Where is the largest active volcano located?

rocky Lindsay

Dear Lindsay,

The largest active volcano is Mauna Loa in Hawaii. It is above a hot spot. It's total volume is 42,500 cubic km. To convert that into something slightly more reasonable:

It could build a wall 1 km wide and 1 km tall around most of the equator of the Earth

or

a sidewalk 1 m wide and 10 cm thick about 10 million times around the equator

or

cover the entire surface of the Earth with 8.3 cm (about 3 inches) of lava!!!!!

That's a big volcano! and I'm happy it's right where it is.

Thanks for a fun question.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota

Sources of Information:
John Graham, Department of Space Studies, told me the circumference of the Earth is 40,075 km.

Consider a Spherical Cow by John Harte provides a surface area of the Earth of 5.1 x 10 to the 14 square m.

Peterson, D.W. and Moore, R.B., 1987, Geologic history and evolution of geologic concepts, Island of Hawaii: in Decker, R.W., Wright, T.L., and Stauffer, P.H., (eds.), Volcanism in Hawaii, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1350, v. 1, p. 149-189 provided the volume of Mauna Loa. 

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