What is the largest active volcano on Earth?

The largest active volcano on Earth is Mauna Loa. Located on Hawaiʻi Island, it is the largest active volcano by both mass and volume.

Mauna Loa is a broad shield volcano built from very fluid, low-silica basaltic lava. Its summit rises 4,169 metres above sea level, but the mountain extends roughly 9,170 metres from its submarine base to the summit. Its estimated volume is about 75,000 cubic kilometres, making its enormous size easy to underestimate from photographs.

Mauna Loa formed as the Pacific Plate moved over the Hawaiʻi hotspot. The volcano has probably been active for at least 700,000 years and emerged above sea level roughly 400,000 years ago. Its latest confirmed eruption lasted from November 27 to December 13, 2022.

A common mix-up is Mount Everest, which is higher above sea level, and Mauna Kea, whose summit is slightly higher. The extinct submarine volcano Pūhāhonu is larger overall, but Mauna Loa remains the largest volcano that is currently active.