early May 2018, New England observed one of the scariest and most dangerous phenomena ever, a super long track tornado. The frightening natural phenomenon started not far from

Charleston, New Hampshire, and traveled toward the town of Webster in Marramac County. It took the tornado 33 minutes to cover 36 mi and become the third on the list of the longest track tornadoes In New England. In the Philippines, you can swim in some of the most crystal clearar waters and discover an underwater world below you in the province of Palawan. The municipality of Koron has white sandy beaches with many small boats riding through the many amazing sceneries. Tristan Duna is a small volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic with the only neighboring cities of Buenoseris, Argentina

and Cape Town, South Africa. It takes 7 days by ship to get to this unique place. If you want to escape from the rest of the world, staying with the 280 locals will make you feel like you're away from everything. During the first week of January 2018, unusually cold weather in the northeast United States froze the Atlantic Ocean in North Felmouth, Massachusetts. What's more, the ocean was frozen so thoroughly that people were walking on the waves. Now, that's obviously something you don't see every day. Red sand is what makes this beach unique and why tourists

flock to Tanzhen, China. A red colored plant called a sueda salsa dwells in the saltwater. The whole beach is covered in red with only the top layer of the sea visible. If there ever was a thing that said, "I defy gravity out loud," it's the stone of Devasco in Argentina. The huge 300 ton boulder stands precariously On the edge of a cliff and rocks a little bit from side to side in the wind. People even checked it by putting glass bottles under one of its edges. They exploded with another movement of the rock. Unfortunately, today

you can't see this wonder of nature as it was a century ago. In 1912, the boulder suddenly dropped from its perch, which it had occupied for literally hundreds of years. The people of the nearby town of Tandel were so sad about this event That 95 years later in 2007, they decided to restore the stone. They made a plastic replica of the rock and put it on the same spot and even in the same position. So even today coming by Tandel you can see its famous balancing boulder more of a symbol now of course because it's

no longer rocking and only weighs 9 tons but instantly recognizable nonetheless. Socatra is an alien-like island off the coast of Yemen in the Indian Ocean with one of the most unique Trees ever seen. It's called the dragon tree and it can only be found on this amazing island. In 2008, it was labeled as a world heritage site. If you ever see a tight burning column of air, don't panic. It's not the end of the world. The creepy combination of whirlwind sounds and scorching inferno means that you have crossed paths with a fire tornado, also known

as fire twister or fire whirl. This dangerous phenomenon occurs mostly During wildfires. These fires create a big area of super hot air just above the ground. When this scorching air gets mixed with the cooler air higher up, it results in a whirlwind that churns up burning debris and flames. The most powerful fires can stretch hundreds of feet into the air. The House of Mystery in Gold Hill, Oregon, amazes its visitors with gravitydeying effects. You can't stand straight there, always leaning to the side and having to hold On to something for balance. Balls roll upwards. There's

also a broom that stands perfectly still wherever you put it, unlike virtually everything else in the shack. The local Native American tribes called this place the forbidden ground even before the house was built there and they avoid approaching it. The owners of the shack though decided to turn it into an attraction and they succeeded. They created an atmosphere of mystery around the place and spread the News about it in newspapers and later on the internet. And voila, a perfect anomaly is made. In fact, it's no more than a curiosity, a human-made optical illusion that tricks

your eyes and other senses. Now, if you travel to the Philippines, Indonesia, or Papua, New Guinea, you'll have a chance to see some of the most unusual and cheerful trees in the world. The trunk of the rainbow eucalyptus looks as if it had been painted orange, green, red, purple, Yellow, brown, blue, hey, you name it. Some trees are so bright that they seem artificial. The rainbow eucalyptus regularly sheds strips of bark which reveals a bright green layer underneath. A bit later, this green layer gradually changes its color. And since the shedding happens at a different

time in different places on the trunk, the tree starts to look multicolored and very attractive. Yemen is home to the oldest skyscrapers in the world and the oldest Metropolis. The ancient city of Shabbam is considered to be the Manhattan of the desert due to the collection of mud buildings popping out of the desert floor. It used to be a caravan stop during ancient times. When you think of a volcano, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Streams of red, steaming hot lava pouring over the sides. Dark clouds of ash rising high into the sky.

