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Earth is adorned with some of the most beautiful feats of nature – gigantic volcanic peaks that tower miles into the sky. These behemoths have sculpted landscapes, altered climates, and are a reminder of the raw, untamed power brewing beneath the Earth’s surface. Let’s take a look at the 10 largest volcanoes on Earth ranked by their size and volume.
Mauna Kea, Hawaii (33,500 cu km)
Rising over 13,000 feet above sea level, Mauna Kea is dwarfed by its 19,700-foot height from base to summit when measured from the ocean floor. This shield volcano is not only the highest point in Hawaii but contains about 25% of the entire volcanic landscape mass in the Hawaiian ridge. Mauna Kea last erupted around 4,600 years ago, though it is technically still considered dormant rather than extinct. The volcano’s broad shape is the product of millions of years of fluid basaltic lava flows layered over each other. Its summit hosts some of the world’s most advanced astronomical observatories, providing crystal-clear visibility thanks to its remote location and thin atmospheric conditions.
Mauna Loa, Hawaii (17,000 cu km)
The largest active volcano on our planet, Mauna Loa is known as the “Long Mountain.” Rising 13,679 feet high and comprising over 51% of the Big Island’s area, it has erupted 33 times since its first well-observed eruption in 1843. Though not currently erupting, Mauna Loa is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth in modern history. Its gigantic bulk has been formed by countless fluid basaltic lava flows over hundreds of thousands of years. The volcano’s frequent, non-explosive eruptions have reshaped the Hawaiian landscape while rarely threatening major populations.
Tamu Massif, Northwest Pacific Ocean (12,000 cu km)
Tamu Massif is the largest known single volcano on Earth, with a footprint about as large as the state of New Mexico. Part of the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau, this behemoth submarine shield volcano sits nearly 6,500 feet below the ocean’s surface. Tamu Massif was likely formed by relatively quick eruptions of lava flows over just a few million years, as the oceanic tectonic plate passed over a hot spot in the mantle. Its sheer enormity was hidden from human sight for centuries until modern sensing technologies revealed its sprawling submarine presence.
Ojos del Salado, Chile (4,000 cu km)
At 22,615 feet, Ojos del Salado is the highest volcanic summit in the world, forming part of the lofty Andes mountain range on the Argentina/Chile border. This massive stratovolcano is comprised of thick, viscous lava flows from andesitic and dacitic eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years. While its youth and vigour have diminished, it is still considered among the world’s highest risks for potential hazards due to its proximity to populated areas and recent signs of unrest. Ojos del Salado features a 6-mile diameter caldera at its summit caused by massive explosive eruptions around 600,000 years ago.
Pico de Orizaba, Mexico (905 cu km)
The tallest mountain in Mexico at nearly 18,500 feet, Pico de Orizaba is a stratovolcano whose rocky peak is glazed by year-round snowfields and glaciers. While currently dormant, it has the potential for explosive future eruptions given its complex geological history. Orizaba’s 9-mile altitude drops host some of Mexico’s only remaining glaciers, as its tropical latitude leaves few areas hospitable for large ice masses. The volcano’s early eruptions formed the giant Ahumada caldera which later eruptions built taller cones inside. Pico de Orizaba last erupted in the 19th century and could become restless in future centuries.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (888 cu km)
At 19,341 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain on Earth. This extinct stratovolcano features multiple remnant volcanic cones and striking glaciers despite its location near the equator. Kilimanjaro began forming over a million years ago through explosive eruptions that built up its initial cone. Though the last major eruptions ceased around 360,000 years ago, residual volcanic activity as recent as 200,000 years ago created the plateau-like Kibo summit area. Kilimanjaro’s famed glaciers are rapidly shrinking due to climate change after gracing its slopes for over 11,000 years.
Mount Meru, Tanzania (300 cu km)
Towering nearly 15,000 feet high with an iconic conical shape, Mount Meru is an active stratovolcano in Tanzania’s Arusha National Park. It last erupted in 1910 and its fertile soils nourish the surrounding grasslands and forests. Meru features a distinct 1,300-foot wide crater punched into its broad summit from historical explosive eruptions. Though dwarfed by its famous neighbour Kilimanjaro, Meru is considered one of the highest-risk volcanoes in Africa due to the potential for future eruptions and proximity to population centres. Its lower slopes are blanketed by a dense tropical forest sustained by its mineralized volcanic ash and soil.
Mount Sangeang Api, Indonesia (195 cu km)
One of the most active volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Mount Sangeang Api features two striking crater lakes and periodically erupts with dramatic plumes of ash and volcanic debris raining down on nearby islands. This stratovolcano is formed from alternate layers of solidified ash and lava over hundreds of thousands of years. Its two crater lakes formed when recent eruptions caused structural collapse and trapped water accumulating from rainfall and volcanic vents. Sangeang Api’s volatility forced the evacuation of its island’s residents multiple times over the past few decades.
Kronotsky, Russia (170 cu km)
Kronotsky is a massive shield volcano on Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula. The heavily glaciated edifice was created by numerous prehistoric eruptions, the largest of which are believed to be among the most powerful in recent geological history. Rising over 10,000 feet high, Kronotsky features over 30 overlapping craters and cones dotting its surface, some still steaming from residual volcanic activity. The largest cone at the summit contains a 1.8-mile-wide caldera formed by an explosive eruption around 38,000 years ago that deposited over 6 cubic miles of pumice across the volcanic landscape.
Mount Tambora, Indonesia (150 cu km)
In 1815, Mount Tambora unleashed the largest eruption in recorded history, roughly four times larger than Krakatoa’s disastrous 1883 event. The massive explosion ejected over 36 cubic miles of tephra, killed over 90,000 people, and its aerosol plume of sulfur dioxide lowered global temperatures for several years after, causing widespread famine and death. Tambora’s eruption formed a 4 by 5-mile caldera and drastically reshaped its pre-eruption conical profile into the rocky remnants seen today. Though unlikely to experience another cataclysmic event of the same magnitude, the 9,300-foot volcano remains closely monitored for potential threats.
While these volcanoes are powerful reminders of nature’s might it is important that we only appreciate their majesty from a relatively safe distance.