dispersed, confirming asphyxiation or poisoning. Examples The Long Valley Caldera eruption in Eastern California, United States, which happened over 760,000 years ago. The 10,950 BC eruption of Lake Laach in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The 4860 BC eruption forming Crater Lake in Oregon, United States. The 1645 BC eruption of Thera in the south Aegean Sea, Greece. The 400s BC eruption of the Bridge River Vent in British Columbia, Canada. The 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii, Italy. It was the prototypical Plinian eruption. The 180 AD Lake Taupo eruption in New Zealand. The 946 eruption of Paektu Mountain in China / North Korea The 1257 eruption of Mount Samalas in Lombok, Indonesia The 1600 eruption of Huaynaputina in Peru. The 1667 and 1739 eruptions of Mount Tarumae in Hokkaido, Japan. The 1707 eruption of Mount Fuji in Japan. The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa in Sunda Strait, Indonesia. The 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera in New Zealand. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington in the western United States. The 1982 eruption of El Chichón in Chiapanecan Volcanic Arc, Chiapas, Mexico. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in Zambales, Central Luzon, Philippines. The June 2009 eruption of Sarychev Peak in Russia. The 2011–2012 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption in Chile. The 2014 eruption of Tungurahua volcano in Cordillera Oriental of Ecuador. The 2020 eruption of Taal Volcano in the Philippines The 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai in Tonga. Ultra-Plinian According to the Volcanic Explosivity Index, a VEI of 6 to 8 is classified as "ultra-Plinian". Eruptions of this type are defined by ash plumes over high and a volume of erupted material to in size. Eruptions in the ultra-Plinian category include the Lava Creek eruption of the Yellowstone Caldera (c. 640,000 years ago, VEI 8), Lake Toba (c. 74,000 years ago, VEI 8), Tambora (1815, VEI 7), Krakatoa (1883, VEI 6), Akahoya eruption of Kikai Caldera, Japan (VEI 7) and the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (VEI 6). The largest known VEI 8 is the Fish Canyon eruption of the La Garita Caldera in Colorado c. 27,800,000 years ago with of ejecta. See also Peléan eruption, related to the explosive eruptions of the Mount Pelée Types of volcanic eruptions List of largest volcanic eruptions References External links USGS Photo Glossary Entry for Plinian Eruptions