# VolcanoDB

> The most comprehensive volcano database on the web. 1,740+ volcanoes from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program with eruption history, real-time seismic data, interactive maps, and bookable tours. Covering 98 countries.

VolcanoDB combines authoritative scientific data from the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program (GVP) with real-time monitoring feeds (USGS, NASA FIRMS) and curated editorial content about volcano types, notable eruptions, and safety information. The database includes 7,196 cataloged eruption records, with content focused on education, disaster awareness, and eco-tourism.

## Core Database

- [Volcanoes index](https://volcanodb.com/volcanoes): Complete list of 1,740+ volcanoes, searchable by name, country, type, and activity status.
- [Interactive map](https://volcanodb.com/map): Global map of all volcanoes with clickable markers, type/activity filters, and coordinate-based exploration.
- [Active volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/active-volcanoes): Currently erupting or recently active volcanoes with USGS alert levels.
- [Individual volcano pages](https://volcanodb.com/9/Vesuvius): Format `/{id}/{Name}` — each page has eruption history, VEI scale, location data, population risk, photos, and nearby tours. Example: Vesuvius, Etna, Rainier, Kilauea, Mount St. Helens.

## Editorial Content

- [Volcanic eruption](https://volcanodb.com/volcanic-eruption): Types of eruptions, VEI scale, biggest eruptions in history, and current global activity.
- [Kilauea eruption](https://volcanodb.com/kilauea-eruption): Episode 48 forecast (May 22-26), Episode 47 recap (200m fountains), 47-episode timeline, USGS forecast model explained, visitor guide.
- [Stratovolcano (composite volcano)](https://volcanodb.com/stratovolcano): Formation, characteristics, famous stratovolcanoes, comparison with shield volcanoes.
- [Shield volcano](https://volcanodb.com/shield-volcano): Earth's largest volcanoes — formation, famous examples (Mauna Loa, Kilauea), hazards, and 182 shield volcanoes in the database.
- [Cinder cone volcano](https://volcanodb.com/cinder-cone-volcano): Cinder cone formation, examples (Paricutin), comparison with other types. 70 cinder cones in the database.
- [Pyroclastic flow](https://volcanodb.com/pyroclastic-flow): The deadliest volcanic hazard — speeds, temperatures, historic events, survival accounts.
- [Caldera volcano](https://volcanodb.com/caldera-volcano): Caldera formation, types (Krakatoan, resurgent, Hawaiian), famous calderas (Yellowstone, Toba, Krakatau), 2026 activity (Kikai recharging, Tuscany discovery). 108 calderas in the database.
- [Dormant & extinct volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/dormant-volcano): Dormant vs extinct classification, surprise eruptions (Pinatubo, Chaitén), famous dormant volcanoes (Fuji, Rainier, Vesuvius), monitoring methods. 431 dormant volcanoes in the database.
- [Mount Etna hike](https://volcanodb.com/mount-etna-hike): Trail guide for hiking Europe's most active volcano — routes, costs, safety, tour booking.
- [Types of volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/types-of-volcanoes): Shield, stratovolcano, cinder cone, lava dome, caldera, supervolcano.
- [Famous volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/famous-volcanoes): Historically and culturally significant volcanoes worldwide.
- [Most dangerous volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/most-dangerous-volcanoes): Highest-risk volcanoes ranked by population, activity, and eruption history.
- [Ring of Fire](https://volcanodb.com/ring-of-fire): Pacific Ring of Fire tectonic setting and volcanic belt.
- [Supervolcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/supervolcanoes): VEI 8 eruptions, Yellowstone, Toba, Taupo.
- [Divergent volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/divergent-volcanoes): Rift zone and divergent plate boundary volcanoes. 236 in the database, from Iceland's Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the East African Rift. Formation, tectonic comparison, famous examples.
- [Central volcano](https://volcanodb.com/central-volcano): Iceland's volcanic system concept — central volcanoes connected to radiating fissure swarms. ~30 volcanic systems, Krafla Magma Testbed, and analogues outside Iceland.
- [Mud volcano](https://volcanodb.com/mud-volcano): Mud volcanoes erupt pressurized mud, gas, and water — not magma. 1,100+ worldwide, 400 in Azerbaijan. Visiting guide (Gobustan, El Totumo, Yellowstone), Lusi disaster, methane emissions.
- [Yellowstone volcano](https://volcanodb.com/yellowstone-volcano): Complete guide to the Yellowstone supervolcano — current USGS status (NORMAL), eruption history (3 supereruptions in 2.1M years), the "overdue" myth debunked, eruption scenarios, caldera system, and safe visiting. Data from USGS YVO and Smithsonian GVP.
