Did you know there are 1,500 active volcanoes around the world? Records show that about 500 of these have erupted during human history, with roughly 20 active on any given day. Click or scroll through to see images of the most recent eruptions, from Iceland to Indonesia, find out why some volcanoes like Mount Etna have grown taller and discover how to visit some of these rumbling wonders when COVID-19 and Mother Nature allow.

The majestic Mount Merapi, whose name means "Mountain of Fire", can be found in the center of the Indonesian island of Java. Standing at 9,551 feet (2,911m) tall, it holds the somewhat terrifying accolade of being the most active volcano out of around 130 in the country.

On 27 January 2021 the ominous crater erupted, catapulting intense clouds of ash into the skies and sending pyroclastic flows 9,850 feet (3,000m) down its slopes. More than 150 people living within a three-mile (5km) radius of the volcano had to be evacuated, while the blast could be heard from an incredible 18 miles (30km) away. The volcanic activity continues, as this image, captured on 24 April, shows.

Located in North Sumatra on the Ring of Fire – a horseshoe-shaped area associated with most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – the 8,530-foot (2,600m) high Mount Sinabung had been dormant for more than 400 years before it broke its quiet spell in 2010. Since then, there have been several major blasts.

On 2 March 2021, the fearsome volcano spewed an enormous ash cloud as far as 3.1 miles (5km) into the sky, its first major eruption since last August, when it was placed on the second-highest alert level. Scientists had warned those in the area to stay at least two miles (3km) from the crater so there were no casualties.

Pacaya is one of the most active volcanoes in Guatemala, located roughly 31 miles (50km) south of Guatemala City. The 8,373-foot (2,552m) tall peak is usually visited by tourists with an appetite for adventure, but for now, trips have been canceled.

The Guatemalan giant began to eject pillars of ash into the air on 4 March 2021, continuing to erupt the following day. Its eruptions were strombolian, which means the blasts themselves were relatively tame, but they threw out bombs of lava and burning cinders. Pacaya also had a strong blast in 2010, which killed three people.

In 2010, newsreaders around the world struggled to pronounce the name of the Icelandic glacier volcano that brought air traffic in Europe to a standstill. Eyjafjallajökull belched out huge ash clouds that hung in the air for more than six days. 

Although it’s too dangerous to walk on the ice cap that covers the caldera of the volcano, hikers can explore the rocky terrain on the 15-mile (25km) Fimmvörðuháls ridge hike – snaking between the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers, craters and lava flow formed by the 2010 eruption, it's equally intimidating and gorgeous.

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The cone of Mount Vesuvius looms large over the city of Naples in southern Italy. The vast crater at its summit was formed during the last eruption in 1944 – and it’s not a question of if the volcano will erupt again, but when.

The once prosperous Roman city of Pompeii at the southeastern base of Mount Vesuvius was devastated by an eruption in AD 79 that rained down ash and volcanic rock. When the city was rediscovered nearly 2,000 years later, everything, from buildings and even food and jewelry, had been perfectly preserved. Check out Pompeii's secrets that are only just being uncovered.

Around 60 miles (100km) from Tokyo, Mount Fuji is Japan’s most iconic peak and some would say that the snow-capped view is best appreciated from afar. Fuji-san, as it’s known locally, is long overdue an eruption as the last time it happened was 1707.

The official climbing season is July to mid-September when the weather is relatively mild. Normally, there are dozens of mountain huts on various trails offering bed and breakfast to overnight visitors who then tackle the summit in the early morning before it’s shrouded in cloud. However, the 2020 season was canceled due to coronavirus so do check for updates. 

Just 30 miles (48km) off of the coast of New Zealand’s North Island, in the Bay of Plenty, White Island (Whakaari to the Māori) is a grumbling volcanic island of billowing steam and bubbling mud. Most of the volcano is below sea level so typically visitors step straight off the boats into the actual crater.

The otherworldly landscape is tinged yellow from the sulfur – the smell can be overwhelming and all visitors to White Island are issued with a gas mask and a hard hat. It last erupted in 2019 with tourists out on the crater and in boats in the water nearby. Sadly, 20 people perished in the eruption and tours have been suspended ever since.

