Volcanoes & Extreme Landscapes

Throughout human history, volcanoes have been a source of fear and fascination. Hosted by Megan McCormick, this Globe Trekker special takes viewers on a tour of the world's mightiest, most active volcanoes. One of the best known is Hawaii's Kílauea, once considered the home of Pele, a native god. Over thousands of years, volcanic eruptions have increased the size of the islands as molten rock has cooled (Kílauea lies in the heart of the fabled Pacific "Ring of Fire"). In 1883, a massive eruption of Java's Krakatoa volcano was deemed the loudest sound ever heard on Earth, resulting in a blast that sank ships, while also creating huge, deadly tidal waves that killed thousands (for years afterward, the volcanic ash that spewed into the atmosphere made for spectacular sunsets). Today, Java is one of the most active volcanic zones in the world. Some volcanoes, like Stromboli off the coast of Italy, are in near constant eruption while others, such as Japan's Mt. Fuji, has been dormant for centuries. In 1980, Washington state's Mount St. Helens came to life with a shattering blast that leveled old growth forests and killed over 50 people. Perhaps the most famous volcanic disaster remains the eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii in 79 A.D., preserving a microcosm of Roman society at the height of its power. But in addition to tourism, energy, and soothing hot springs and mud baths, volcanoes also create fertile soil, which leads many to risk the dangers and stay nearby to cultivate crops. One of the most worrisome contemporary volcanoes is La Palma in the Atlantic's Canary Islands: if this super volcano explodes, it could create tsunamis that might wipe out distant cities like Manhattan (this could occur hundreds of years from now—or next Thursday). Likely to appeal to armchair travelers, this is recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)