What volcanoes are the most noteworthy?
This is a list of 187 noteworthy volcanoes that meet at least one of the following the criteria identified below, in volcano-number order. Similar criteria were used to highlight volcanoes in the listing of Holocene eruptions that appeared as Appendix 2 in the Encyclopedia of Volcanoes (2nd ed).
- Major Eruption: A Holocene eruption with a VEI > 5
- Multiple Large Eruptions: More than one Holocene eruption with VEI >= 5
- High Fatality Eruption: A single eruption that caused >= 100 fatalities
- Frequently Active: Confirmed to have erupted at some point during at least 25 of the past 100 years (since 1923)
- Significant Lava Effusion: Produced a documented total lava volume > 1 km3 in the past 2,000 years
| Volcano | Primary Type | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Vesuvius | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Stromboli | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Etna | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Santorini | Shield(s) | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption |
| Ararat | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Erta Ale | Shield | Frequently Active |
| Dubbi | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Menengai | Shield | Major Eruption |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Nyamulagira | Shield | Frequently Active |
| Nyiragongo | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Piton de la Fournaise | Shield | Frequently Active | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Auckland Volcanic Field | Volcanic field | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Whakaari/White Island | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Okataina | Lava dome(s) | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Taupo | Caldera | Major Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Tongariro | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Ruapehu | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Macauley | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Raoul Island | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Monowai | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Savaii | Shield | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Manam | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Long Island | Complex | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption |
| Ritter Island | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Langila | Complex | Frequently Active |
| Dakataua | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Witori | Caldera | Major Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Ulawun | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Rabaul | Caldera | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active | Major Eruption |
| Lamington | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Billy Mitchell | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Bagana | Lava cone | Frequently Active |
| Kavachi | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Savo | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Ambae | Shield | High Fatality Eruption |
| Ambrym | Shield(pyroclastic) | Frequently Active | Major Eruption |
| Lopevi | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Yasur | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Sorikmarapi | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Marapi | Complex | Frequently Active |
| Kerinci | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Kaba | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Krakatau | Caldera | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active | Major Eruption |
| Papandayan | Stratovolcano(es) | High Fatality Eruption |
| Galunggung | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Slamet | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Dieng Volcanic Complex | Complex | High Fatality Eruption |
| Merapi | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Kelud | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Semeru | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Tengger Caldera | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Raung | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Agung | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Rinjani | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Tambora | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption |
| Sangeang Api | Complex | Frequently Active |
| Paluweh | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Iliwerung | Complex | High Fatality Eruption |
| Soputan | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Lokon-Empung | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Ruang | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Karangetang | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Awu | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Dukono | Complex | Frequently Active |
| Gamalama | Stratovolcano(es) | High Fatality Eruption |
| Kie Besi | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Melebingoy | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Camiguin | Stratovolcano(es) | High Fatality Eruption |
| Mayon | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Taal | Caldera | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption |
| Pinatubo | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption |
| Suwanosejima | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Kikai | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Aira | Caldera | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active | Major Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Unzendake | Complex | High Fatality Eruption |
| Asosan | Caldera | Frequently Active |
| Kujusan | Stratovolcano(es) | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Fujisan | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Asamayama | Complex | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Nasudake | Stratovolcano(es) | High Fatality Eruption |
| Bandaisan | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Towada | Caldera | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Izu-Oshima | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Hachijojima | Stratovolcano(es) | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Aogashima | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Izu-Torishima | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Oshima-Oshima | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Hokkaido-Komagatake | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Shikotsu | Caldera | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Tokachidake | Stratovolcano(es) | High Fatality Eruption |
| Mashu | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Moekeshiwan [Lvinaya Past] | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Tao-Rusyr Caldera | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Diky Greben | Lava dome(s) | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Kurile Lake | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Zheltovsky | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Ksudach | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Avachinsky | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Karymsky | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active | Major Eruption |
| Kizimen | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Tolbachik | Shield | Frequently Active | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Bezymianny | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Klyuchevskoy | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Sheveluch | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Khangar | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Wudalianchi | Volcanic field | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Changbaishan | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Ulleungdo | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Cleveland | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Okmok | Shield | Major Eruption |
| Akutan | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Fisher | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Shishaldin | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Pavlof | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Veniaminof | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Black Peak | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Aniakchak | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Novarupta | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Churchill | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| St. Helens | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Crater Lake | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Medicine Lake | Shield | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Kilauea | Shield | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Mauna Loa | Shield | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Southern EPR at 8°S | Fissure vent(s) | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Ceboruco | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Colima | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Michoacan-Guanajuato | Volcanic field | High Fatality Eruption |
| Chichinautzin | Volcanic field | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Popocatepetl | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Cofre de Perote | Compound | Significant Lava Effusion |
| El Chichon | Lava dome(s) | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Santa Maria | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active | Major Eruption | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Fuego | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Pacaya | Complex | Frequently Active |
| Izalco | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| San Salvador | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Ilopango | Caldera | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption |
| San Miguel | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| San Cristobal | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Telica | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Apoyeque | Caldera | Major Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Masaya | Caldera | Frequently Active | Major Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | Frequently Active |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Nevado del Huila | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Galeras | Complex | Frequently Active |
| Reventador | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Atacazo | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Chacana | Caldera | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Cotopaxi | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Quilotoa | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Tungurahua | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Sangay | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Huaynaputina | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption |
| Lascar | Stratovolcano(es) | Frequently Active |
| Cerro Blanco | Caldera | Major Eruption |
| Cerro Azul | Stratovolcano | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Nevados de Chillan | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Llaima | Stratovolcano | Frequently Active |
| Villarrica | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Frequently Active |
| Puyehue-Cordon Caulle | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Antillanca Volcanic Complex | Stratovolcano(es) | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Calbuco | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Michinmahuida | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Chaiten | Caldera | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Cerro Hudson | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption |
| Monte Burney | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Pelee | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Soufriere St. Vincent | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Oddnyjarhnjukur-Langjokull | Fissure vent(s) | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Katla | Fissure vent(s) | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Hekla | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Grimsvotn | Caldera | High Fatality Eruption | Major Eruption | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Bardarbunga | Stratovolcano | Major Eruption | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Askja | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Krafla | Caldera | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Oraefajokull | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption |
| Sao Jorge | Fissure vent | High Fatality Eruption |
| Agua de Pau | Stratovolcano | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Furnas | Stratovolcano | High Fatality Eruption | Multiple Large Eruptions |
| Tenerife | Stratovolcano | Significant Lava Effusion |
| Lanzarote | Fissure vent(s) | Significant Lava Effusion |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2024. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.2.2; 22 Aug 2024). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2024.5.2
