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Frequently Asked Questions   »  List of Questions 

Frequently Asked Questions

This section provides answers to commonly asked questions about Holocene volcanoes and their eruptions based on data from Volcanoes of the World. Additional comprehensive answers will be added as time allows. The About "Frequently Asked Questions" page provides details about this section of the website, including citation guidelines.


What is a volcano?

What is an eruption?

How many active volcanoes are there in the world?

What is the world's highest volcano?

How long does an eruption last?

Has volcanic activity been increasing?

Why doesn't the Smithsonian post hazard alert levels for all volcanoes?


Global Volcanism ProgramDepartment of Mineral SciencesNational Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian Institution

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