Bone-chilling map shows world's 'active' volcanoes- many near 'vacation hotspots'

Some thrill-seekers love the idea of a vacation near an active volcano, while others might think it's pure madness. Yet, surprisingly, several top vacation spots feature some of the world's liveliest volcanoes, as shown in this informative map.

As the only nation in mainland Europe boasting active volcanoes, Italy owes this fiery feature to its prime location straddling the boundary of the Eurasian and African tectonic plates. Tourists flock to see the renowned Vesuvius by Naples and Sicily's mighty Etna.

Their proximity to populated zones and notorious past eruptions mean they are on the "Decade Volcanoes" list by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, which highlights volcanoes under strict watch. Apart from these giants, Italy hosts two other active contenders: Stromboli and Vulcano, the latter having last erupted between 1888 and 1890. There's also a slumbering brigade of at least ten dormant ones standing by.

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The classification of volcanoes is quite diverse. Take for example calderas, like Mount Vesuvius, which form a massive, cauldron-like depression following the draining of a magma reserve post-eruption, reports the Express . Then there's Etna, a towering composite or stratovolcano, layered with solidified lava and tephra, known for its sharp relief and summit crater, prone to alternating between explosive and effusive eruptions.

Etna's latest eruption on July 4 this year led to the temporary closure of Catania Airport due to volcanic ash. It reopened the following day. Vesuvius, notorious for its 79AD eruption that decimated Pompeii and Herculaneum, is the only European mainland volcano to have erupted in the last century, with its last activity in March 1944.

The Canary Islands' geology is shaped by volcanic rock, showcasing intraplate volcanism, situated over 370 miles from the African Plate's boundary. The most recent volcanic event was at Cumbre Vieja on La Palma island in 2021.

Greece boasts several volcanoes; while many are dormant, active ones include those on Santorini, Nisyros, Methana, and Milos islands. Santorini's volcano, known for having the world's largest caldera at 984 feet tall and 6.8 miles in diameter, is also recognized as a "Decade Volcano". Methana peninsula is dotted with 32 volcanoes, the most recent eruption being in 1700, and is famed for its thermal springs.

Indonesia, a favourite among travellers, is known for its volcanic landscape due to the convergence of the Eurasian and Indo-Australian tectonic plates. This region forms part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot that stretches down the Americas' west coast. Some of Indonesia's volcanoes have made headlines with their eruptions, including Krakatoa and Lake Toba Caldera, which is believed to have caused a six-year global winter following its supervolcanic eruption around 74,000 years ago.

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Meanwhile, Iceland, a paradise for volcano enthusiasts, boasts 32 active volcanoes. Katla is one of the most closely monitored.

Typically, the region experiences a volcanic eruption every five years, but since 2021, this has increased to roughly once a year. The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in April 2010 caused significant disruption to air travel across western and northern Europe for six days, leading to airspace closures in 20 countries and affecting approximately 10 million travellers.

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