Largest Volcanoes in World List, Location, Distribution

The Largest Volcanoes in the World on Earth, Mauna Loa is a shield volcano. Check the List of Largest Volcanoes in the World & their Location, Distribution for competitive exams.

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Volcanoes, with their awe-inspiring presence and potential for dramatic eruptions, are pivotal features in the study of geography and earth sciences. Understanding the largest volcanoes in the world is essential for UPSC aspirants, as it enhances their general awareness and provides insight into the dynamic processes shaping our planet. Check Out the Largest Volcanoes in the World List in this article.

What Are Volcanoes?

Volcanoes are geological formations where magma (molten rock) from beneath the Earth’s crust erupts through the surface, creating mountains, craters, and other volcanic features. They are formed by tectonic plate movements and are classified as active, dormant, or extinct based on their eruption history.

Type of Volcano	Description	Example
Shield Volcanoes	Broad, gently sloping; formed by low-viscosity basaltic lava that can flow over great distances.	Mauna Loa, Hawaii
Stratovolcanoes	Tall, steep-sided; built up by layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash; explosive eruptions.	Mount Fuji, Japan; Mount Vesuvius, Italy
Cinder Cone Volcanoes	Small, steep-sided; formed from tephra, volcanic ash, and pyroclastic fragments ejected from a single vent.	Parícutin, Mexico
Lava Domes	Formed by slow eruption of highly viscous lava that piles up near the vent; can produce violent eruptions.	Mount St. Helens, USA
Calderas	Large, basin-like depressions formed when a volcano erupts and collapses into the emptied magma chamber below.	Yellowstone Caldera, USA

Largest Active Volcanoes in the World

Here is the List of the Largest Active Volcanoes in the World given below:

Name	Location	Description
Mauna Loa	Hawaii, USA	The largest active volcano on Earth, Mauna Loa is a shield volcano that rises about 4,170 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 75,000 cubic kilometres. It is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and last erupted in 1984. Its frequent eruptions and gentle slopes make it an important location for studying the formation and behaviour of shield volcanoes.
Mount Etna	Sicily, Italy	The largest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna is a stratovolcano that rises about 3,329 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 500 cubic kilometers. It is located on the east coast of Sicily and has been erupting continuously for thousands of years. Its eruptions are often explosive and produce lava flows, ash plumes, and other hazards that can pose a threat to nearby communities.
Piton de la Fournaise	Reunion Island, Indian Ocean	Piton de la Fournaise is a shield volcano that rises about 2,632 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 530 cubic kilometres. It is located on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its frequent eruptions are often accompanied by lava flows that can harm nearby communities.
Kilauea	Hawaii, USA	One of the world’s most active and most studied volcanoes, Kilauea is a shield volcano that rises about 1,247 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 75 cubic kilometres. It is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and has erupted continuously since 1983. It’s frequent eruptions and accessible location makes it an important location for studying volcanic processes and hazards.
Mount Nyiragongo	Democratic Republic of the Congo	One of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world, Mount Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano that rises about 3,470 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 50 cubic kilometers. It is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is known for its highly fluid lava that can move at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Its eruptions have caused significant damage and loss of life in nearby communities.
Mount Shasta	California, USA	A stratovolcano that rises about 4,322 meters above sea level, Mount Shasta is located in Northern California near the border with Oregon. It has a volume of around 350 cubic kilometers and is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Its most recent eruption occurred around 200 years ago, and it is closely monitored for signs of volcanic activity.
Sangay	Ecuador	Located in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, Sangay is a stratovolcano that rises about 5,230 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 30 cubic kilometers. It is one of the most active volcanoes in South America, with frequent eruptions that produce lava flows, ash plumes, and lahars. Its remote location and difficult terrain make it a challenging location to study and monitor.
Mount Merapi	Java, Indonesia	A stratovolcano that rises about 2,930 meters above sea level, Mount Merapi is located on the island of Java in Indonesia. It has a volume of around 40 cubic kilometers and is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in Indonesia. Its eruptions are often explosive and can produce pyroclastic flows, ash plumes, and lahars that have caused significant damage and loss of life in nearby communities. It is closely monitored by volcanologists and local authorities.
Popocatépetl	Mexico	Popocatépetl is a stratovolcano that rises about 5,426 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 225 cubic kilometers. It is located near Mexico City and is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico. Its eruptions are often explosive and produce ash plumes and lahars that can harm nearby communities. It is closely monitored by volcanologists and local authorities.
Mount Yasur	Vanuatu	Located on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, Mount Yasur is a stratovolcano that rises about 361 meters above sea level and has a volume of around 0.1 cubic kilometres. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the South Pacific, with frequent Strombolian eruptions that produce lava fountains and ash plumes. It is a popular tourist destination, but visitors must take care to avoid hazards such as flying debris and toxic gases.

Mauna Loa

Location: Hawaii, USA
Type: Shield Volcano
Height: 4,169 meters above sea level
Description: Mauna Loa is the largest volcano in terms of volume and area covered. It extends approximately 5 kilometers below sea level, making its total height over 9 kilometers. It last erupted in 1984 and is closely monitored for future activity.

Mauna Kea

Location: Hawaii, USA
Type: Shield Volcano
Height: 4,207 meters above sea level
Description: Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain when measured from its base on the ocean floor, rising about 10,203 meters. It is dormant, with its last eruption over 4,500 years ago, but remains geologically active.

