13 of the Highest Volcanoes in the World

From base to summit, Mauna Loa measures 30,085 feet, making it the second highest mountain on earth after its neighbor Mauna Kea, which is 33,500 feet from its base under the ocean. (Mount Everest rises to 29,032 feet.) It is considered the largest active volcano in the world when measured from its base rather than height above sea level.

The highest mountain in Turkey, Mount Ararat has two snow-capped cones. Its last eruption in 1840 was accompanied by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake and caused massive landslides and lahars (debris flows) that destroyed settlements and claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people. Ararat is traditionally identified as the resting place for Noah’s Ark after the great biblical flood.

Popocatépetl is the second highest volcano in Mexico, as well as one of the most active volcanoes in the country. Its name means “smoking mountain” in Nahuatl, and it has been consistently emitting smoke since 1991.

Mount Elbrus, in the Western Caucuses, is the highest peak in Russia and consists of two volcanic domes. While its last eruption took place around the year 50, current volcanic activity on the mountain includes fumaroles (steam vents) and geothermal springs.

The snow-covered peak of Mount Damavand is the highest volcano in Asia. Its last eruption was around 5300 BC, but the volcano is sometimes considered potentially active because of the sulfur fumaroles near the summit crater.