Classifying Volcanic Activities

A volcano can be classified as active, intermittent, dormant or extinct.

(A famous active volcano, Stromboli, which is in Italy.)

Active volcanoes erupt constantly, but the eruptions are usually small and quiet, becomes violent once in a while. A famous active volcano is Stromboli, which lies on an island off the coast of Italy.

(Hualalai, which lies in Hawaii, is an example of an intermittent volcano.)

Intermittent volcanoes erupt at fairly regular peroids. Hawaii's Hualalai is a good example.

(Lassen Peak is a dormant volcano which has not erupted since its last eruption in 1921.)

Dormant volcanoes have become inactive, but not long enough to know whether they will erupt again. Such "sleeping" volcanoes include Lassen Peak in Carlifornia, U.S.A.

(Kilimanjaro is a 5895m tall extinct volcano, but it still emits steam and sulphur.)

Extinct volcanoes are volcanoes which had been inactive since the beginning of recorded history. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is an extinct volcano. It will probably not erupt again.