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

If you enjoyed this article, the Sifter highly recommends: THE INCREDIBLE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND [25 PICS]