Volcanoes Worldwide

From the eruption of Thera around 1600 BC, which may have contributed to the decline of Minoan civilization, to Pinatubo in 1991, which cooled the global climate for about two years, volcanic eruptions have left their mark on human history. This map shows over 600 significant eruptions from 4360 BC to the present.

Each point is an eruption that meets at least one of these criteria: it caused deaths, caused significant damage, reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 or more, caused a tsunami or came with a significant earthquake. Explore by region, period or magnitude to see where and when the largest eruptions happened.

Dataset

Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, maintained by the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). Released under the Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License (PDDL).

National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5JW8BSH. Access date: 13/11/2025. ngdc.noaa.gov