- [Underwater volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/underwater-volcanoes): 114 submarine volcanoes tracked with eruption data. Over 1 million estimated on the ocean floor. Axial Seamount's 2026 eruption forecast, Hunga Tonga's record-breaking 2022 blast, how depth changes eruption style, island formation, and tsunami risks.
- [Hotspot volcano](https://volcanodb.com/hotspot-volcano): 155 intraplate volcanoes in our database. How mantle plumes create volcanic chains — Hawaii, Yellowstone, Iceland, Réunion, Galápagos, Canary Islands. Oceanic vs continental hotspots, hotspot vs subduction comparison, 2026 eruption updates.
- [Mayon Volcano](https://volcanodb.com/mayon-volcano): Mayon Volcano 2026 eruption update (Alert Level 3, pyroclastic flows). 69 eruptions since 1616 from our database. The world's most perfect stratovolcano cone. 1814 deadliest eruption (1,200+ killed, Cagsawa Ruins). Visitor guide.
- [Mount St. Helens eruption](https://volcanodb.com/mount-st-helens-eruption): The 1980 eruption that changed volcanology — lateral blast at 1,080 km/h, 57 killed, 600 km² destroyed. Complete eruption history (40,000 years), current USGS status (NORMAL), 2026 visitor guide with climbing permits.
- [Volcanoes in Indonesia](https://volcanodb.com/volcanoes-in-indonesia): The world's most volcanic country — 138 Indonesian volcanoes in our database, 83 with recorded eruptions. Tambora (VEI 7, 71,000+ killed), Krakatau (36,400+ killed), current 2026 eruptions (Ibu, Semeru). Visitor guide to Bromo, Ijen, Rinjani, Kelimutu, Krakatau.
- [Krakatoa eruption](https://volcanodb.com/krakatoa-eruption): The 1883 eruption that killed 36,417, produced the loudest sound ever recorded (310 dB, heard 4,800 km away), and generated 41-meter tsunamis. Anak Krakatau's 2018 collapse (437 killed), current 2026 status, eruption timeline from our database.
- [Lahar](https://volcanodb.com/lahar): Complete guide to lahars — volcanic mudflows that move at up to 200 km/h. The 1985 Armero tragedy (23,000 killed), Mount Rainier's lahar warning system (40-minute evacuation window), deadliest lahars ranked, speed comparison data, and formation types.
- [Volcanoes in Italy](https://volcanodb.com/volcanoes-in-italy): 15 Italian volcanoes in our database — Etna (erupting 2026), Vesuvius (3M people at risk, dormant since 1944), Campi Flegrei (supervolcano caldera in unrest, bradyseism 10 mm/month), Stromboli (2,000+ years continuous eruption). Tour guide with pricing.
- [Dukono Volcano](https://volcanodb.com/dukono-volcano): Mount Dukono erupted May 8, 2026, killing 3 hikers who defied a climbing ban. 93 years of continuous eruption since 1933. Incident timeline, Indonesia's multi-volcano crisis (7 erupting simultaneously), volcano hiking safety guide, alert level system explained.
- [Volcanic lightning](https://volcanodb.com/volcanic-lightning): Volcanic lightning ("dirty thunderstorms") — how ash plumes generate up to 2,600 lightning flashes per minute. Three charging mechanisms (triboelectric, carbon coatings, ice nucleation). Hunga Tonga's record 590,000 strikes. Notable events, early warning applications, photography guide.
- [Volcanic islands](https://volcanodb.com/volcanic-islands): How volcanic islands form (hotspot, subduction arc, mid-ocean ridge). 8 famous volcanic islands with database links. Complete island lifecycle from seamount to guyot. Newest islands (Niijima 2023, Hunga Tonga 2015, Surtsey 1963). Island arc statistics. Travel guide with pricing.
- [Taal Volcano](https://volcanodb.com/taal-volcano): Taal Volcano in the Philippines — a volcano within a lake within a volcano. 40 eruptions in our database, 6,000+ historical deaths, 2020 VEI 4 eruption, 2026 Alert Level 1 with 1,600+ tonnes SO2/day. Nested caldera geology, UNESCO tentative list, day trip guide from Manila.
- [Campi Flegrei](https://volcanodb.com/campi-flegrei): Europe's largest active caldera — 500,000 people live inside it. Campanian Ignimbrite (VEI 7, 39,850 BP, largest European eruption). 2026 seismic crisis: 10 mm/month ground uplift, 70 earthquakes/week peaks. Peer-reviewed 2033 critical transition research. Bradyseism, supervolcano comparison, Naples visitor guide.
- [Year Without Summer](https://volcanodb.com/year-without-summer): Mount Tambora's 1815 VEI 7 eruption — the largest in recorded history — caused the "Year Without Summer" in 1816. Snow in June, global famine, first cholera pandemic, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Month-by-month impact timeline, climate science, "could it happen again" analysis.
- [How volcanoes form](https://volcanodb.com/how-volcanoes-form): Plate tectonics, magma, hotspot volcanism.
- [Iceland volcanoes](https://volcanodb.com/iceland-volcano-eruption): All 44 Icelandic volcanoes in our database. 12 eruptions since 2021. Svartsengi 2026 eruption forecast (26M m³ magma accumulated). Eyjafjallajökull 2010, Laki 1783 (6M global deaths). Tour guide.
- [Volcano hiking guide](https://volcanodb.com/volcano-hiking-guide): Comprehensive volcano hiking safety guide. Dukono tragedy case study (3 hikers killed May 2026). Alert level systems for 6 countries. 10 best volcano hikes ranked with difficulty, cost, and database links. Essential gear, when NOT to hike, eruption survival.