Maybe you think of a relaxing hotring. Ah, that's Nice. Well, we all imagine one thing, a cone-shaped mountain looming over the horizon. But it can be as green and lush as any other mountain. At the top, of course, there's a giant hole, like an opening that goes all the way down. Inside, there's lava and gases being pushed outside. Lava is so hot that if you were standing at the top of the volcano and looked down, your face would feel as red as the color of that liquid rock oozing Out. A volcanic eruption never comes without

consequences for us. And I'm not just talking about people living nearby. The impacts are usually felt on a global scale, too. Ant fly for a while because of the blanket of ash released in the air. Not to mention, it might be a bit tricky to breathe. carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and plenty of other toxic gases whose names immediately take you back to your high school chemistry class. Funny Enough, most of that cloud rising out of a volcano is just water. Well, vaporized from those scalding temperatures. But before any volcano erupts, it goes through stages like

an angsty teen. First, magma, that's lava, before it erupts onto the surface and gets its name change, starts moving underneath the volcano. This causes earthquakes that get worse and more dangerous over time. Then, steam and different gases start spewing out of holes in the Planet's crust. Our Earth resembles a teacettle about to whistle. When the gas emissions and earthquakes get more massive, it usually means the volcano is about to blow its top. But those first stages can take years before an eruption happens. Then the magma starts building up. With more and more pressure, it's planning

to make its great escape. It's hard to notice this happening if you don't have the proper equipment. Good thing scientists do, and they've got us Covered. The volcano becomes more active by the minute. Ash starts coming out and spreading in the air, creating ominous clouds that turn day to night. With the magma building up, an eruption is imminent. Then boom, the surface gives in under the pressure below. The magma makes its exit. It's now lava spewing out the top and flowing down the sides of the mountain. None of this sounds very appealing. So, what if

it never Happened? What if there were never any volcanoes at all? Would Earth still be the same? Not at all. If volcanoes never existed, there wouldn't be an atmosphere. When our planet was still just a young pup, volcanic gases are what created our protective bubble that allows you and me to breathe right now. They also played a big part in shaping the land and oceans. 4 billion years ago, Earth was still forming. It didn't look anything like the pale blue dot we Know today. It was red hot and the water was trapped under the crust.

It wasn't until the surface started to cool down and solidify that the water was finally able to escape. Volcanoes acted sort of like a tear in the fabric of our planet. Water vapor would condense in the atmosphere and then fall back down as rain. It rained for so long that the third planet from the sun started turning into the blue ball we're more familiar with. In fact, there's even a Theory that all the water on Earth came from volcanoes. And without water, of course, life wouldn't have been able to form. Land formation went through a

similar process. You see, our planet was a pretty rough place to be when it was forming. It was a molten surface with fields of lava and constant volcanic eruptions and space rocks always crashing into it because there was no atmosphere to protect it. When it started cooling down, a good solid Surface formed, but the hot material underneath was still boiling and bubbling, and it continued making its way up. The crust would move and form thick layers with the material that was rising up. Over time, these layers became more permanent. Volcanic eruptions were still happening, but

the first land mass had finally formed. Okay, we'll take the best part of volcanoes, an atmosphere. So, what if They stopped erupting long after we got our protective breathable shield? Still not good. For starters, volcanoes created the most fertile soil. Around Naples, you have the famous Mount Vuvius. The soil quality there is incredibly rich, and that's thanks to two huge volcanic eruptions. one that happened 35,000 years ago and another 12,000 years ago. Sure, these volcanoes caused a lot of short-term damage, but in the long Run, these soils were fertilized by them. Now, the region grows

all kinds of citrus fruits, olives, grapes, cherries, and of course, their staple, tomatoes. There'd be none of that without rich volcanic soil. And Naples is by far not the only example like this. Bacteria, the first living organisms, lived in hot water. Scientists have discovered fossilized microorganisms older than 4 billion years. They thrived in hydrothermal vents. Those are fissures On the seafloor and they're usually near volcanically active places. This means that without volcanoes, we wouldn't have land, water, or even the first life forms that, as the theory goes, would eventually evolve into all the creatures we

have today. Could life have still developed on Earth without these explosive mountains? Eh, doubtful. Okay, fair enough. We want our atmosphere and life. So, let's say volcanoes stopped erupting today after We already have all these benefits. Well, we're sort of already there based on this story. At the start, there was only one continent, Pangia. It was a superc continent surrounded by one massive continuous super ocean. Volcanic activity by this time had finally calmed down. And this meant all that energy would gather below the Earth's crust. Here's a little diagram. First, we have the Earth's inner

core. Then, there's the outer core. Next up, we have our Convection currents. Magma is next in line. After that, the oceanic crust. And at the very top, we have our ocean and our continental crust. The reason pangia eventually broke up into the separate continents we have today is because of plate tectonics. It's not like the crust is all one solid piece. It's broken up into big chunks or plates that are always moving. And it's all still moving today. Yes, the land you're standing on right Now is sort of surfing on that layer of convection currents.