The 3,000-square-mile Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to a quarter of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. The park, Africa’s oldest, is usually one of the top places to see rare wildlife and also trek to the summit of Mount Nyiragongo on a guided hike. 

Mount Nyiragongo has the world’s largest lava lake. The unusual fluidity of the lava makes it all the more dangerous to the people living in its shadow – more than a hundred villagers were killed in a devastating eruption in 2002.

On 22 May 2021 Nyiragongo abruptly erupted again, this time taking the lives of 32 people, many dying in traffic accidents during the eruption itself. Thousands were evacuated and remain unable to return to their homes. Nyiragongo has caused an ongoing humanitarian crisis with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting that around 500,000 people are left without clean drinking water, partly as a result of damage to pipes and water reserves during the eruption.

The world’s smallest active volcano is famous for sitting in a lake within a volcano. The still green water belies the fact that it’s a volatile area – Taal is the country's second most active volcano and its most recent big eruption in January 2020 spewed ashes over Calabarzon, Metro Manila and some parts of Central Luzon and Ilocos Region. This resulted in the suspension of school, work and flights in the area.

Outrigger canoes ferry passengers from Talisay to Volcano Island in around 30 minutes and from the dock, a well-worn dusty trail leads to the crater lake and its pretty views. However, since the latest eruption, visiting the volcano is strictly prohibited.

Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest volcanoes, reaching a height of 19,347 feet (5,897m) so any ascent requires mountaineering equipment suitable for a glacier climb as well as plenty of time to acclimatize. The summit reopened to climbers in 2017 after a major eruption two years earlier, but new travel restrictions are now in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The near-perfect snow cone of Cotopaxi can be seen from as far as Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, about 35 miles (56km) away. Mountain bikers can take the steep downhill from the base just below glacier level or bike the trails in Cotopaxi National Park with the volcano as a scenic backdrop.

Kīlauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island, had been constantly erupting molten lava since 1983 until the eruption was finally declared to have ended on 5 December 2018 after 90 days of inactivity. The name Kīlauea means much spreading or spewing in Hawaiian – a reference to its frequent outpouring of lava that flows into the ocean.

Typically, visitors can take a helicopter tour to view the caldera from above and get up close to the bubbling lava fields. The volcano can also be explored independently by looping around the Crater Rim Drive and stopping at a number of signposted trails to viewpoints. Located within the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, the volcano is currently open to visitors.

Telica is a steep-sided cone-shaped volcano on the west coast of Nicaragua. It's possible to hike right up to the smoking crater and camp just below it. The walk is an arduous six hours usually done with a guide as the trails are not signposted. The volcano's last big eruption took place on 29 July 2020 (pictured here) with further low-level activity last December.

For an easier journey up the volcano, it's possible to hire a Jeep to give travelers a lift to a trailhead that's just 45 minutes from the peak. However, the bubbling mud pools, hard rock and steep incline make it a bumpy (and not very pleasant) journey. 

Villarrica, along with Quetrupillán and the Chilean portion of Lanín, falls inside Villarrica National Park in Chile’s central valley. Permanently active, the glacier volcano often has a lava lake at its summit.

Villarrica was closed for expeditions in 2015 when an eruption blasted out ash and lava and caused more than 3,000 people to be evacuated from nearby homes. In 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic it reopened and offered travelers an option to use a ski lift part way up and then tackle the snow and ice to reach the summit at 9,380 feet (2,860m).

Defined by incredible volcanic landscape of geysers and hot springs, the Yellowstone caldera is a supervolcano that hasn’t erupted for around 70,000 years – though beneath ground, it's still very much active.

Seismic activity at Yellowstone is closely monitored and there are between 1,000 and 3,000 earthquakes below ground each year. In fact, in April 2019, a series of tremors prompted some scientists to believe these could be a sign it's about to blow... Read more about Yellowstone in our guide to Northern Wyoming.

Mount Teide is one of Europe's most easily accessible volcanoes as it's located on the volcanic island of Tenerife, one of Spain’s Canary Islands. Despite a seismic swarm (a series of mini earthquakes) in 2016 and 2017, scientists say they aren’t concerned about an imminent eruption (low-level seismic activity is very normal).

