Have you ever dream of climbing up an active volcano mountain? Do you have any opportunity to watch real live volcano eruptions? I never thought about this unusual vacation, perhaps I do not have the chance to visit one in my lifetime. There are thousands of active volcanoes in this world, but only a few of them is currently erupting.

Activities on watching or examining a volcano’s eruption are extremely dangerous. Visitors often require assistance from experts. They will bring along proper equipments like maps, compass, GPS, food, water, etc. Proper planning is also required before they go, including knowing the past eruptions, past accidents and current volcano warning level. A personal physical ability & safety are always on the first priority.

Beside hot lava, other sources of danger on a volcano include extreme heat & cold, acid rain, dangerous animals & insects, etc. However, on the other hand, most of the active volcano destinations offer much more than volcano: charming nearby town, dramatic landscapes, hot springs and a lot more.

I have chosen 10 well-known active volcanoes in the world and I explore them from my home computer. View the photos, satellite imageries and watch the videos. If you never have any chance to visit any volcano in your lifetime… here it is.

1. Etna Volcano – Italy

Volcano type: Stratovolcano, Location: Italy (37.759315,15.029983), Summit: 3328m, Eruptions: Continuously active

Mount Etna is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the largest active volcano in Europe. It is a near continuous eruption volcano. People belief its volcanic activity began about 500,000 years ago. It is the number second most active volcano on earth (after Kilauea in Hawaii).

Over the years, Etna’s lava flows cover most of the mountain area, making the volcano soils fertile. Many visitors take up the walking tour to Etna volcanoes.

2. Vesuvius Volcano – Italy

Volcano Type: Stratovolcano, Location: Italy (40.831216,14.432945), Summit: 1281m, Eruptions: 1944 (last eruptions)

Vesuvius volcano is the most famous and also one of the most dangerous volcanos in the world. Although it is not currently erupting, about 3 millions people living surrounding the area are threatened by a future eruption. It is the most heavily populated volcanic region in the world.

Many years ago, Mount Vesuvius eruption wiped up a number of Roman towns (Pompeii is one of them) and turn the places into today famous archaeological sites. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years.

3. Kilauea Volcano – Hawaii

Volcano Type: Shield volcano, Location: Hawaii Big Island (19.412040,-155.2780), Summit: 1247m, Eruptions: > 25 times & ongoing.

It started to attract visitor from all over the world in 1820 and quickly became one of the scientists’ hot spots. It is the youngest volcano in the Hawaiian. It is having an uninterrupted eruption since 1983. It was reported recently that the lava flowed through a lava tube system, reaching the nearby ocean entry.

Most of the itineraries to Kilauea are on private tour and focuses on the active sights of the eruption and its natural & unique features. It is currently most visited active volcano on earth.

4. Arenal Volcano – Costa Rica

Volcano Type: Stratovolcano, Location: Costa Rica (10.464179,-84.70407), Summit: 1657m, Eruptions: 1968 – 2009 (continually active).

Arenal volcano unexpectedly exploded in 1968 after sleeping for more than hundreds of years. Its lava blew up to 5 km distance and destroyed the nearby town and surrounding area. This 1657m high volcano has been pronounced as the youngest and it is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica.

It is a beautiful volcano located just near the Lake Arena. It remained largely unexplored until 1937, when an expedition reaches its summit. Most of the time, the tip is surrounded by clouds. Beside volcano, visitors are offered with other attractions like tropical rainforests, rare wildlife and plants, hot springs and waterfalls.

5. Colima Volcano – Mexico

Volcano Type: Stratovolcano, Location: Mexico (19.529700,-103.6051),
Summit: 3850m, Eruptions: many times & ongoing.

Scientists have observed colima volcano for more than 20 years. Occasional major explosive occur frequently, it is one of the most active and dangerous volcano in Central America. It has more than 30 eruptions since 1585.

6. Erta Ale Volcano – Ethiopia

Volcano Type: Shield volcano, Location: Ethiopia (13.614623,40.671386), Summit: 613m, Eruptions: > 7 times, 2005(last eruption) & ongoing.

Erta Ale is one of the few volcanoes on the world that have an almost persistent lava lake. Its last major eruption was in 2005, which forced thousands of nearby residents to run away. Additional lava flow activity took place in 2007, again forcing the evacuation of hundreds people.

7. Krakatau Volcano – Indonesia

Volcano Type: Caldera, Location: Indonesia (-6.099846,105.42463), Summit: 813m, Eruptions: 2008.

Krakatau Volcano well known massive eruption in 1883 was among the most aggressive volcanic events. The eruption was equivalent to the nuclear bomb that devastated Hiroshim Japan. More than hundreds of villages and towns were destroyed during that time. It is interesting to know that the volcano eruptions since 1927 have built a new 2 kilometres radius island in the same location, named Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa).

In 2008, Anak Krakatau started to erupt again. Scientists would now have the opportunities to observe Krakatau eruption at a close distance.

8. Nyiragongo Volcano – Democratic Republic of Congo

Volcano Type: Stratovolcano, Location: Democratic Republic of Congo (-1.512332,29.256935), Summit: 3470m, Eruptions: 2009 (continuing)

Nyiragongo volcano is famous in its fast-moving lava flows & its large lava lake. It is located near the Lake Kivu in the Rift Valley. It is also one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The security situation around the volcano is believed to stabilize to a satisfactory level. Visitors may now camp somewhere above its active lava lake and trek through the thick forest in the Volcanoes Park.

9. Tavurvur Volcano – Papua New Guinea

Volcano Type Stratovolcano, Location: Papua New Guinea (-4.237583,152.20798), Summit: 223m, Last Eruptions: 2009

Tavurvur active Volcano is viewable from Rabaul Volcano Observatory. It is located near Rabaul in Papua New Guinea. It is most well known for its destructive eruptions over Rabaul. Previous history shows that the eruptions caused massive damage to Rabaul and forced the evacuation of the many people. It began its eruption again in 2009.

10. Tungurahua Volcano – Ecuador

Volcano Type: Stratovolcano, Location: Ecuador (-1.457591,-78.43860), Summit: 5023m, Eruptions: > 18 time & ongoing

Tungurahua volcano is located in the Central of Ecuador. It is one of the most active and highest volcanoes in Ecuador. Its eruption often comes with violent. In 1999, after sleeping for a long period, the volcano started and continues its eruption until 2009. The 2006 eruption was the most violent one; it came with high ash cloud and spread all over the place. Most of the people around its base have been evacuated.