It's a slow process, so it's not like you can feel it. Pangia didn't break apart all at once. It took tens of millions of years. When the plates move, they cause earthquakes and volcanic activity. They create mountains, too. It's good for our planet as well because the Earth gets to sort of renew its old crust. If there was no volcanic activity now, the pressure underneath the Earth's crust Would keep building up. It'd get to a boiling point the continents couldn't handle anymore, and eventually they'd start splitting into more numerous and smaller masses. Volcanoes are still

useful to us till this day. For one, they cool our atmosphere. Their eruptions release sulfur gas. It combines with water in our atmosphere and cools it at its lowest level, which is where we live and breathe. There's also an excellent use For their heat. Geothermal power plants harness the energy coming from deep inside the Earth and turn its heat into steam. We then use that steam and turn it into electricity. This is the case for our friends in New Zealand and Iceland since they live in places with high underground temperatures. Volcanic material can also be

made into blocks for building stuff. It can be grounded down to make cement, too. If we Want, we can even search volcanoes for precious minerals like gold, copper, and sulfur. And who can forget about hot springs? Tourism to places like Yellowstone and Iceland wouldn't be the same without them. And who doesn't love a nice steamy dip in the ones safe for swimming? Oh, yeah. In the end, volcanoes aren't so bad. After all, our beautiful Earth wouldn't be what it is without them. Scientists discover the largest Water reservoir in the Oregon Cascades. It's hiding underground, holding

more than twice the water volume of Lake Meade. Let me specify. It contains at least 19.4 cubic miles of water, which is almost 162 trillion bottles of water. If you drank one bottle a day, it would take you around 444 billion years to finish your stock. No wonder this underground aquifer discovery is so awesome. The Cascade Mountain Range, which contains the largest aquifer on Earth, stretches about 700 m from Northern California to British Columbia. The High Cascades in Oregon have younger volcanic rocks around 8 million years old. The western Cascades are much older, 45 million

years. They boast deep canyons and valleys. Scientists study the transition zone between these two areas to understand how water moved through volcanic rock and how volcanic processes had evolved over time. In the process, Researchers measured rock temperatures at different depths. That's when the underground aquifer discovery happened. Normally, deeper rocks should be hotter because it's closer to the Earth's interior. But to everyone's surprise, in several areas, the temperature stayed the same even at greater depths. Well, this was a strong clue that water was flowing through the rock and cooling it down. In other words, the Cascades

function like a natural water Tower, storing and slowly releasing water into rivers and streams. These geological water findings are important for two main reasons. First, it's our potential water source for the future. Such a massive amount of water stored underground could be an important resource. So far, we don't know how long it will remain in its current state and how resilient it's going to be to changes. So, we need more research to properly manage its Use. Secondly, it affects volcanic activity. When water seeps deep underground and reaches magma, it instantly turns into steam, creating extreme

pressure that can trigger explosive volcanic eruptions. Understanding how much water is stored in volcanic rock could help predict future eruptions and the risks they pose. Now, even though this discovery is exciting, there are still many Unanswered questions like how does this water move through the volcanic rock? Or how much of it is actually usable as a water resource? Since this underground reservoir depends on rain and snow, a series of dry years could cause big problems for both water supply and volcanic stability. Researchers are now working to understand the full impact of the Cascad's volcanic water

reservoir and how to manage it responsibly. But Let's look closely at the geological wonder that is the Cascade Range. Picture this, a massive mountain range stretching all the way from Northern California up to British Columbia, cutting right through the middle of Oregon. That's the mountain range we're talking about. In Oregon alone, it's about 260 mi long and up to 90 m wide, covering 17,000 square miles. Wo, that's bigger than each of the nine smallest US states. The coolest thing is That the Oregon part of this mountain range is basically built by volcanoes and apparently contains

