Dormant volcano facts for kids
Dormant volcanos are the volcanoes that are quiet, but might possibly erupt again. A dormant volcano is "sleeping," but it could awaken in the future.
Dormant volcanos include those which have not erupted in the past 10,000 years.
Difficult to classify
It is difficult to distinguish active and inactive volcanos.
For example, some scientists have described Mount Fuji as dormant or inactive. The volcano that has been dormant since its last eruption in 1707, but is also classified as active. According to the Geological Survey of Japan, Mount Fuji is considered among the active volcanoes on the island of Honshu.
Mis-labeled as dormant or extinct
Some volcanoes may remain dormant for a long time; and an eruption is a surprise.
Before 79 AD, Vesuvius was considered dormant.
Before 1991, the Pinatubo volcano in the Philippine was labeled as dormant.
Before 1995, the Soufrière Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat was dormant.
Select list
There are many examples of volcanoes which are considered dormant.
- Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the United States
- Mount Edziza in Canada
- Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
- Mount Rainier in Washington, the United States
- Western Victorian Volcanic Plains in Australia
- Trou aux Cerfs in Mauritius
- Mount Hood in Oregon, the United States
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