Since ancient times, volcanic eruptions have caused catastrophic changes on Earth. Entire cities and civilizations disappeared under clouds of ash and lava flows. Most often, so-called supervolcanoes were behind such terrible events.
Supervolcano - although not a scientific term, but quite aptly chosen - in theory, the eruption of one supervolcano can lead to the death of all life on the planet. The power of a supervolcano can be several hundred times higher than the power of all ordinary earthly volcanoes taken together. An eruption of such force is fraught with the release of huge volumes of ash into the atmosphere, which will inevitably lead to a decrease in the average temperature, and rivers of boiling lava and acid rain will complete what has been begun.
Yellowstone volcano
The largest supervolcano in North America is located in the Yellowstone National Park. The volcano has not erupted for over 600 thousand years and, according to volcanologists, has recently begun to show signs of activity. If this giant still wakes up from hibernation, at best, its power will be enough to make another Ice Age on the planet. At worst, the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano will wake up all other active volcanoes on Earth and cause a real apocalypse.
Campi Phlegrei
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In Italy, not far from Naples, is the Campi Flegrei caldera - one of the largest and most dangerous supervolcanoes in the world. It is impossible to see the volcanic vent hidden under this seemingly serene landscape. However, in the event of an eruption, the Earth's surface will crack, and soon all 13 kilometers of the caldera will collapse into a reservoir with magma, which will in turn begin to pour out onto the surface. The eruption will most likely lead to the formation of a new Vesuvius-like cone. And in the worst case scenario, a large part of life in Europe will be destroyed.
Kamchatka supervolcano
Not so long ago, namely in 2007, scientists from the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences discovered the first (and hopefully the last) supervolcano originally from Russia. The giant caldera - Karymshina - formed on the territory of South Kamchatka about 1.5 million years ago, when the discovered supervolcano erupted for the last time. The likelihood that the volcano from the Kamchatka Peninsula will activate again is quite high, given that the Big Ring of Fire is very close. In addition, in recent years, several large volcanoes located nearby have become active, and the growing seismic activity can, in turn, provoke a giant supervolcano, about the consequences of the eruption of which scientists try to speak as little as possible.
Sakurajima
In the southern part of the Japanese island of Kyushu, there is a giant volcanic caldera - Aira. Inside the caldera itself are the Japanese city of Kagoshima and the "young" Sakurajima volcano, which arose about 13 thousand years ago. Since the middle of the last century, Sakurajima has not stopped his activity, constantly throwing out clouds of smoke from the crater. The inhabitants of Kagoshima literally live like on a volcano, since the eruption can begin at any time. Despite the fact that special shelters were built directly in its vicinity, it is difficult to say how serious the consequences of its eruption will be.
Long Valley
Long Valley is located in eastern California near the Mammoth Mountains. Long Valley Caldera was formed as a result of the eruption of a giant volcano that occurred about 760 thousand years ago. As a result of violent volcanic activity, the magma chamber under the summit was completely empty, and the volcano literally fell through the ground. But it did not disappear without a trace. In 1980, a series of major earthquakes occurred here, marking the rise of a resurgent dome. Since then, on the territory of Long Valley, tremors and ground uplift have been constantly recorded, accompanied by changes in water temperature in hot springs and gas emissions. Overall, this gives researchers a fair amount of concern.
Lake Toba
On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, there is the largest volcanic lake on Earth, formed in the caldera of the Toba volcano during the last eruption that occurred 74 thousand years ago. The activity of such a powerful volcano could have the most serious consequences for the global climate.
It is highly probable that the giant volcano may soon wake up again. Scientists are told about this by the release of volcanic gases and heating of the soil on the surface of Toba.
Merapi
It is one of the most formidable and active volcanoes in Indonesia and one of the ten most active volcanoes on the planet. Merapi explodes on average once every seven years, unleashing streams of lava and ash clouds on the surrounding area. For local residents, a formidable volcano and a killer and benefactor rolled into one: volcanic ash turns the soil around Merapi into fertile lands - farmers collect several crops a year from the fields. However, people run without looking back when Merapi begins to erupt: rivers of lava and stones, the size of a small house, more than once turned this prosperous land into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Caldera Valles
It is one of the smallest supervolcanoes on our planet and the most studied volcanic complex in North America. The Valles caldera is located in the state of New Mexico, USA. Despite its venerable age (about 1.5 million years), this volcano is still active - the last time 50-60 thousand years ago. But it still shows signs of life, and the reviving dome rises above the surface without stopping.
Tsankavi caves in the Valles caldera.
Taal
Taal Volcano is notorious for its devastating and powerful eruptions. It is located close enough to the capital of the Philippines and the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is believed that the lake surrounding it is in fact the remains of an ancient supervolcano crater. If this hypothesis is correct, one major eruption would be enough to keep the raised volcanic gas and ash in the Earth's atmosphere for several months. Unfortunately, Taal began showing signs of activity back in the 90s, and in 2010, the Philippine authorities raised his level of anxiety. Both of these facts make one think that the eruption of Taal could begin at any moment.
Lake Taupo
Among the fantastic green landscapes of the North Island in New Zealand, under the waters of Lake Taupo lies the caldera of the great and terrible Taupo Volcano. The eruption that occurred here more than 26 thousand years ago and is known as the eruption of Oruanui was the largest in the last 70 thousand years. And if Taupo, who does not sleep, but only slumbers under the water column, wakes up again and decides to arrange an apocalypse for this land, it is likely that New Zealand will never please us with its beauty.