Why do people live close to volcanoes?

Volcanoes have a wide range of effects on humans. These can be problematic or beneficial. It is usually the destructive nature of volcanoes that is more widely documented. However, many people rely on volcanoes for their everyday survival. Today, many millions of people live close to volcanoes for this very reason.

Geothermal Energy

People live close to volcanoes because geothermal energy can be harnessed by using the steam from underground, which the Earth’s magma has heated. The steam drives turbines in geothermal power stations to produce electricity for domestic and industrial use. Countries such as Iceland and New Zealand use this method of generating electricity.

The video below features the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa in Iceland. It is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions.

The video below shows the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Station next to the Blue Lagoon, Iceland.

Tourism

Volcanoes attract millions of visitors around the world every year. Apart from the volcano itself, hot springs and geysers can also bring in tourists. This creates many jobs for people in the tourism industry. This includes work in hotels, restaurants and gift shops. Often locals are also employed as tour guides.

The video below shows the Strokkur Geysir (Selfoss Geyser) in Iceland, which thousands of tourists visit every year.

Mining

Lava from deep within the Earth contains minerals that include gold, silver, diamonds, copper and zinc, depending on their mineral composition. Miners are attracted to active volcanic areas. Often, mining towns develop around volcanoes.

Agriculture

Volcanic areas often contain some of the most mineral-rich soils globally, which are ideal for farming. Lava and material from pyroclastic flows weather to form nutrient-rich soil, which farmers can cultivate to produce healthy crops and rich harvests.