In the shadow of the world's most infamous volcanoes, history has been shaped by fire and ash. From the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, which forged a nearly four-mile caldera and altered global temperatures, to the thunderous explosion of Krakatoa in 1883, these titanic forces of nature have left indelible marks on both the Earth's surface and humanity's memory.
Here are five of the most explosive volcanic disasters throughout history and where they rank on the volcanic explosivity index (VEI) — a scale used to measure how much volcanic material erupts from the volcano, how high the volcanic matter extends into the atmosphere and how long the eruption lasts.
1. Mount Tambora Eruption, Indonesia — VEI-7
When Did Mount Tambora Erupt?
On April 5, 1815, small tremors and pyroclastic flows — gray-black clouds of hot rock, gasses and air that move at high speed over the ground — began erupting from Mount Tambora in Indonesia. On the evening of April 10, the volcano exploded so violently it left a nearly four-mile caldera where the peak once was.
How Big Is Mount Tambora?
Considered the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history, Mount Tambora spewed nearly 36 cubic miles of ash, rock and gasses — including almost 60 megatons of sulfur — into the atmosphere. This blocked out the sun and is believed to have cooled the Earth's temperature by nearly 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Damage Did Mount Tambora Cause?
The temperature change caused famine in the surrounding areas and reached as far as Europe and North America, where heavy snowfall in July killed most of that year's crops.
The initial blast, pyroclastic flows and tsunamis killed an estimated 10,000 people and 80,000 more from famine and disease on the surrounding islands. Mount Tambora now stands at about 9,300 feet.
Read More: How Mount Tambora and Other Volcanic Eruptions Inspired Artistic Masterpieces
2. Krakatoa Eruption, Indonesia — VEI-6
When Did Krakatoa Erupt?
Also in Indonesia, in May of 1883, people began reporting ash clouds and tremors coming from the uninhabited island of Krakatoa. Over the next few months, people could hear explosions from nearly 100 miles away.
How Loud Was Krakatoa?
On August 26, 1883, the first of several eruptions began around 1 p.m. By 2 p.m., an ash cloud rose about 17 miles over Krakatoa. At 10 a.m. the following day — August 27 — the volcano gave way and exploded so forcefully that the sound carried nearly 2,200 miles away in Australia.
What Damage Did Krakatoa Cause?
About 5 cubic miles of ash, rock and other debris flew about 50 miles into the air, blocking the sun for over two days. Ash and debris covered roughly 300,000 square miles. The eruption triggered several tsunamis, including a wave that reached 120 feet high and killed around 36,000 people. Today, little remains of the island.
Read More: Krakatoa Is Still Active, and We Are Not Ready for the Tsunamis Another Eruption Would Generate
3. Mount Vesuvius Eruption, Italy — VEI-5
When Did Mount Vesuvius Erupt?
On August 24, A.D. 79, the people of the bustling cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy went about their day as usual. By noon, however, everything would change. Mount Vesuvius erupted with such force it propelled ash and pumice 10 miles into the sky in a mushroom cloud shape.
What Happened in Pompeii?
For the next 12 or so hours, ash and stone covered Pompeii as people fled. A westward wind initially protected Herculaneum. However, a cloud of hot ash, toxic gas and volcanic mud eventually engulfed the city and those who remained.
Anyone left in Pompeii met a similar fate as toxic gas asphyxiated survivors. Pompeii was soon entirely buried by an estimated 19 feet of ash and rocks.
When Was Pompeii Discovered?
The ruins of Pompeii were found during the 16th century, though the actual excavation didn't start until the 18th century. The ancient cities today are well preserved and can be visited.
The eruption dates are up for debate due to vegetation found in the ash. Mount Vesuvius is still active and could erupt in the near future.
Read More: Scientists Have Fully Sequenced the DNA of a Pompeii Victim for the First Time
4. Mount Pinatubo Eruption, Philippines — VEI-6
When Did Mount Pinatubo Erupt?
After 600 years of lying dormant, Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, sending ash, smoke and rock 28 miles into the air. The falling ash forced 100,000 people from their homes and shut down the U.S. Clark Air Force Base. The ash and debris thrown out of the volcano made it one of the largest eruptions of the 20th century.
How Big Is Mount Pinatubo?
Originally about 14,000 feet tall, large pyroclastic flows flooded the volcano's flanks, filling the surrounding area with nearly 660 feet thick volcanic deposits. The eruption caused the summit to collapse and form a caldera over 1.5 miles wide.
