Famous Volcanic Eruptions
About 550 volcanoes have erupted on Earth's surface since recorded history; about 60 are active each year. Far more have erupted unobserved on the ocean floor. Most volcanoes exist at the boundaries of Earth's crustal plates, such as the famous Ring of Fire that surrounds the Pacific Ocean plate. Indonesia holds the record for the greatest number of eruptions, followed by Japan and the USA.
Probably the most famous eruption in the history of the Earth was the one that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs. Others include Mt. Vesuvius, Mt Etna, Mt. St. Helens. and the many volcanoes in Jupiter's "Red Spot" (See picture below).
Jupiter's "Red Spot", showing extensive volcanic activity. Picture obtained from antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov without permission
| Volcano | Year | Deaths | Major cause of deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tambora, Indonesia | 1815 | 92,000 | Starvation |
| Krakatau, Indonesia | 1883 | 36,417 | Tsunami |
| Mount Pelee, Martinique | 1902 | 29,025 | Ash flows |
| Ruiz, Colombia | 1985 | 25,000 | Mudflows |
| Unzen, Japan | 1792 | 14,300 | Volcano collapse, tsunami |
| Laki, Iceland | 1783 | 9,350 | Starvation |
| Kelut, Indonesia | 1919 | 5,110 | Mudflows |
| Galunggung, Indonesia | 1882 | 4,011 | Mudflows |
| Vesuvius, Italy | 1631 | 3,500 | Mudflows, lava flows |
| Vesuvius, Italy | 79 | 3,360 | Ash flows and falls |
| Papandayan, Indonesia | 1772 | 2,957 | Ash flows |
| Lamington, Papua New Guinea | 1951 | 2,942 | Ash flows |
| El Chichon, Mexico | 1982 | 2,000 | Ash flows |
| Soufriere, St. Vincent | 1902 | 1,680 | Ash flows |
| Oshima, Japan | 1741 | 1,475 | Tsunami |
| Asama, Japan | 1783 | 1,377 | Ash flows, mudflows |
| Taal, Philippines | 1911 | 1,335 | Ash flows |
| Mayon, Philippines | 1814 | 1,200 | Mudflows |
| Agung, Indonesia | 1963 | 1,184 | Ash flows |
| Cotopaxi, Ecuador | 1877 | 1,000 | Mudflows |
| Pinatubo, Philippines | 1991 | 800 | Disease |
| Komagatake, Japan | 1640 | 700 | Tsunami |
| Ruiz, Colombia | 1845 | 700 | Mudflows |
| Hibok-Hibok, Philippines | 1951 | 500 | Ash flows |
Obtained from www.factmonster.com taken without permission.