# Active Volcanoes in the World URL: https://sciencestruck.com/geology/active-volcanoes-in-world Category: Earth Science Published: 2010-07-27T00:40:00 Updated: 2010-07-27T00:40:00 Wondering which are the most active volcanoes in the world today? We put forth the list of them, with reference to general details, like where they are located, when was the last they erupted, etc. When we talk about the most destructive forces of nature, volcanoes surely deserve a mention in bold. The widespread destruction attributed to them doesn’t need any introduction. A look at the recorded history, and you come across numerous instances wherein large cities have been buried under lava by volcanic eruptions. With hundreds of volcanoes being tagged as ‘active’ today, the threat of this natural disaster is looming over several regions. ### What is an Active Volcano? Geologists classify volcanoes into three distinct groups: extinct, dormant, and active. While extinct volcanoes are the ones which have erupted for thousands of years in the past, but don’t show any activity today, dormant volcanoes are the ones which haven’t shown any activity over a significant period, but the chances of eruption cannot be ruled out. Active volcanoes, on the other hand, are the ones which have been erupting continuously over the last few years, and are expected to continue erupting in the near future. According to the Smithsonian Institute’s Global Volcanism Program, a volcano can be technically defined as ‘active’ if any activity has been recorded in it over the last 10,000 years. Going by this definition, a large number of famous volcanoes on the surface of the planet today fall in this category. Add to this the numerous volcanoes at the ocean floor, and the number swells. ### List of Active Volcanoes Given below are two tables, the first has all volcanoes that have erupted in the last decade, enlisted in it―along with their details, the second has the details of those volcanoes that are located in the United States. **Table I ** **Name of the Volcano** **Last Erupted** Akan (Japan) 2006 Ambrym Island (Vanuatu) 2007 Anatahan (Mariana Islands) 2007 Aoba (Vanuatu) 2006 Arenal (Costa Rica) Eruption Continues Asama (Japan) 2003 Aso (Japan) 2004 Bamus (Papua New Guinea) 2006 Bandai (Japan) 2000 Bagana (Papua New Guinea) Eruption Continues Barren Island (Indian Ocean) 2008 Batu Tara (Indonesia) 2007 Bezymianny (Russia) 2009 Bromo (Indonesia) 2000 Bulusan (Philippines) 2007 Mount Cameroon (Cameroon) 2000 Canlaon (Philippines) 2006 Chaitén (Chile) 2008 Chikurachki (Russia) 2005 Colima (Mexico) Eruption Continues Conception (Nicaragua) 2010 Copahue (Argentina and Chile) 2000 Dempo (Indonesia) 2006 Dukono (Indonesia) Eruption Continues East Epi (Vanuatu) 2004 Ebeko (Russia) 2007 Egoni (Indonesia) 2004 Erta Ale (Ethiopia) 2003 Etna (Italy) 2007 Eyjafjallajokull (Iceland) 2010 Piton de la Fournaise (France) 2010 Fuego (Guatemala) Eruption Continues Fukutoku-Okanoba (Japan) 2010 Galeras (Colombia) 2008 Gamalama (Indonesia) 2003 Gaua (Vanuatu) 2009 Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) 2006 Hachijo-Jima, Izu Islands (Japan) 2002 Heard Island (Australia) 2006 Hekla (Iceland) 2000 Hokkaido (Japan) 2006 Ijen (Indonesia) 2001 Kaba (Indonesia) 2000 Mount Karangetang (Indonesia) 2007 Karthala (Indian Ocean) 2007 Karymsky (Russia) Eruption Continues Kavachi Seamount (Solomon Islands) 2004 Kelut (Indonesia) 2006 Kikai (Japan) 2004 Kirishima (Japan) 2010 Kliuchevskoi (Russia) 2009 Komagatake (Japan) 2000 Krakatau (Indonesia) 2001 Langila (New Britain) 2007 Lamongan (Indonesia) 2003 Lascar (Chile) 2007 Leroboleng (Indonesia) 2003 Mount Lewotobi (Indonesia) 2003 Llaima (Chile) 2008 Lokon (Indonesia) 2003 Lopevi (Vanuatu) 2007 Manam (Papua New Guinea) Eruption Continues Maroa (New Zealand) 2001 Masaya (Nicaragua) Eruption Continues Mayon (Philippines) 2009 Merapi (Indonesia) 2007 Nevado Del Huila (Colombia) 2007 Nyamuragira (Congo) 2010 Nyiragongo (Congo) 2003 Ol Doinya Lengai (Tanzania) 2006 Oyama, Miyake-jima (Japan) 2006 Pacaya (Guatemala) 2007 Pagan (Mariana Islands) 2006 Pago (Papua New Guinea) 2004 Papandayan (Indonesia) 2002 Poas (Costa Rica) 2006 Popocatepetl (Mexico) 2007 Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) 2008 Raoul Island (New Zealand) 2006 Reventador (Ecuador) 2007 Ritter Island (Papua New Guinea) 2006 Rotorua (New Zealand) 2001 Ruapehu (New Zealand) 2006 Sakura-Jima (Japan) Eruption Continues San Cristobal (Nicaragua) 2006 San Miguel (El Salvador) 2006 Sangay (Ecuador) Eruption Continues Santa Ana (El Salvador) 2006 Santa Maria (Guatemala) Eruption Continues Semeru (Indonesia) Eruption Continues Shiveluch (Russia) Eruption Continues Slamet (Indonesia) 2007 Soputan (Indonesia) 2006 Soufriere Hills (West Indies) Eruption Continues Stromboli (Italy) Eruption Continues Sulu Range (Papua New Guinea) 2006 Suwanose-Jima Ryukyu Islands (Japan) Eruption Continues Tavurvur (Papua New Guinea) 2000 Taal (Philippines) 2006 Talang (Indonesia) 2007 Telica (Nicaragua) 2007 Tengger Caldera (Indonesia) 2006 Tungurahua (Ecuador) Eruption Continues Turrialba (Costa Rica 2010 Ubinas (Peru) 2007 Ulawun (Papua New Guinea) 2007 Usu (Japan) 2000 Villarrica (Chile) 2009 White Island (New Zealand) 2007 Yasur (Vanuatu) 2004 **Table II ** **Name of the Volcano** **Last Erupted** Atka 2006 Augustine 2006 Chuginadak 2005 Cleveland 2008 Fourpeaked 2006 [Mount Kilauea](https://ustravelia.com/mount-kilauea-volcano-hawaii) Eruption Continues Mount St. Helens Eruption Continues Mauna Loa 2003 Redoubt 2009 Shishaldin 2000 South Sister 2001 Veniaminof 2006 With no consensus whatsoever, it is difficult to determine which volcano should be included in the list of active volcanoes, and which one should be excluded from it. If the criteria is changed to include all those volcanoes that have erupted at least once in the last 10,000 years, compiling the list would be next to impossible. One has to also take into consideration the fact that dormant volcanoes may not have had any activity in the recent past, but that doesn’t mean their chances of becoming active are none.