Read More: What It Takes for a Volcano to Impact Earth's Climate
5. Yellowstone Eruption, U.S. — VEI-8
Is Yellowstone a Supervolcano?
Volcanoes have shaped our planet for billions of years. Though humans haven't been around to witness all of Earth's volcanic activity, evidence can still be found today. At Yellowstone National Park, there is evidence of one of the world's supervolcanoes. A supervolcano is rated VEI-8 or higher, making an eruption much worse than Mount Tambora.
What Is Yellowstone Caldera?
An eruption this large would likely emit more than 250 miles of magma. Yellowstone has had at least three eruptions rated VEI-8 — 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago and 640,000 years ago. These eruptions formed what is now known as the Yellowstone Caldera. Ash from these eruptions covered much of the western half of North America and stretched as far east as Missouri. Wind likely carried ash, fine particles and sulfur across the world and could have caused a change in global temperatures.
How Big Is Yellowstone Caldera?
The violent eruption 640,000 years ago created a caldera 30 by 45 miles wide. While the supervolcano may one day erupt again, it's not likely to be catastrophic for the next few hundred years, according to the National Park Service. Yellowstone is still an active hotspot with numerous thermal pools, mud pots, geysers and other geothermal activity.
Read More: What Does a Year at Yellowstone Caldera Look Like?
Frequently Asked Questions About the Most Explosive Volcanoes
Where Is Mount Tambora Located?
Mount Tambora is located on Sumbawa Island in Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands. This area is part of the highly volcanic Pacific Ring of Fire and is known for its intense geological activity.
What Type of Volcano Is Mount Tambora?
Mount Tambora is a stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano. These volcanoes are known for their steep, conical shapes and layered structure due to periodic explosive eruptions and quiet lava flows.
Is Mount Tambora Still Active?
Yes, Mount Tambora is still active. Its most famous eruption occurred in 1815, which was one of the most powerful in recorded history, and the volcano continues to be closely monitored for any signs of activity.
Where Is Krakatoa Located?
Krakatoa is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The region is infamous for its volcanic activity and is a key part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
What Type of Volcano Is Krakatoa?
Krakatoa is a caldera, a type of volcano formed after the collapse of a magma chamber, leading to large, crater-like formations. It's known for its catastrophic eruption in 1883, which was one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history.
Is Krakatoa Still Active?
Yes, Krakatoa is still active. The volcano has had several notable eruptions since the major 1883 event, including ongoing volcanic activity in the area known as Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa).
Where Is Mount Vesuvius Located?
Mount Vesuvius is located in the Campania region near Naples in Italy. It's famously known for its proximity to the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were buried during its historic eruption in A.D. 79.
What Type of Volcano Is Mount Vesuvius?
Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano, characterized by its explosive eruptions and a large conical shape. This type of volcano is formed from layers of lava and ash.
Is Mount Vesuvius Still Active?
Yes, Mount Vesuvius is still active and is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to the dense population living nearby. Its last major eruption was in 1944.
Where Is Mount Pinatubo Located?
Mount Pinatubo is located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Before its 1991 eruption, it was relatively unknown and unmonitored.
What Type of Volcano Is Mount Pinatubo?
Mount Pinatubo is a stratovolcano. It's known for its highly explosive eruptions and a history of large-scale pyroclastic flows, which are characteristic of this type of volcano.
Is Mount Pinatubo Still Active?
Yes, Mount Pinatubo is still active. After its catastrophic eruption in 1991, which was the second-largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century, the volcano has been closely watched for any signs of renewed activity.
Where Is Yellowstone Caldera Located?
The Yellowstone Caldera is located in Yellowstone National Park, primarily in Wyoming but extending into Montana and Idaho in the U.S. It's a part of the Rocky Mountains and is renowned for its unique geothermal features.
What Type of Volcano Is Yellowstone Caldera?
The Yellowstone Caldera is a supervolcano, characterized by its ability to produce extremely large and voluminous eruptions. This type of volcano can have a significant impact on global climate.
Is Yellowstone Caldera Still Active?
Yes, the Yellowstone Caldera is still active, although it hasn't had a major eruption in about 640,000 years. It is closely monitored due to its potential for large-scale eruptions and the widespread impact it could have. The region is known for its geothermal activity, including geysers and hot springs.
Read More: What Causes Volcanic Eruptions: Can We Predict Them?
This article was originally published on Dec. 1, 2022 and has since been updated by the Discover staff.
