The US certainly consists of strict principles on how and when a volcano should be labeled as the dangerous one.
The first parameter includes the threat posed by the volcano; the second parameter is that how much damage can be done by the Volcano and third is associated with the mountain potential of eruption and its impact on the human race.
Based on the given parameters, some of the most dangerous and active volcanoes in the United States are as follows:
1. Kilauea Volcano – Hawaii
Hawaii and Volcano are two words that are being used interchangeably for ages now.
Kilauea emerged from the sea about 100,000 years ago and now labeled as one of the most dangerous volcanoes based on the continuous eruption that started in 1983 and slowed down to the minimal level in 2018.
The Volcano is known for massively causing some natural disasters such as destroying Kalapana town and ruining the largest freshwater lake in the city.
2. Mount St. Helens – Washington
Mount St. Helens in Washington is the second most dangerous and active volcano in the United State having an overall threat score of 235.
During the past 50 years, the volcano has caused a lot of damage, some initiated in the form of an earthquake, the bulging of the mountain, and the largest ever debris fall in the history which was again caused due to earthquakes.
The natural disaster took the life of 57 people, destroyed more than 250 homes, and flattened 230 square miles including trees and roads.
3. Mount Rainier – Washington
If it wasn’t for the dangerous volcanoes in Hawaii, then Mount Rainer in Washington can surely be called one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the state having the total elevation of 14,411 feet.
The mount consists of the largest amount of glacial ice which is capable of producing the largest amount of lahars that is capable of threatening the lives of more than 80,000. The threat score is 203.
4. Redoubt Volcano – Alaska
Redoubt Volcano in Alaska is known for shutting the engines down of several aircraft which have flown over the mountain.
Redoubt Volcano has erupted more than 10 times in the past 50 years and has caused damages that seem irreversible.
Since 2009, the number of earthquakes in the state has drastically increased, making it the most dangerous volcano with a threat score of 201.
5. Mount Shasta – California
Mount Shasta in California sits at the elevation of more than 14,000 feet and consists of multiple volcano layers that erupt at the severely dangerous level after every 600 years.
Although the last eruption in the mountain happened decades ago the predicted intensity makes it the dangerous one.
6. Mount Hood – Oregon
Apart from being one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the United States, Mount Hood is also one of the beautiful mountains having an elevation of more than 11,000 feet.
The threat score of the volcano is 178 and according to the short survey, the chance of Mount Hood eruptions in the next 30 years ranges from 3% to 7% depending upon the climate change.
The last natural disaster caused by Mount Hood was back in 2002 which claimed the life of good 200 people living in the nearby towns.
7. Three Sisters – Oregon
The three sister’s peak in Oregon is the name of three Sisters Mountains having their faces toward different regions.
The North Sister, the Middle Sister, and the South Sister, according to the research, the North and the Middle Sister Mountain have not erupted in the last 14,000 years and the chances of their eruption in the future are almost near to zero.
However, the last eruption by the South Sister Mountain was witnessed 2000 years back and the chances of re-eruption are pretty higher. Because of the same reason, the threat score of these Three Sisters in Oregon stands at165.
8. Akutan Volcano – Alaska
Akutan Volcano is the most erupted Volcano in Alaska with a total eruptions counted at 33. The natural disasters caused by the volcano are adverse and have caused several lives.
The volcano last erupted back in 1992.
However, the small level of the earthquake was witnessed in 1995. The threat score of Akutan Volcano stands at 161.
9. Makushin Volcano – Alaska
Makushin Volcano and Akutan Volcano share a similar threat score of 161 because of the major last eruptions during 1995.
The Makushin Volcano has erupted more than 24 times during the past years and owns the threat of repeating the procedure in the future.
According to the researchers, the Makushin consists of unique geothermal qualities which can easily fulfill the power needs of nearby towns
10. Mount Spurr – Alaska
Mount Spurr is one of the most dangerous and the highest mountains in Alaska had a total elevation of more than 81 miles in the west and the south.
The Mount last erupted in 2004 and small damages were noticed during 2005 also.
Since the Mount is the part of an important air transit route therefore, the eruption in the future can pose a greater threat to the overall air transit system in the United States.
The threat score of Mount Spurr is 160.
11. Lassen Volcano – California
Lassen Volcano in California consists of the ever largest lava dome on the earth with a volume of 0.6 cubic miles.
The Lassen Volcano is preserved by the National Park in the United States and has a threat score of 153. The Volcano erupted last time back in 1995 after almost 27,000 years.
12. Augustine Volcano – Alaska
Augustine Volcano has a total elevation of more than 4,000 feet.
The Volcano has erupted more than 15 times in the past 50 years and owns the potential of causing some dangerous natural disasters in the future. The threat score of the Volcano is 151.
13. Newberry Volcano – Oregon
Although, Newberry Volcano in Oregon is one of the smallest volcanoes in the state.
However, due to its closeness to the people, the volcano poses a greater threat and any sort of eruption could impact more than 20,000 people living in the vicinity.
The threat core of the mountain is 146.
14. Mount Baker – Washington
Mount Baker is the second-most thermally active volcano on the earth which sits at the elevation of more than 10,000 feet.
The mountain is continuously involved in the procedure of venting gases and sulfuric acid. The threat score of Mount Baker is 139.
15. Glacier Peak – Washington
Glacier Peak is one of the tallest peaks in Washington and has an overall elevation of 70 miles from the northeast.
The Glacier Peak erupted 3,000 years for the straight 5 years.
According to the research, the Glacier Peak is the most threatening volcano with inadequate monitoring therefore, the threat score stands at 135.
16. Mauna Loa – Hawaii
Hawaii is indeed full of some of the most dangerous yet most interesting volcanoes and Mauna Loa is also one of them.
Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the earth which is covering more than 50% of Hawaii Island.
The volcano has been continuously erupting for more than 700,000 years therefor, the threat score is 131.
17. Crater Lake – Oregon
Crater Lake is the result of one of the major eruptions in the history caused by Mount Mazama.
The mount situated next to the Crater Lake is the mildly active one with the overall threat score of 129.
18. Long Valley Caldera – California
Situated next to the Mammoth Mountain, Long Valley Caldera is one of the largest calderas in the world.
In 1980, the biggest natural disaster was caused by the mountain in the form of an earthquake and since then, the small level of eruptions can be witnessed in the area.
The overall threat score of the mount is 129.
19. Mount Okmok – Alaska
![Mount Okmok- Alaska](<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OkmokVolcano.jpg" title="via Wikimedia Commons">Christina Neal</a> / Public domain)
The last eruption in Mount Okmok happened 2300 years ago which continued for the straight 5 days leading to the building of cone near the lake.
The threat score of the Mount stands at 117.
20. Iliamna Volcano – Alaska
Iliamna Volcano in Alaska has a threat score of 34. The mountain last erupted more than 1000 years ago.
However, the small changes were witnessed in the form of earthquake swarms in 1995.
The ranking and scoring of all the dangerous mountains tend to change based on decided parameters so it won’t be wrong to state that Mount Okmok owns the potential of being on the top just another day.
