Deadliest Volcanic Eruptions

[sam5484u]

Mount Tambora, Indonesia (92,000 deaths in the April 1815 eruption)
[img]http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9273/84520124.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab82/ashirbad579/19.jpg[/img]
This 4,300 m high active stratovolcano located in Sumbawa Island of Indonesia drained the contents of its massive magma chamber in April 1815 accumulated over centuries. The impact of this titanic explosion measured 7 in the Volcanic Explosive Index and was felt throughout 1816 with gross climatic changes, a mini tsunami, volcanic ash rain and destruction of crops and livestock that caused a lasting famine in Northern Hemisphere.
It is estimated that Mt. Tambora had erupted thrice before the 1815 upsurge that thrust upwards to 43 km in the stratosphere. The finer volcanic ash particles that remained in the atmosphere led to pronounced optical phenomenon creating vibrant sunset hues. Smaller eruptions have continued ever since indicating that Mt. Tambora has remained active.

Krakatoa Volcanic Island, Indonesia (36,417 deaths in August 1883)
[img]http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7343/58394936.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab82/ashirbad579/17.jpg[/img]
This notorious volcanic island is situated between Sumatra and Java. The devastations caused by the serial eruptions on August 26 and 27 of 1883 have even outshone the Hiroshima nuclear bombings in impact and sound. It was heard from as far as Australia and Mauritius! The eruption that ranged up to 6 in the Volcanic Explosive Index wiped out two-thirds of the Krakatoa Island. It was followed by all-engulfing tsunamis that ravished the city of Merak and disrupted vessels floating on the South African coast.
Several theories were suggested as the possible causes for the gigantic explosion. The most prevalent one is phreatic phenomenon whereby groundwater mixes with magma to give way to immense pressure. The fatal pyroclastic flows destroyed settlements like Teluk Betung and Ketimbang in Sumatra and Semarang and Sirik in Java, some of which were never repopulated.
For days following the eruption, human skeletons on pumice rafts were found floating along the east coast of Africa. Apart from the tsunamis, layers of hot ash continued to float on the sea-surface and created smaller waves in the English Channel. Shocking weather changes continued for the following years and the island Anak (“Child of”) Krakatau came into existence.

[sam5484u]

Mount Pelee, Martinique (30,000 deaths in April-May 1902)
[img]http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6736/69508595.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab82/ashirbad579/15.jpg[/img]
Situated in the northern fringe of Martinique, Mt. Pelee is one of the greatest stratovolcano of the world that created havoc in the city of Saint-Pierre with its massive 1902 eruption. Saint-Pierre use to be a fairly large and prosperous city of the French Caribbean until the unlucky day of 25 April when a series of explosive eruptions heralded the oncoming catastrophe. Within no time, the streets of Saint-Pierre were covered in layers of volcanic ash.
A dark black cloud of smoke called nuee ardente covered the city and claimed many more victims due to its sheer heat. The magnitude of the volcanic rumblings went on increasing only to culminate in the destructive mudflow that swept through Saint-Pierre and the village of Morne Rouge on 5 May and claimed 30,000 lives. Only two people miraculously survived.

Laki, Iceland (9,350 deaths in 1783)
[img]http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8929/38840212.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab82/ashirbad579/9-1.jpg[/img]
Laki is the other name for the term Lakagígar meaning ‘Craters of Laki’ – a system of Eldgjá canyon and Katla volcano found between the Mýrdalsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers near the Kirkjubæjarklaustur town. After the large eruption of AD 934, history repeated itself on 8 June 1783 when about 14 km3 of thick basalt lava emitting from the Grímsvötn volcano and Laki fissure flooded the plains.
The toxic fluorine/sulfur-dioxide fumes coming out from the crater ravaged livestock and pushed the local populace to their doom by famine. The poisonous after-effects of this terrible Skaftáreldar (“Skaftá river fires”) eruptions continued and were felt throughout Europe in the form of the “Laki haze”. Wild weather changes like drought, hailstorms and bitter winters were regular meteorological features in the Northern Hemisphere over the years that followed.

[Guest rakesh35791]

you rock

[coolhydguy]

Good one!!! you rock

[Bonjo]

*=: you rock

[V r 1]

*=: you rock