What was erupting in the year...?
There were 75 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1986 from 67 different volcanoes; 41 of those were new eruptions that started during the year. A stop date with "(continuing)" indicates that the eruption was considered to be ongoing as of the date indicated. Data is reported through the last data update (23 December 2024). Information about more recent eruptions can be found in the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | 1986 Dec 31 | 1986 Dec 31 | 1 |
| Sabancaya | Peru | 1986 Dec 16 ± 15 days | Unknown | 1 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1986 Dec 5 ± 4 days | 1988 Jul 26 ± 5 days | 3 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1986 Nov 27 | 1990 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 4 |
| Chikurachki | Russia | 1986 Nov 18 | 1986 Dec 7 | 4 |
| Okmok | United States | 1986 Nov 18 | 1988 Feb 26 | 2 |
| Izu-Oshima | Japan | 1986 Nov 15 | 1986 Dec 18 | 3 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1986 Nov 13 | 1986 Nov 19 (?) | 2 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1986 Nov 12 | 1987 Feb 10 | 1 |
| Chirinkotan | Russia | 1986 Oct 11 | 1986 Oct 12 | 1 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 1986 Oct 10 | 1990 Aug 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2 |
| Lascar | Chile | 1986 Sep 14 | 1986 Sep 16 | 3 |
| Sarychev Peak | Russia | 1986 Sep 1 (?) ± 15 days | Unknown | 1 |
| Cleft Segment | Undersea Features | 1986 Aug 16 (?) ± 15 days | Unknown | 0 |
| Dieng Volcanic Complex | Indonesia | 1986 Aug 6 | 1986 Aug 6 | 1 |
| Nyamulagira | DR Congo | 1986 Jul 16 | 1986 Aug 20 | 2 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1986 Jul 13 | 1986 Jul 14 | 0 |
| Sorikmarapi | Indonesia | 1986 Jul 5 | 1986 Jul 14 | 1 |
| Kavachi | Solomon Islands | 1986 Jul 5 | 1986 Jul 23 | 1 |
| CoAxial Segment | Undersea Features | 1986 Jul 2 ± 5 years ± 182 days | Unknown | 0 |
| Peuet Sague | Indonesia | 1986 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | 2 |
| Monowai | New Zealand | 1986 Jun 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jun 16 ± 15 days | 0 |
| Rumble III | New Zealand | 1986 Jun 15 | 1986 Aug 5 (?) | 0 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1986 Jun 8 | 1986 Jul 11 | 2 |
| Kanlaon | Philippines | 1986 Jun 3 | 1986 Aug 18 | 2 |
| Iliboleng | Indonesia | 1986 May 28 | 1986 Nov 24 | 1 |
| Alaid | Russia | 1986 May 25 | 1986 May 28 ± 3 days | 2 |
| Macdonald | France | 1986 May 16 | 1986 Aug 2 | 0 |
| Cleveland | United States | 1986 Apr 28 | 1986 May 27 (in or after) | 2 |
| Pavlof | United States | 1986 Apr 16 | 1988 Aug 13 | 3 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 1986 Mar 28 | 1988 Feb 28 | 3 |
| Augustine | United States | 1986 Mar 27 | 1986 Aug 31 | 4 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1986 Mar 26 ± 5 days | 1986 Jun 29 | 2 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 1986 Mar 22 | 1987 May 13 | 2 |
| Shishaldin | United States | 1986 Mar 19 | 1987 Feb 15 (?) | 2 |
| Akutan | United States | 1986 Mar 18 | 1986 Jun 30 | 2 |
| Tacana | Mexico-Guatemala | 1986 Feb 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jun 16 ± 15 days | 1 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1986 Feb 8 | 1986 Feb 9 (?) | 1 |
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 1986 Feb 1 (?) | 1994 Jul 28 | 3 |
| Tupungatito | Chile-Argentina | 1986 Jan 20 | 1986 Jan 20 | 1 |
| Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba | Japan | 1986 Jan 18 | 1986 Mar 28 (?) | 2 |
| Kavachi | Solomon Islands | 1985 Dec 9 | 1986 Feb 28 ± 3 days | 1 |
| Concepcion | Nicaragua | 1985 Dec 2 ± 1 days | 1986 Apr 20 (?) | 1 |
| San Miguel | El Salvador | 1985 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Feb 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | 1 |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | 1985 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Apr 16 ± 15 days | 1 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1985 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 1987 Jun 16 ± 15 days | 2 |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 1985 Sep 11 | 1991 Jul 13 | 3 |
| Raung | Indonesia | 1985 Aug 23 | 1986 Feb 28 | 2 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1985 Aug 16 | 1986 Jan 21 | 3 |
| Sangeang Api | Indonesia | 1985 Jul 30 | 1988 Feb 16 ± 15 days | 3 |
| Colima | Mexico | 1985 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1986 Jan 5 ± 4 days | 1 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1985 Jun 14 | 1986 Apr 5 | 1 |
| Heard | Australia | 1985 Jan 14 | 1987 Jan 16 (?) ± 15 days | 2 |
| Gorely | Russia | 1984 Aug 4 | 1986 Sep 21 (?) | 2 |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1984 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1986 Mar 8 (in or after) | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1983 May 16 ± 15 days | 1988 Dec 31 (in or after) | 3 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1983 Jan 3 | 2018 Sep 5 | 3 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 1983 Jan 1 | 1993 Sep 24 | 2 |
| St. Helens | United States | 1980 Mar 27 | 1986 Oct 28 ± 3 days | 5 |
| Etna | Italy | 1979 Jul 3 | 1993 Mar 30 | 2 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Mar 4 (?) | 1999 Nov 9 (?) | 3 |
| Nevados de Chillan | Chile | 1973 Jul 16 ± 15 days | 1986 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 2 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1973 Feb 24 ± 4 days | 2000 Oct 16 (in or after) ± 15 days | 3 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (in or before) ± 15 days | 2024 Dec 22 (continuing) | 2 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (in or after) ± 182 days | 2 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2024 Dec 23 (continuing) | 0 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 1965 Jul 4 | 1989 Mar 10 | 3 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | 3 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2024 Dec 19 (continuing) | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2024 Dec 19 (continuing) | 3 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2024 Dec 19 (continuing) | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2024 Dec 20 (continuing) | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2024. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.2.5; 23 Dec 2024). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2024.5.2
