Top 50 Most Prominent Volcanoes in the World

Because of the way that they are formed, volcanoes most often have a degree of isolation from any neighbours. The primeval powers that lead to their creation thrust them upwards in cone or shield-like structures. Despite their often (comparatively) lowly heights, volcanoes make up almost half of the world’s most prominent peaks. So I have created a list of the Top 50 most prominent volcanoes in the world.

Unlike its sister list of the Top 50 highest volcanoes in the world (which is here) this list shows the well dispersed global geographical locations of the most prominent. They have representatives on each continent. On the other hand, the Top 50 highest are all in South America.

The highest is Ojos del Salado on the Chile/Argentina border and the most prominent is Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Two of the volcanic seven summits (Sidley and Giluwe) do not make the list. This is notwithstanding the fact that they are both higher than most of the others. There is a preponderance of island volcanoes – 19 on the list.

Their heights range from 6892m (Ojos del Salado) to 2797m (Ruapehu). Contrast this with the lowest volcano on the ‘by height’ list which is 5971m (with a prominence of ‘only’ 1262m).

Here is my list of the Top 50 most prominent volcanoes in the world. I have also included the next two most prominent ones because the topographical prominences are close. I have added the dates of ascent of those that I have climbed. [There are 10 as of the end of 2023.]

Many of the volcanoes on the list are quite popular. So there quite a few people who will have climbed a fair number of them. For example, see this list.

I would like to hear from (or of) any person who is looking to complete climbs of all of the volcanoes in either of these lists. Please use the contact form for this.