MAY 26 WHAT ARE THE MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES?

MAY 26  WHAT ARE THE MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES?

The massive volcanic eruptions on the Big Island of Hawaii has captured the world's attention. Did you see that glowing hot lava engulf the Nissan Sentra? Or how about when it sliced through the four-lane highway? Spectacular images like this have grabbed headlines across the globe. After all, Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on earth. How are they ranked? By the Volcanic Explositivity Index, of course! Let's check out the current standings:

#1 Kilauea, Hawaii. To qualify for the Expolsivity Index, a volcano must have erupted in the last 10,000 years. So 95% of the volcanoes on earth score a zero. Since its erupting right now, Kilaeua naturally tops the list with a score of 5. It has an enormous plumbing system of lava-filled veins stretching sixty kilometers underground. So it has massive reserves and could keep exploding all year long. Whatever...scientists. In reality, it seems the goddess Pele is really angry. Everyone in Hawaii just needs to leave leis in the lava flow to make her happy again.

#2. Mount Etna, Sicily. Although not currently erupting, the Italian volcano also grabbed headlines back in 2014 when it too spewed lava into people's homes. In fact, people have been talking about Mount Etna for centuries, as it has been continuously active for the last 3,500 years. That's when Zeus trapped the 100-headed demon named Typhon underneath. Let's hope he never makes it out, because only the Avengers could stop something this mean and hideous.

#3. Piton de la Fournaise, Reunion. Located on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Peak of the Furnace is gigantic. It boasts a caldera that's a whopping five miles wide. A good portion of this has collapsed into the sea. It hasn't erupted since 1986, but seismologists worry about this volcano. A large eruption would result in a catastrophic mega-tsunami that would destroy coastal areas of India and East Africa.

#4. Mount Yasur, Vanuatu. Of all the volcanoes on this list, this South Pacific spectacle is the most easily accessible for tourists. Although no one has fallen into the steep caldera, three have died after getting hit by flying shards of flaming hot lava. Authorities now have a ranking system of when it's safe to go exploring. Smarter tourists know it's best to see Mount Yasur erupt at night from a nearby boat at a safe distance. That way you can see a magnificent reflection in the water of the eruption. That's what Captain James Cook described when he first explored the region in 1774.

#5 Volcan de Colima, Mexico. Since 1576, this volcano has erupted a staggering 43 times. At 12,533 feet, it's also one of the world's highest volcanoes. On January 28th, Colima sent ash exploding 5 kilometers into the sky. Although it's Mexico's most active volcano, most people worry more about Popocatepeti. It's less active, but its proximity to Mexico City makes it more dangerous.