The Pacific Ring of Fire Trivia Quiz

Answer: Antarctica

Rising to an elevation of 4,285 m (14,058 ft), the dormant Mount Sidley is the highest volcano in Antarctica. Mount Sidley was discovered in 1934 on a flight by Richard Byrd and it was first ascended in 1990 by Bill Atkinson. Although Mount Sidley is taller, Mount Erebus may be Antarctica's most-well known volcano due to it being active rather than dormant.

Answer: Mexico

Located at the border of the states of Puebla and Morelos, Popocatépetl is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 5,426 m (17,802 ft). Popocatépetl's name is derived from the Nahautl and it means 'Smoking Mountain'. Popocatépetl is located within the 900 km (559 mi) stretch known as the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Answer: United States

Lassen Peak rises to 3,187 m (10,457 ft) and it is the southernmost active volcano of the Cascade Range that extends from British Columbia in Canada to Northern California in the United States. Lassen Peak features the largest lava dome on Earth and it erupted powerfully in 1915.

It was the first of just two volcanoes to erupt in the contiguous United States in the 20th century with Mount St. Helens in 1980 being the latter.

Answer: Japan

Found at the northern shore of Lake Inawashiro, Mount Bandai is an active volcano on the island of Honshu. Possibly its most devastating eruption occurred in 1888 when pyroclastic flows reached villages causing the loss of nearly 500 lives. Mount Bandai is popular with climbers as its height of 1,819 m (5,968 ft) makes an ascent possible in about two hours.

Answer: Canada

Mount Edziza is located in northwestern British Columbia and at 2,780 m (9,120 ft) it is the second-tallest volcano in Canada. The mountain is known for its obsidian deposits that were first used around 8000 BCE by the Tahltan people to make tools and weapons.

Answer: Russia

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Eastern Russia and at 4,750 m (15,580 ft) it is the highest active volcano on the Eurasian landmass. The volcano's first recorded eruption was in 1697 and between 2007 and 2015 it had five cycles of eruptions.

Answer: Philippines

Although it is well-known for its destruction, the area around Mount Mayon in the province of Albay on the island of Luzon was declared the first national park of the Philippines in 1938. Mount Mayon has a symmetrical conical shape and from 1518 to 2018 it erupted nearly 50 times making it the most active volcano of the Philippines.

Answer: New Zealand

Mount Tarawera is located 24 km (15 mi) southeast of Rotorua on New Zealand's North Island. In 1886 it erupted violently causing the deaths of 120 people. Interestingly the South Island of New Zealand does not have any active volcanoes while the North Island has a high concentration in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

Answer: Chile

The nation of Chile is a hotbed for earthquake and volcanic activity. Villarrica is one of the most volatile of Chile's 105 active volcanoes. Villarrica contains a lava lake within its crater and it erupted 1963, 1964, 1971 and 2015.

Answer: Indonesia

Between the years 1000 and 2000 CE Mount Merapi on the island of Java erupted more than 80 times. The area containing Mount Merapi was designated a national park in 2004 partially due to its importance in the mythology of the Javanese people who believe that spirits live inside the volcano.