World's Most Deadly Volcanoes (PHOTOS)

Local scientists' concerns that Indonesia's Mount Merapi was gearing up for its most powerful eruption in years were all but confirmed when the volcano began spewing hot ash on Tuesday, less than a day after a tsunami left scores of villagers dead or missing.

Hence, 2010 has certainly been a particularly notable year for global seismic activity. In spring, Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull left thousands of European travelers stranded -- in some cases, for over a week -- when its eruption upset trans-Atlantic flights for what was reportedly the longest period since World War II. And few can forget the powerful 1980 eruption of Washington state's Mount St. Helens, while the legendary blast of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. is considered a benchmark of Italian history.

Check out some of the world's most dangerous volcanoes below: