What Is the Smallest Volcano in the World?

Thanks for your question, Sam! A volcano is an opening in earth’s surface from which lava, ash, and steam can erupt. There are more than 1,000 active volcanoes on earth.

Volcanoes are put into one of three categories:

1. If a volcano is active, it means it has recently erupted.
2. A dormant volcano is one that hasn’t been active recently but might erupt again.
3. An extinct volcano hasn’t erupted in a long time and probably won’t ever again.

World’s Smallest Volcano

There is some disagreement about the smallest volcano in the world, but two of the smallest are Cuexcomate (kweks-ko-MAH-tay) and Mount Taal.

Cuexcomate stands at just 43 feet tall! The tiny landform was formed by an explosion from Mexico’s most famous volcano, Popocatépetl. Cuexcomate is shaped like a volcano, but most people agree that it is actually an inactive geyser (a hot spring of water that can erupt, spraying boiling water and steam into the air).

Poromiami, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The world’s shortest active volcano is probably Taal Volcano in the Philippines. Taal Volcano is only about 1,020 feet tall, the size of about 3.5 football fields stacked end-to-end. Taal Volcano might be small, but it is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Lyndon Aguila, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Let’s Compare!

The tallest volcano in the world (called Mount Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii) rises 13,803 feet above sea level. From its base on the seafloor to its highest peak, Mount Mauna Kea measures taller than even Mount Everest!

Mauna Kea from Mauna Loa Observatory, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Do you have a question about God’s Word or his world that you want us to answer? Is there a topic you want to learn more about? Ask your parents to help you submit your question today! We’d love to hear from you!