at least one volcanic rock water storage. The range itself exists because of something called the Cascadia subduction zone where the Wandafuca tectonic plate, a chunk of Earth's crust under the Pacific Ocean, is slowly getting shoved beneath North America. As it sinks, the intense heat and pressure force water out of the oceanic rock. It lowers the Melting point of the surrounding mantle and creates magma. That magma rises up and fuels the Cascade volcanoes. This is part of the Ring of Fire, the giant belt of volcanoes circling the Pacific. So, in a way, the Cascades are part

of a much bigger volcanic system that's constantly shifting and changing. The Oregon Cascades are actually made up of two completely different zones, the Western Cascades and the High Cascades, and they look Nothing alike. The Western Cascades are the older part. They formed around 45 million years ago. These mountains are rugged and deeply carved up by rivers. Some canyons are as deep as 3,700 ft. This part of the range used to be volcanically active, but over time erosion has taken over, reshaping the land. The high cascades, on the other hand, are much younger and way less

eroded. Around 8 million years ago, the volcanic activity shifted and new Eruptions filled in old canyons, smoothing out the landscape. Eruptions kept piling up fresh lava. And rivers in this region didn't have as much time to create deep valleys like they did in the western Cascades. That's why if you look at the two regions side by side, one looks jagged and carved up, while the other looks smoother and more built up. Some of Oregon's most famous volcanoes are located in the High Cascades. I'm talking about Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, the Three Sisters, and Crater Lake,

which actually formed when Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed in on itself. Unlike smaller volcanoes that pop up, erupt for a bit, and disappear over a few months or years, these giant volcanic centers have been active for thousands of years. And because they've been around for so long, they have way more complex magma systems. They produce everything from basaltt, which is a runny, fastmoving lava, to andite, dite, And riolyte. And riolyte is the type of magma that leads to huge explosive eruptions. So while some of these volcanoes might just ooze lava, others have the potential for

devastating blasts. Another amazing thing about these long-ived volcanoes is that their underground magma chambers stay hot for a really long time. That's why the Cascades are one of the best places to tap into geothermal energy. There's a Ton of heat just sitting beneath the surface waiting to be used. Oh, and don't forget about the Cascades volcanic water reservoir. Who knows how we will use it in the future? Now, we already know that the Cascades are part of the magnificent ring of fire, Earth's most explosive zone. Imagine a massive horseshoe-shaped belt wrapping around the Pacific Ocean,

stretching for about 25,000 m. It's one of the most geologically active areas on The planet. This is where Earth's tectonic plates are constantly shifting, colliding, and grinding against each other, creating some of the world's most powerful earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and deep ocean trenches. The Ring of Fire follows the meeting points of multiple tectonic plates, and they all surround the giant Pacific plate. These plates aren't just sitting still. They're always on the Move, pushing against or sliding beneath each other at their boundaries, known as fault lines. When this happens, you get everything from deep sea trenches

to towering volcanoes and violent earthquakes. One of the most extreme examples of this activity is the Mariana Trench located east of Guam. At 7 mi deep, it's the deepest ocean trench on Earth. It was formed by a process called subduction, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, sinking deep Into the Earth's mantle. The Mariana Trench is one of the most mysterious places on Earth. It's insanely deep with crushing pressure and total darkness. So, for a long time, people thought nothing could live down there. But it turned out that life existed even at the very

bottom. In 2005, scientists found a tiny single-sellled organism in the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. They also came across Colorful rocky formations and weird sea cucumbers. The Mariana Trench also has hydrothermal vents, which are basically underwater hot springs. Even though the water there is super hot and acidic, strange creatures and microscopic life forms still manage to survive there. The ring of fire is also responsible for 90% of the world's earthquakes. Some of the most powerful quakes in history have happened here, including the 1960 Valdivia earthquake In Chile, the strongest ever recorded,

which hit a mind-boggling 9.5 on the RTOR scale. But it's not just about earthquakes. The Ring of Fire is also home to about 75% of the planet's volcanoes. Some of the most famous eruptions in history have come from this region, like the infamous Mount Tambora in Indonesia. In short, the Ring of Fire is one of the most dangerous places on Earth. But it's also incredibly Fascinating. Who knows what else scientists might discover in that region? Like they discovered the largest water reservoir in the Cascades. That's it for today. So hey, if you pacified your curiosity,

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