At 12,198 feet (3,718m), El Pico del Teide is the highest point in Spain. Part of the Teide National Park, visiting the volcano is usually very simple. First, visitors have to obtain a free permit for entry, then most drive to the base station where a cable car zips to the upper station. Here, several trails lead to the peak. 

Dormant for hundreds of years, a fearsome eruption in 1968 devastated nearby villages, reminding of the power inside it. Between then and 2010, Arenal rumbled on, regularly spewing smoke, ash and lava, but for the last 10 years the volcano has been slumbering quietly once more.

Arenal National Park is a lush green paradise with trails to explore the forest and old lava flows. The peak is still part of a 2.5-mile (4km) exclusion zone, but various routes take in gorgeous viewpoints – all best viewed at sunrise. 

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Mexico has more than 3,000 volcanoes but only 14 of these are considered active. The Volcán de Colima (also known as the Volcán de Fuego) is one of the most volatile and explosive eruptions in January 2017 triggered mass evacuations. 

Hiking up Volcán de Colima obviously isn't allowed as it's just too dangerous, but many decide to climb the nearby Nevado de Colima for spectacular views. With Nevado de Colima's peak reaching a height of 8,924 feet (2,720m), it offers jaw-dropping views of the menacing volcano and its smoking cone.

Mount Pelée on the Caribbean island of Martinique looks peaceful but in 1902 a deadly eruption wiped out an entire city, killing around 30,000 people. Saint-Pierre was never fully rebuilt, however, today there are a few villages that have sprung up in its place. The volcano's last eruption was in 1932 and it's still considered active.

Also the highest peak in Martinique at 4,583 feet (1,397m), Pelée has several trails to explore the slopes and peak. The views of the bay and its black volcanic sands, when it’s not too foggy, are phenomenal. Discover secrets of the world's most beautiful mountains.

Gorgeous Tanna Island in the South Pacific Ocean is home to Mount Yasur, the best-known of Vanuatu's volcanoes. The trail from the car park to the awe-inspiring crater rim only takes about 10 minutes to walk – possibly the easiest volcano climb in the world. However, to preserve the nature surrounding the volcano, travellers can only enter via a visitor center for a pick-up truck ride up a bumpy trail through the jungle to just below the crater.

Said to have been constantly bubbling and smoking for more than 800 years, even attracting Captain James Cook with its glow, the summit can still be a dangerous place as the volcano is known for shooting out burning debris high into the air. When the volcanic activity picks up, the crater might be off-limits or closed completely.

In the Cascade Range in Washington State, Mount St Helens is infamous for its 1980 eruption in which 57 people lost their lives. The Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument was created to preserve the volcano and constantly monitor it for unusual seismic activity.

The viewing deck at Johnston Ridge Observatory is the best place for a magnificent view of the crater of Mount St Helens as well as the lava dome and the blast zone. The short eruption trail from here has information and eye-witness accounts from the fateful eruption on 18 May 1980. Now take a look at jaw-dropping places you can only see in photos.

Sitting on the Ring of Fire at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, East Java is home to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. This vast sandy caldera boasts the famous smoking Mount Bromo that towers an impressive 7,641 feet (2,329m).

Normally, the majority of visitors book onto a tour and travel by Jeep in the early hours of the morning to a viewpoint to watch the sunrise over Mount Bromo. Then a sea of sand has to be crossed to get anywhere near the actual crater – it's possible to hike, but usually local businesses offer bike or horseback rides.

The small city of Antigua in Guatemala has a knot of volcanoes to the southwest – Agua, Acatenango and Fuego. Fuego is the most active, erupting as recently as June 2018, when mudflow from the eruptions, ash and fast-moving currents of hot gas blanketed nearby villages killing more than 190 people. Nearly 4,000 people had to be evacuated again in November 2018, when the volcano began violently erupting again.

