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Volcanoes

It is difficult to distinguish an extinct volcano from a dormant one. Volcanoes are often considered to be extinct if there are no written records of its activity. Nevertheless, volcanoes may remain dormant for a long period of time. Extinct volcanoes are those that scientists consider unlikely to erupt again, because the volcano no longer has a lava supply.  Examples of extinct volcanoes are many volcanoes on the Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain in the Pacific Ocean, Hohentwiel, Shiprock and the Zuidwal volcano in the Netherlands. Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is famously located atop an extinct volcano. Otherwise, whether a volcano is truly extinct is often difficult to determine.

Ring of Fire

The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean.

In a 25,000 mi horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and/or plate movements. The Ring of Fire has 452 volcanoes and is home to over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes.

Maps

USGS Worldwide Tectonic Plates Map

Earthquake epicenters 1963-1998 Map

Decade Volcanoes

Sixteen volcanoes (Decade Volcanoes) identified by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) as being worthy of particular study in light of their history of large, destructive eruptions and proximity to populated areas.

The 16 current Volcanoes are:

Avachinsky-Koryaksky, Kamchatka, Russia
Nevado de Colima, Jalisco and Colima, Mexico
Santa Maria/Santiaguito, Guatemala
Sakurajima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Galeras, Nariño, Columbia
Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Vesuvius, Naples, Italy
Santorini, Cyclades, Greece
Taal Volcano, Luzon, Philippines
Teide, Canary Islands, Spain
Ulawun, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA
Mount Rainier, Washington, USA

Andaman Volcanoes	Antarctica Volcanoes	Chile Volcanoes
Columbia Volcanoes	Costa Rica Volcanoes	Ecuador Volcanoes
El Salvador Volcanoes	Greece Volcanoes	Guatemala Volcanoes
Hawaii Volcanoes	Iceland Volcanoes	Indian Ocean Volcanoes
Italy Volcanoes	New Guinea Volcanoes	Philippines Volcanoes

Sources: USGS - Wikipedia - US Library of Congress

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