Abisola SalahuThe smallest volcanoes in the world do not get that much attention; most people are just obsessed with size- they think that only massive and impressive things which fill them with awe deserve their attention. Looking at this selection of little volcanoes, they quickly realize their mistake; beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Small volcanoes also have their advantages; for example they are a lot easier to climb and to photograph, and they are a lot less intimidating, which means the more timid people can also appreciate their beauty.
Some of these volcanoes have become tourist hot-spots; they now have whole tourism industries built around them to cater to the millions of people who travel from far to visit and experience the thrill of looking down a real life volcano.
Top 10 Smallest Volcano In The World
1. La Pequeñita
A controversial report from an online journal shows an erupting volcano which is only 3 CM tall. This report comes from a nature preserve in Colombia; and an enclosure of about 10 cm to make sure it stays intact, while a team of scientists studies it.
This strange little volcano has its own plume and ash, and is shaped exactly as the big volcanoes all over the world. The question now is how can such a small volcano exist?
Scientists are trying to figure out where the lava flow comes from, and what it means for the immediate environment. A scientist sys we may be seeing an entirely new way to form volcanoes from decaying trees. More information will become available soon.
2. Cuexcomate
Cuexcomate is an inactive geyser in Puebla city, Puebla state, Mexico. It gets its name from a large earthen jar used to store grain, because it looks like such a vessel.
The center cone that the geyser built up around its vent is 13 meters (43 ft) tall, and its diameter is 23 meters (75 ft). Inside the volcano the crater is 8 meters (26 ft) wide and 17 meters (56 ft) deep.
This is a tourist attraction; a spiral staircase has been installed in the crater, and visitors pay to go down to the depths to explore what it feels like to be down in the belly of the earth. There is also an observation deck on top of the volcano, from where visitors can look around.
3. Taal Volcano
Taal Volcano has been called the world’s smallest active volcano. It is the Philippines; and is a major tourist attraction despite being an active volcano. People line up to walk the 20 minutes walk to the top of the volcano, where they are sometimes greeted by hot fumes and ash.
Taal Volcano is one of the smallest volcanoes; and the people of the Philippines argue that it is the world’s smallest active volcano. Being set on a lake; visitors come in from all over the world to enjoy their holidays here; climbing during the day and enjoying fresh fish during the night.
4. Pali-Aike Volcanic Field
The Pali-Aike volcanic field is a volcanic field along the Argentina–Chile border. It however, mostly considered to be in Chile. Geologists say it was formed when the Chile Ridge collided with the Peru–Chile Trench. Pali-Aike formed over sedimentary rock of Magallanes Basin, a Jurassic-age basin.
This whole area is considered one big volcanic zone; there are approximately 467 vents in an area of 4,500 square KM. The highest among them being 282 m (925 ft) tall.
5. Parícutin
Parícutin is a cinder cone volcano located somewhat in the center of Mexico. It is located in the Mexican state of Michoacán, near the city of Uruapan which is about 322 kilometers west of Mexico City. This is the youngest volcano in the Western Hemisphere; it appeared rather suddenly in the corn field of a local farmer called Dionisio Pulido in 1943.
Paricutín gave modern science the chance to see an eruption of this type for the first time. Thousands of photos were taken, and hundreds of samples as well, even though 3 people were killed, and entire towns were evacuated when the eruptions which lasted from 1943 to 1952 happened.
The eruptions created a cone that is 424-meters-high. It also left an area of more than 233 square kilometers covered with stone, volcanic ash and lava.
6. Anak Krakatoa
Anak Krakatoa is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world. There used to be an island there called Krakatoa, but it was destroyed by Volcanic activity in the 1883. On 29 December 1927, Anak Krakatoa emerged as a small stump in the sea, but was quickly sunk under the sea waves.
The process repeated itself severally, until 11 August 1930, when the volcanic island permanently rose above sea level. The site is still active; and there have been many eruptions since then.
At the highest point, Anak Krakatoa measures 288 meters or 945 ft. this is therefore a dwarf of a volcano, small being a rather unsuitable word.
7. Whakaari / White Island
Whakaari, alternatively known as White Island is an active volcano located 48 km from the eastern coastline of the North Island of New Zealand. The island covers an area of approximately 325 ha (800 acres). While its highest peak measures 321 meters, which is 1,053 ft tall, it would be an error to call this a small volcano because it is part of a much larger volcanic formation which is hidden underwater.
The island was sighted by the explorer James Cook in 1769, and even then it had volcanic activity. The island has been releasing volcanic gas at least since that time, and has had serious eruptions several times.
8. Barren Island
Barren Island is an island located in the Andaman Sea. It is part of a chain of volcanoes from Sumatra to Myanmar. Among the volcanoes in this chain, this is the only active one. It is a part of the Indian Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and is located about 138 km (86 mi) northeast of the capital- Port Blair.
The island measures 354 meters, or 1,161 ft.
9. Vulcano
Vurcanu or Vulcan is a small volcanic island which belongs to the country of Italy. It is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, about 20 km north of the Italian region of Sicily. This is the island from which the word Volcano was derived; the ancient Romans believed that it was the chimney of Vulcan; the Roman god of fire.
This island measures 501 meters at its highest point; and has been an important part of Roman history and mythology for ages.
10. Colo
Colo, or Mount Colo is a volcano in Indonesia. It is roughly in the middle of the Gulf of Tomini, the northern part of Sulawesi, where it forms the small island of Una-Una. The volcano only reaches 507 meters at its highest point, although it is quite broad.
Part of the island is a small volcanic cone; while active, only three eruptions have been recorded in the history of the volcano.
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Closing
The smallest volcanoes in the world have mainly been compiled by their height; by contrast some of them are part of kilometers long volcanic areas, and some are even islands by their own right, with miles of ground submerged beneath the sea.