Volcanoes offer something for tourists of all sorts: Sightseers love the dramatic landscapes left behind by eruptions, historians and geology enthusiasts can take a glimpse into the earth’s past and adventure seekers love the thrill of seeing steam or magma stream from a volcano’s top.
You’ll find volcanoes all over the world, from Italy to the famous Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean, lining eastern Asia and the western Americas. The Ring of Fire is also home to more than half of the world’s active volcanoes, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be seeing ash or lava on your next trip. After all, a volcano is considered “active” if it has erupted in the last 10,000 years, a fairly generous window.
But if you’re looking for a bit of excitement and lava-filled photo opps, there are a few volcanoes that fit the bill. Pacaya volcano in Guatemala has been erupting continuously since the 1960s, while Hawaii’s Kilauea offers spectacular sights as lava flows into the surrounding ocean. For practically guaranteed lava views, you won’t want to miss Italy’s Stromboli volcano, which erupts with small bursts of lava regularly.
This photo tour will introduce you to some of the world’s most notable volcanoes.
(Main image: Mark Murrmann, European Southern Observatory)