Ojos del Salado

Location: Chile-Argentina Border
Type: Stratovolcano
Height: 6,893 meters above sea level
Description: The highest active volcano in the world, Ojos del Salado’s last known eruption was around 700 AD. It is characterized by a relatively low profile and significant height.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Location: Tanzania
Type: Stratovolcano
Height: 5,895 meters above sea level
Description: The tallest free-standing mountain globally, Kilimanjaro consists of three cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant, with recent activity about 200 years ago.

Mount Elbrus

Location: Russia
Type: Stratovolcano
Height: 5,642 meters above sea level
Description: The highest peak in Europe, Mount Elbrus is part of the Caucasus Mountains and is heavily glaciated. It is dormant, with its last eruption occurring around AD 50.

Cotopaxi

Location: Ecuador
Type: Stratovolcano
Height: 5,897 meters above sea level
Description: Known for its symmetrical cone, Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes and has erupted more than 50 times since 1738, with the last major eruption in 1904.

Mount Fuji

Location: Japan
Type: Stratovolcano
Height: 3,776 meters above sea level
Description: An iconic symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji is an active volcano with its last eruption in 1707. It is a popular cultural and spiritual symbol.

Mount Vesuvius

Location: Italy
Type: Stratovolcano
Height: 1,281 meters above sea level
Description: Renowned for the AD 79 eruption that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes due to its history of explosive eruptions and proximity to populated areas. Its last eruption was in 1944.

List of Largest Volcanoes in the World

Here is a List of Largest Volcanoes in the World and their Location given below in the table:

Volcano	Location	Height (Metres)	Height (Feet)
Mauna Loa	Hawaii, U.S.A	30085	9170
Haleakalā	Hawaii, U.S.A	30000	9144
Teide	Canary Islands, Spain	24606	7500
Piton des Neiges	Reunion, France	23198	7071
Ojos del Salado	Argentina/Chile	6893	22615
Llullaillaco	Argentina/Chile	6739	22110
Nevado Sajama	Bolivia	6542	21463
Chimborazo	Ecuador	6267	20561
Cotopaxi	Ecuador	5897	19347
Kilimanjaro	Tanzania	5895	19341
Cayambe	Ecuador	5790	18996
Mount Elbrus	Russia	5642	18510
Pico de Orizaba	Mexico	5636	18491
Mount Damavand	Iran	5610	18406
Popocatépetl	Mexico	5426	17802
Iztaccíhuatl	Mexico	5230	17159
Mount Kenya	Kenya	5199	17057
Mount Ararat	Turkey/Armenia	5137	16854
Mount Kazbek	Georgia	5047	16558
Mount Bona	Alaska	5005	16421
Klyuchevskaya Sopka	Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia	4750	15584
Mount Karisimbi	Rwanda/Democratic Republic of Congo	4507	14787
Mount Rainier	Washington	4392	14409
Mount Giluwe	Papua New Guinea	4368	14331
Volcán Tajumulco	Guatemala	4220	13845
Mauna Kea	Hawaii, United States	4205	13796
Mount Sidley	Antarctica	4181	13717
Mount Cameroon	Cameroon	4095	13435
Mount Aragats	Armenia	4095	13435
Mount Kerinci	Sumatra, Indonesia	3805	12484
Mount Fuji	Chūbu region, Honshū	3776	12388
Mount Rinjani	Lombok, Indonesia	3726	12224
Semeru	Java, Indonesia	3676	12060
Emi Koussi	Chad	3415	11204
Mount Etna	Sicily	3329	10922
Haleakalā	Maui, Hawaii	3055	10023
Mount Agung	Bali, Indonesia	3031	9944
Pico Basilé	Bioko, Equatorial Guinea	3011	9879
Mount Zuqualla	Oromia Region	2989	9806
Mount Apo	Mindanao	2954	9692
Mount Shishaldin	Unimak Island, Alaska	2857	9373
Mount Ruapehu	North Island	2797	9177
Mawson Peak	Heard Island	2745	9006
Pico	Azores	2351	7713
Beerenberg	Jan Mayen, Norway	2277	7470
Taal Volcano	Batangas, Philippines	311	1020
Pali-Aike volcanic field	Argentina–Chile border region	180	591

Distribution of Volcanoes in the World

Volcanoes are distributed mainly along tectonic plate boundaries, which are classified into:

Divergent Boundaries: Where plates move apart, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Convergent Boundaries: Where plates move towards each other, such as the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Hotspots: Volcanic regions thought to be fed by underlying mantle that is anomalously hot compared to the surrounding mantle. Examples include the Hawaiian Islands and Yellowstone.

Pacific Ring of Fire: This region encircles the Pacific Ocean and is home to approximately 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes. It is characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Mediterranean Belt: Extending through the Mediterranean region, it includes significant volcanoes like Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna.

Mid-Atlantic Ridge: This underwater mountain range runs down the center of the Atlantic Ocean, featuring numerous active volcanoes.

Largest Volcanoes in the World FAQs

What are the 5 largest volcanoes in the world?

The 5 largest volcanoes in the world are Mauna Loa (Hawaii), Tamu Massif (Pacific Ocean), Ojos del Salado (Chile), Tamu Kuba (Pacific Ocean), and Pūhāhonu (Hawaii).