Eruptions from Volcán de Fuego – Spanish for Fire Volcano – can be seen from Antigua, but some still take on the strenuous hike up Acatenango for a unique view of the glowering peak. Setting out from camp in the early hours to watch the volcano spit up stones, fire and smoke is an unforgettable, but dangerous experience. Occasionally, access to the volcano is restricted due to its activity.

Located around 140 miles (226km) from Mauritius, the island of Reunion is home to the Piton de la Fournaise volcano, which at 8,635 feet (2,632m) is the highest in the Indian Ocean. Reunion’s most visited attraction, it’s one of the world’s most accessible mountains for hikers taking up a third of the island. It’s also one of the world's most active volcanoes, erupting on average once every nine months.

The latest explosive episode took place on 10 April 2021 on the south side, spewing lava fountains up to 196 feet (60m) tall, which then flowed down the mountain.

The normally bright skies of the island of Saint Vincent and its Caribbean neighbors turned a murky grey when La Soufrière erupted on Friday 9 April 2021. It was the first activity from the volcano in 40 years and only the fifth big event since records started in 1718. The ash cloud apparently reached 20,000 feet (6,000m) and saw residents in the immediate area evacuated.

A strong stench of sulphur engulfed the island, while the ash cloud caused a blanket of gloomy grey to loom over both Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and neighboring Barbados (pictured), around 120 miles (193km) to the east. Two further eruptions later in the day on 9 April added to the poor visibility.

Thanks to Iceland’s position on the Mid-Atlantic ridge where two tectonic plates meet, residents of the Nordic country see substantial volcanic activity take place about every five years. The most recent was the Mount Fagradalsfjall volcano which put on a fiery display starting on 19 March 2021. It was the first eruption in 800 years on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland's southwest.

Located in the south, about an hour’s drive from Reykjavík, the spectacle drew hikers from miles around, keen to watch the lava flowing from the mountain’s two craters. As the lava was runny, its steady flow showed no signs of being explosive or posing any threat. Some enterprising (and presumably hungry) scientists were even spotted cooking sausages on the mountain. The only danger was due to gases which, in some weather conditions, can build-up to life-threatening levels. The viewing area was temporarily closed as a precaution on 22 March.

However, spectators were evacuated again when a helicopter spotted a third fissure forming a whole new lava field on 6 April 2021. Luckily for disappointed volcano fans – and indeed anyone unable to get to Iceland right now – this live video stream available on YouTube captured the mesmerizing action. 

 

The eruption has now been ongoing for more than two months and a number of unusual activities have taken place near the active volcano, including the filming of a music video, and even a wedding! Pictured here is Bessastadir, the Icelandic president's official residence, with the erupting volcano behind it.

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In early May, the spewing volcano lit up Reykjavik's night sky and fountains as tall as 1,500 feet (460m) were recorded. With no end in sight for the mountain's activity, and COVID-19 border restrictions easing, some tourists have started visiting Iceland to see Fagradalsfjall up close for themselves.

The highest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna is a magnificent landmark in the northeast of Sicily. Fiery Etna erupts several times a year and is sometimes closed for safety reasons. When it is safe to visit, it's possible to hike up the impressive volcano or there’s a 20-minute cable car (Funivia dell’Etna) up the south side of the mountain. Afterwards, it’s either a long walk or a short 4x4 drive through the barren landscape to the otherworldly summit craters.

Since February 2021, Etna has been sporadically spewing hot lava into the sky and sending ash tumbling down onto nearby houses and cars. While residents aren't in any danger, authorities temporarily closed the airport at Catania in February due to small stones in the atmosphere.

During this latest period of activity, Etna has been putting on a fireworks display that experts say is normal for the volcano. While the dust from the spectacle might be disruptive, it offered the opportunity for some jaw-dropping photography, such as this shot of a Baroque church in the village of Zafferana Etnea.

The latest data gathered by Italy's National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology shows that as of August 2021, Europe's tallest volcano is now taller than ever. Analysis of satellite images revealed that Mount Etna's southeast crater has grown to a record 11,000 feet (3,357m) above sea level due to this recent bout of activity. Around 50 episodes of activity have been recorded this year and the Sicilian government estimates that around 300,000 tons of ash have had to be cleaned up so far.

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