

Supercell Thunderstorm in Montana – Photograph by Sean Heavey





From violent volcanoes to horrifying hurricanes, Mother Nature’s fury is a sight to behold. With so much human conflict and suffering, we often underestimate the awesome and destructive power of nature. While the science behind these events is utterly fascinating, the consequences can be dire and we must respect the power of the planet we live in. Here are 30 chilling reminders of nature’s fury:





2. Chaiten Volcano – Chana, Chile (May 2008)



Photograph by Carlos Gutierrez





3. Forest Fire – Dolginino, Russia (Aug. 2010)



Photograph by ARTYOM KOROTAYEV/AFP/Getty Images





4. Undersea Volcano – Coast of Tonga (March 2009)



Photograph by Dana Stephenson/Getty Images





5. Kliuchevskoi Volcano – (Russia Sept. 1994)



Photograph by NASA-Johnson Space Center





6. Double Cyclone – Iceland (Nov. 2006)



Photograph by NASA/Jesse Allen





7. Flooding (from Typhoon ‘Ketsana’) – Manila, Phillippines (Sept. 2009)



Photograph by Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images





8. Tornado – Oklahoma, United States (May 2010)



Photograph by Willoughby Owen





9. Hurricane Felix – Honduras (Sept. 2007)



Photograph by NASA





10. Lightning Strike – New York City (2010)



Photograph by Jay Fine





11. Mt. Saint Helens Volcano – Washington, United States (May 1980)



Photograph by USGS





12. Flooding – Cedar Rapids, Iowa (June 2008)



Photograph by David Greedy/Getty Images





13. Mount Merapi Volcano – Indonesia (Nov 2010)



Photograph by SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images





14. Chaiten Volcano – Chana, Chile (May 2008)



Photograph by ALVARO VIDAL/AFP/Getty Images





15. Dust Storm – China (April 2001)



Photograph by NASA/Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon/MODIS science team





16. Mt. Saint Helens Volcano – Washington, United States (Aug. 1980)



Photograph by AP Photo/USGS, Lyn Topinka





17. Lightning Storm – Roswell, New Mexico (July 2010)



Photograph by AP Photo/Roswell Daily Record, Mark Wilson





18. Brush Fires – Sylmar, California (Sept. 2009)



Photograph by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images





19. Eyjafjallajokull Volcano – Iceland (April 2010)



Photograph by Reuters/Lucas Jackson





20. Flooding (Tropical Storm Agatha) – Guatemala (May 2010)



Photograph by Reuters/Casa Predicencial





21. Undersea Volcano – Tonga (March 2009)



Photograph by LOTHAR SLABON/AFP/Getty Images





22. Wildfires – California (Sept. 2009)



Photograph by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images





23. Dust Storm – Australia (Sept. 2009)



Photograph by NASA/JPL





24. Flooding – Iowa, United States (June 2008)



Photograph by AP Photo/Jeff Roberson





25. Mt. Etna Volcano – Sicily, Italy (Oct. 2002)



Photograph by NASA-Johnson Space Center





26. Eyjafjallajokull Volcano – Iceland (April 2010)



Photograph by HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP/Getty Images





27. Brushfires – Victoria, Australia (Feb 2009)



Photograph by AP Photo





28. Tornado – Iowa, United States (June 2008)



Photograph by AP Photo/Lori Mehmen





29. Chaiten Volcano – Chana, Chile (May 2008)



Photograph by AP Photo/La Tercera





30. Storm Clouds – South Dakota, United States (2009)







Photograph by Patrick Kelley

















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