Where is the world’s largest volcano by area?

Tamu Massif is a massive submarine volcano in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Japan. For a time it was considered the largest known volcano on Earth by area, with estimates covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. It is an extinct or long-dormant underwater volcanic structure rather than a classic cone-shaped volcano. Its scale was revealed through geophysical and seismic studies, showing a broad shield-like formation on the ocean floor. Tamu Massif helps scientists understand how enormous volcanic structures can form beneath the sea.