Tungurahua, in the Ecuadorian Andes, puts on a fiery show in 2011.
Unpredictable earth —
Tungurahua, in the Ecuadorian Andes, puts on a fiery show in 2011.
RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP/Getty Images/File
Tungurahua's "lahars" or mud flows threatened the El Salado Baths in the town of Banos in 2005, says volcanologist Rebecca Williams.<br />
Unpredictable earth —
Tungurahua's "lahars" or mud flows threatened the El Salado Baths in the town of Banos in 2005, says volcanologist Rebecca Williams.
Rebecca Williams
Pantelleria is home to an ancient caldera lake. Calderas are created when a volcano's mouth collapses during a major eruption. Pantelleria is Sicily's largest offshore island and lies closer to Africa than Italy.
Unpredictable earth —
Pantelleria is home to an ancient caldera lake. Calderas are created when a volcano's mouth collapses during a major eruption. Pantelleria is Sicily's largest offshore island and lies closer to Africa than Italy.
Rebecca Williams
Europe's highest active volcano, Mount Etna, spews lava in January 2012. The volcano is located in Sicily.
Unpredictable earth —
Europe's highest active volcano, Mount Etna, spews lava in January 2012. The volcano is located in Sicily.
AFP/Getty Images
Mount Etna's vent is sometimes topped with snow during the winter.
Unpredictable earth —
Mount Etna's vent is sometimes topped with snow during the winter.
Rebecca Williams
Lava flows into the ocean from Kilauea, the youngest of the volcanoes on Hawaii's Big Island.
Unpredictable earth —
Lava flows into the ocean from Kilauea, the youngest of the volcanoes on Hawaii's Big Island.
Rebecca Williams
Kilauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in Hawaiian.
Unpredictable earth —
Kilauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in Hawaiian.
Rebecca Williams
This serene view from Eldfell volcano in Iceland belies the volcano's dramatic history. Eldfell was thought to be extinct before suddenly erupting in 1973, spurring the evacuation of the Icelandic island of Heimaey.
Unpredictable earth —
This serene view from Eldfell volcano in Iceland belies the volcano's dramatic history. Eldfell was thought to be extinct before suddenly erupting in 1973, spurring the evacuation of the Icelandic island of Heimaey.
Rebecca Williams
The town of Vestmannaeyjar was saved from Eldfell's lava by using sea-water to stop the flow, but not all structures survived.
Unpredictable earth —
The town of Vestmannaeyjar was saved from Eldfell's lava by using sea-water to stop the flow, but not all structures survived.
Rebecca Williams
An emperor penguin cleans itself on snow-covered sea ice around the base of Mount Erebus in Antarctica. This volcano is not particularly welcoming to humans, but volcanologist Williams would love to visit.
Unpredictable earth —
An emperor penguin cleans itself on snow-covered sea ice around the base of Mount Erebus in Antarctica. This volcano is not particularly welcoming to humans, but volcanologist Williams would love to visit.
Deborah Zabarenko/Reuters/Landov