Live, Laugh, Lava Trivia Quiz

Mount Fuji is a stratovolcano located on Honshu Island in Japan. Rising to 3,776 meters (12,389 feet), it is the highest peak in Japan and a symbol of national identity and beauty. Mount Fuji is currently classified as an active volcano, although it is considered to be in a dormant state since its last eruption occurred in 1707-1708 during the Edo period.

This eruption, known as the Hoei Eruption, deposited ash as far away as Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and created a new crater on its southeastern flank. Despite its dormancy, Mount Fuji remains closely monitored due to the potential threat of future eruptions.

Kilauea is a shield volcano located on the big island of Hawaii, characterized by its broad, gently sloping sides created by the flow of low-viscosity basaltic lava. Unlike the steep profiles of stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes like Kilauea have extensive lava flows that can travel great distances. Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with nearly continuous activity since its most recent eruption phase began in 1983.

One of its most memorable eruptions occurred in 2018, which caused significant lava flows that destroyed over 700 homes, reshaped the landscape, and added new land to the island as lava flowed into the ocean. This eruption also temporarily closed the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park due to hazardous conditions. Kilauea's frequent eruptions and consistent lava flow make it a major focus of volcanic research and monitoring.

Mount Tongariro, located in the central North Island of New Zealand, is a complex volcano, meaning it consists of multiple volcanic cones and craters formed from repeated eruptions over time. This type of volcano has varied topography due to its diverse eruptive history. Mount Tongariro is an active volcano, with its most recent eruption occurring in 2012.

This eruption sent ash clouds into the air, temporarily disrupting air travel and covering nearby areas with ash. Another significant eruption happened in 1896-97, known for creating the Blue Lake crater. Tongariro is part of the Tongariro Volcanic Center, which also includes the prominent Ngauruhoe cone.

Popocatépetl is a stratovolcano located in central Mexico. Standing at 5,426 meters (17,802 feet), it is one of the highest and most active volcanoes in North America. Popocatépetl, often referred to as "El Popo," is currently active, with a history of eruptions dating back thousands of years.

A recent eruption occurred in December 2000, which led to the evacuation of thousands of residents from surrounding areas due to ashfall and pyroclastic flows. The volcano has experienced frequent eruptions since then, including significant activity in 2019 and 2020, characterized by ash plumes, lava flows, and explosive events.

Mount Vesuvius is located near Naples, Italy. A stratovolcano, it is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world due to its catastrophic eruption in AD 79, which buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a thick layer of ash and pumice, preserving them for centuries.

Vesuvius is still an active volcano, with its last significant eruption occurring in 1944 during World War II, which caused extensive damage to nearby villages and forced thousands of people to evacuate. Since then, Vesuvius has remained mostly quiet, but it is closely monitored due to its potential to erupt again and its location near densely populated areas.

Eyjafjallajökull is a stratovolcano located in Iceland, known for its challenging name and frequent eruptions. It is characterized by its steep slopes formed by layers of lava, ash, and volcanic debris. Eyjafjallajökull is considered to be an active volcano, with a particularly strong eruption occurring in 2010.

This eruption disrupted air travel across Europe for several weeks due to the large ash plume that was ejected into the atmosphere, causing widespread flight cancellations and delays. The eruption also led to the evacuation of nearby residents and the closure of airspace to prevent damage to aircraft engines from volcanic ash.

Anak Krakatoa, meaning "Child of Krakatoa," is a volcanic island located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It emerged from the caldera left by the cataclysmic eruption of its predecessor, Krakatoa, in 1883. Anak Krakatoa is classified as an active stratovolcano with a steep-sided cone built up by layers of hardened lava, ash, and volcanic rocks.

Since its formation in the early 20th century, Anak Krakatoa has been regularly erupting. One notable eruption occurred in December 2018, triggering a deadly tsunami that affected coastal areas in Indonesia and caused significant devastation. This eruption resulted in the collapse of part of the volcano's summit and heightened volcanic activity in subsequent years.

Mount Erebus is located on Ross Island in Antarctica and is a unique volcano known for its persistently active lava lake within its summit crater. It is classified as a stratovolcano. Despite its remote location and harsh environment, Mount Erebus is considered an active volcano, with ongoing volcanic activity including lava emissions and occasional Strombolian eruptions (a type of mild eruption).

Its persistent lava lake, one of the few in the world, has been observed continuously since it was first discovered in 1972. This lava lake provides scientists with a rare opportunity to study magma dynamics and volcanic processes in extreme conditions.

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant stratovolcano located in Tanzania, composed of three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It stands at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), making it the highest mountain in Africa and a prominent landmark. Kilimanjaro is classified as a dormant volcano, and it has not erupted in recorded history.

The last major volcanic activity likely occurred around 360,000 years ago. Instead of eruptions, Kilimanjaro is characterized by its snow-capped peaks and glaciers, although these have been receding due to climate change in recent decades. Despite its dormancy, there are geothermal activities such as hot springs in the area, indicating some residual volcanic heat.

Mount Pinatubo, located in the Philippines, is a stratovolcano that stands at approximately 1,486 meters (4,875 feet) tall. Mount Pinatubo is considered an active volcano, known for its catastrophic eruption in June 1991, one of the largest and most violent eruptions of the 20th century. This eruption ejected more than 10 cubic kilometers of magma and ash into the atmosphere, causing a significant global cooling effect and producing ash clouds that reached heights of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles).

The eruption triggered massive mudflows that inundated surrounding areas and caused widespread devastation, resulting in the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. The aftermath of the Pinatubo eruption led to changes in global climate patterns and a renewed focus on volcanic monitoring and disaster preparedness in the Philippines. Since the 1991 eruption, Mount Pinatubo has remained relatively quiet, with only minor volcanic activity observed.

Mount Ararat is located in eastern Turkey near the border with Armenia and Iran. It is a dormant stratovolcano renowned for its significance in religious and cultural history, being traditionally identified as the landing place of Noah's Ark in the biblical story of the Great Flood. Mount Ararat consists of two main volcanic cones: Greater Ararat, which is the highest peak in Turkey at 5,137 meters (16,854 feet), and Lesser Ararat, slightly smaller at 3,896 meters (12,782 feet).

Despite its stature and occasional fumarolic activity indicating residual volcanic heat, Mount Ararat has not experienced a confirmed eruption in millennia. The last significant eruption dates back to around 2,000 years ago, and since then, it has remained mostly quiet.

Mount St. Helens, located in the state of Washington, USA, is a stratovolcano known for its explosive eruptions. Before its devastating eruption in 1980, Mount St. Helens was a symmetrical cone-shaped volcano standing at 9,677 feet (2,950 meters) tall. The eruption on May 18, 1980, was triggered by a massive landslide that removed the upper part of the volcano's summit, resulting in one of the most significant volcanic events in U.S. history.

The eruption released a lateral blast of hot gases, ash, and debris that devastated an area of about 230 square miles (600 square kilometers), destroying forests, homes, and infrastructure. The eruption also produced a large ash cloud that rose to heights of over 15 miles (24 kilometers) and deposited ash across several states. Since then, Mount St. Helens has continued to exhibit volcanic activity, including intermittent steam and ash eruptions, as well as the growth of a lava dome within the crater.