Hawaii’s Mauna Loa is in the process of erupting for the first time in nearly four decades. While experts are not concerned that the eruption could threaten life on the islands, the event will cause some of the island to be coated in as much as a quarter of an inch in ash. While the mountain has not caused fatalities in some time, earlier eruptions destroyed villages. In the 1850s, an erupting Mauna Loa came close to destroying Hilo, the largest settlement on the island. Some are likely counting themselves lucky that the long-anticipated eruption was relatively mild this time.
Massive volcanic eruptions are among the best-known moments in history. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, it destroyed the city of Pompeii and people for miles around it.
More recent eruptions are widely known parts of recent history. Millions of Americans can remember television coverage of the explosion of Mount Saint Helens in 1980. It was the deadliest volcanic eruption in American history, and caused over $1 billion in damages. It continues to be considered a dangerous volcano.
To identify the most dangerous volcanoes in the United States, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the overall threat score from the “2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment.” The most recent eruption year also came from the USGS. The population within 30 kilometers and 100 kilometers (about 18 and 60 miles, respectively), for each volcano was obtained from The Smithsonian Institution’s “Volcanoes of the World” database.
The most dangerous volcano in the world is Kīlauea, Hawaii, an active shield volcano in the Pacific island chain.
Scientists have different ways of classifying types of volcanoes. For instance, a stratovolcano (or composite volcano) is a steep symmetrical cone built of lava flows, volcanic ash and other materials (some of the world’s highest mountains are stratovolcanoes). A lava dome is a comparatively small volcano built from dense lava flow. This is the tallest mountain in America.
Not all volcanic eruptions are the same. Some are fairly calm and pose little threat to nearby inhabitants. Others can be violent, with catastrophic effects. Smaller volcanic events can be spectacular to witness from a safe distance, and many active volcanoes release dazzling lava without massive violent eruptions. Others, though, continue to pose major threats to cities around the world, even if they have previously erupted.
Click here to see the most dangerous volcanoes in America
31. Korovin Volcano, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 102
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 205
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 205
> Most recent eruption year: 2007
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30. Atka volcanic complex, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 102
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 207
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 207
> Most recent eruption year: 1812
29. Mount Veniaminof, Alaskan Peninsula
> Overall threat score: 102
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 542
> Most recent eruption year: 2021
28. Trident Volcano, Alaskan Peninsula
> Overall threat score: 106
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 117
> Most recent eruption year: 1974
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27. Mount Martin, Alaskan Peninsula
> Overall threat score: 106
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 914
> Most recent eruption year: 1953
26. Mount Mageik, Alaskan Peninsula
> Overall threat score: 106
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 376
> Most recent eruption year: -500
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25. Mount Katmai, Alaskan Peninsula
> Overall threat score: 106
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 128
> Most recent eruption year: 1912
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24. Mono-Inyo Craters, California
> Overall threat score: 106
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 9,048
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 82,160
> Most recent eruption year: 1380
Source: krisbasonphotography / iStock via Getty Images
23. Hualālai, Hawaii
> Overall threat score: 109
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 46,959
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 166,240
> Most recent eruption year: 1801
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22. Aniakchak Crater, Alaskan Peninsula
> Overall threat score: 112
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 36
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 479
> Most recent eruption year: 1931
21. Yellowstone caldera, Wyoming
> Overall threat score: 115
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 234
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 20,692
> Most recent eruption year: -1350
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20. Iliamna Volcano, Cook Inlet, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 115
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 01
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 7,564
> Most recent eruption year: 1876
19. Mount Okmok, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 117
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 04
> Most recent eruption year: 2008
18. Long Valley Caldera, California
> Overall threat score: 129
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles):
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles):
> Most recent eruption year:
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Source: Dendron / iStock via Getty Images
17. Crater Lake, Oregon
> Overall threat score: 129
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 366
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 272,674
> Most recent eruption year: -2850
Source: CStorz / iStock via Getty Images
16. Mauna Loa, Hawaii
> Overall threat score: 131
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 1,906
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 175,315
> Most recent eruption year: 2022
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15. Glacier Peak, Washington
> Overall threat score: 135
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 23
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 1,340,896
> Most recent eruption year: 1700
Source: GlovTech / E+ via Getty Images
14. Mount Baker, Washington
> Overall threat score: 139
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 8,568
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 1,990,504
> Most recent eruption year: 1880
Source: traveler1116 / iStock via Getty Images
13. Newberry Volcano, Oregon
> Overall threat score: 146
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 16,437
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 180,091
> Most recent eruption year: 690
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Source: brytta / E+ via Getty Images
12. Augustine Volcano, Cook Inlet, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 151
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 759
> Most recent eruption year: 2006
11. Lassen volcanic center, California
> Overall threat score: 153
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 2,340
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 439,135
> Most recent eruption year: 1917
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10. Mount Spurr, Cook Inlet, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 161
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): Not available
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 11,097
> Most recent eruption year: 1992
9. Makushin Volcano, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 161
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 3,437
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 3,850
> Most recent eruption year: 1995
8. Akutan Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
> Overall threat score: Aleutian Islands, Alaska
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 233
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 4,361
> Most recent eruption year: 1992
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7. Three Sisters, Cascade Volcanic Arc, Oregon
> Overall threat score: 165
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 5,672
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 279,885
> Most recent eruption year: 440
Source: benedek / E+ via Getty Images
6. Mount Hood, Oregon
> Overall threat score: 178
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 9,721
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 2,067,520
> Most recent eruption year: 1866
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5. Mount Shasta, California
> Overall threat score: 178
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 19,785
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 265,016
> Most recent eruption year: 1250
4. Redoubt Volcano, Cook Inlet, Alaska
> Overall threat score: 201
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 01
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 32,410
> Most recent eruption year: 2009
3. Mount Rainier, Washington
> Overall threat score: 203
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 3,187
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 2,667,609
> Most recent eruption year: 1450
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Source: Tashka / iStock via Getty Images
2. Mount St. Helens, Washington
> Overall threat score: 235
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 2,221
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 2,173,101
> Most recent eruption year: 2008
Source: ademyan / iStock via Getty Images
1. Kīlauea, Hawaii
> Overall threat score: 263
> Population within 30 km (approx. 18 miles): 8,495
> Population within 100 km (approx. 60 miles): 169,550
> Most recent eruption year: 2021
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