Equal parts terrifying and beautiful, volcanoes represent the sheer power of nature. Some, like Sicily’s Mount Etna, are known for their frequent bursts of activity, while others have lain dormant for years and, in some cases, millennia. From calderas surrounded by glaciers and ice fields to the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Kilimanjaro, these are the world’s most famous volcanoes.

Click through the gallery to discover the stories of Earth's most famous and feared volcanoes – many of which you can visit for yourself...