Earth-Shattering Volcanic Eruptions

Huaynaputina — Peru, 1600

Five years after uncovering the remaining parts of the Vesuvius eruption, a monstrous impact shook the high level region in Southern Peru. The eruption had had some effects on the climate, even causing a small ice age.

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Laki — Iceland, 1783

That year, the surface cracks or volcanic fissures known as Lakaggar released a toxic blast that hovered for eight months, killing livestock and people. The eruption's famine may have sparked the French Revolution.

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Mount Vesuvius, Italy, 79 A.D.

The eruption that occurred on August 24 submerged the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, leaving behind a terrible reminder of the last moments of those who had remained behind in the hope of surviving. Be that as it may, another impact gassed and burned the urban areas, covering them in mud and debris.

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Krakatoa, Indonesia, 1883

Krakatoa was also destroyed in the most famous eruption after Vesuvius. The explosion reportedly caused a tsunami with waves that were over 150 feet high and hurricane-force winds, destroying the entire island.

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Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala, 1902

The first significant explosion of the 20th century occurred when the southern side of Santa Maria Volcano erupted, creating a mile-wide crater in the mountain's flank. The emission killed no less than 5000 individuals, albeit the number is downplayed.

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Novarupta, Alaska, 1912

The subsequent major eruption of the 20th century, Alaska's Ring of Fire, saw Novarupta deposit over a foot of ash over the surrounding land. Even worse, the incident set off a haze in the air, which may have brought down summer temperatures.

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Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, 1991

The eruption was the second-largest of the 20th century. On June 15, the volcano erupted, releasing an ash cloud 35 kilometers into the air. The eruption resulted in massive pyroclastic flow avalanches and dropped global temperatures.

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Mount Ilopango, El Salvador, 450 A.D.

It is thought that this eruption caused the devastation of several Mayan cities, killing approximately 100,000 people. For more than a year, the air was filled with ash and dust. The global cooling that resulted in crop failures from Rome to China is thought to have been caused by it.

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Baitoushan Volcano, China, 1000 A.D.

Ash and debris were scattered as far away as Japan, approximately 750 miles from the epicentre, during the Baitoushan eruption. The explosion left behind a volcanic crater that is now home to Lake Tianchi and is nearly three miles wide and half a mile deep.

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Mount Tambora, Indonesia, 1815

Mount VesuviusThe still active Mt. Tambora ranks as the most explosive volcanic event ever recorded by humans. The initial blasts were heard some 1200 miles away! Tambora spewed 12 cubic miles of gases and dust 25 miles into the atmosphere, drenching ash around the islands. Roughly 100,000 people perished!

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Yellowstone, U.S, 664,000 years ago

It is believed that the supervolcano erupted at least three times: 2.1 quite a while back, 1.3 quite a while back, and a long time back. The last left a downturn in the ground, 54 km by 80 km in size. If it ever erupted, the 8 km-deep magma beneath Yellowstone today could bury the Rocky Mountain range in ash.