3. Mount Tambora Eruption (1815)
In April 1815, Indonesia’s Mount Tambora erupted catastrophically, ejecting an estimated 36 cubic miles of volcanic ash. This event is the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history, leading to the “Year Without a Summer” in 1816. The eruption’s global climatic disruption caused widespread crop failures and famine. For more information, refer to the U.S. Geological Survey’s detailed account of the eruption. (usgs.gov)
