These Are the Deadliest Volcanic Eruptions on Record

Volcanoes are some of the most forceful objects on Earth that are produced by mother nature, and they can have huge impacts on nearby life. In some cases, volcanic explosions consume thousands of human lives in the process of their eruptions.

Not only can volcanic eruptions occur without warning, but when they do, they can wreak havoc on nearby civilizations and wildlife. They expel hot gasses and debris that descend on nearby land and their magma flows down from the source, devouring everything in its path. Volcanoes can also cause tsunamis, which wipe out villages near the coast.

In many cases, the gasses that get put in the atmosphere can block out the Sun, causing chilling weather for parts of the world near and far to the volcano. One such example is the year 1816, which is considered the "year without a winter" because the planet became shrouded in ice from the solar blockage.

While volcanoes have been wreaking havoc on the world undoubtedly since the beginning of time, these are five of the worst volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Interestingly, we have yet to see a volcanic explosion so intense in the 21st century. Who knows what might happen this time around...