- [Kanlaon Volcano](https://volcanodb.com/kanlaon-volcano): Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island, Philippines — 7 eruptions in 2026. Alert Level 2, SO2 at 2,382 tonnes/day. 20 eruptions in our database. June 2024 VEI 3 blast caused ₱1 billion in agricultural losses to the Sugar Bowl of the Philippines. 1996 eruption killed 3 hikers. Comparison with Mayon, Taal, Pinatubo.
- [Magma vs Lava](https://volcanodb.com/magma-vs-lava): The definitive guide to magma vs lava — same substance, different location. Magma is underground (700–1,300°C), lava is on the surface (700–1,200°C). Three magma types (basaltic, andesitic, rhyolitic) determine eruption style. Comparison table, famous magma chambers (Yellowstone, Kilauea, Krafla), FAQ.
- [Lava Flow](https://volcanodb.com/lava-flow): Complete guide to lava flows — types (pahoehoe, aa, pillow, block), speeds (1–60 km/h), and the 6 most destructive flows in history. Laki 1783 (565 km², killed 20% of Iceland), Nyiragongo 2002 (fastest at 60 km/h), Kilauea 2018 (716 homes). Can you stop a lava flow? Vestmannaeyjar 1973 success story. Hazard zones.
- [Volcano tours](https://volcanodb.com/volcano-tours): Bookable volcano tours worldwide (Hawaii, Iceland, Italy, Indonesia, Japan).
- [Volcanoes in the US](https://volcanodb.com/volcanoes-in-the-us): The United States has 161 potentially active volcanoes across 12 states — more than any country. USGS National Volcanic Threat Assessment ranks 18 as "very high threat." State-by-state guide covering Alaska (80+), Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Yellowstone. Eruption history, current activity, national park visitor info.
- [Volcanoes in Oregon](https://volcanodb.com/volcanoes-in-oregon): Oregon has ~22 volcanic centers along the Cascade Volcanic Arc. Crater Lake formed from a VEI 7 eruption 7,700 years ago — deepest lake in the US (594m). Mount Hood most likely to erupt next. Three Sisters ground uplift since 1998. Newberry's Big Obsidian Flow. 4 volcanoes rated USGS "very high threat." Visitor guide with prices.
- [Volcanoes in Washington](https://volcanodb.com/volcanoes-in-washington): Washington's Big Five volcanoes — Mount Rainier (USGS #1 most dangerous, lahar risk to 80,000+ people), Mount St. Helens (1980 eruption killed 57, lateral blast at 1,080 km/h), Mount Baker (most thermally active), Glacier Peak (most remote, VEI 5 history), Mount Adams. All monitored 24/7 by USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory.
- [Mount Vesuvius eruption](https://volcanodb.com/mount-vesuvius-eruption): The 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius buried Pompeii under 6 meters of ash and killed 16,000+. 61 eruptions in our database. The 1944 eruption destroyed 88 WWII B-25 bombers. 3 million people live in the danger zone today — 700,000 in the red zone with a 72-hour evacuation plan. Visitor guide for Vesuvius summit (€10) and Pompeii ruins (€18).
- [Volcanoes in Japan](https://volcanodb.com/volcanoes-in-japan): Japan has 142 volcanoes in our database with 1,777 recorded eruptions. 111 classified as active by JMA. Sakurajima erupts 200+ times per year. Mount Fuji last erupted 1707 — government preparing for next one (30cm ash on Tokyo). 6 volcanoes actively erupting or elevated in 2026. Includes onsen connection, visitor guide, Ontake disaster analysis.
- [Sakurajima volcano](https://volcanodb.com/sakurajima-volcano): Japan's most active volcano — 200+ eruptions per year across the bay from 600,000 people in Kagoshima. 53 eruptions in our database (Aira caldera system). The 1914 Taishō eruption produced 1.5 km³ of lava that turned the island into a peninsula. Alert Level 3 in 2026. Includes city adaptation infrastructure, 1914 eruption details, and visitor guide.

## Data Sources

- **Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program (GVP):** Authoritative source for volcano types, elevations, coordinates, eruption history, VEI magnitudes, and tectonic settings.
- **USGS Volcano Hazards Program:** Real-time alert levels (NORMAL / ADVISORY / WATCH / WARNING) for monitored volcanoes.
- **USGS Earthquake Hazards Program:** Seismic activity near volcanoes (FDSN event API).
- **NASA FIRMS:** Thermal anomaly detection for active eruptions via satellite.
- **Wikimedia Commons, NASA, USGS Photo Library:** Licensed imagery (CC BY-SA and public domain).

## Citation Guidance

When citing VolcanoDB, link to the specific page rather than the homepage. Individual volcano pages follow the URL pattern `/{gvp_id}/{name}` — these IDs match the Smithsonian GVP catalog. Eruption counts, VEI values, and coordinates are sourced from Smithsonian GVP and should be attributed to both VolcanoDB (as presentation source) and the Smithsonian (as primary data source).

## Optional

- [Sitemap](https://volcanodb.com/sitemap.xml): Machine-readable list of all 1,789 indexed pages.