One thing's for sure -- nature is anything but tame. Sure, we've learned to deal with thunderstorms and snow flurries, but the threat of natural disaster always seems to be looming over us. From tsunamis to tornadoes, explore these pictures of humankind's struggle to survive the wrath of nature.
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While you might not think "heat wave" when you think of natural disasters, too much warmth from the sun can cause illness, drought, severe crop damage and even wildfires. While the European heat wave of 2003 was the worst in recent history, heat has also wreaked havoc on other continents.
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While they're sometimes sparked by humans, wildfires can also be caused by nature in the form of a heat wave, a drought or a lightning strike. Wildfires burn about five million acres in the U.S. every year. Sadly, they often destroy homes and cause the deaths of civilians and firefighters.
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If there is a good deal of pressure, a volcano will begin its eruption with an explosive launch of material into the air as Italy's Mount Stromboli did in 1969. But with other volcanic eruptions, the lava flows can move slowly enough for people to escape.
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When the pressure of magma collected below the surface of the Earth rises to a high enough level and the molten rock spews out, the flowing magma (now called lava) forms a volcano. Plate tectonics are responsible for the creation of volcanoes as well as earthquakes.
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Volcanic eruptions can also cause landslides, or lahars, which are mudflows made up of pyroclastic material and other debris. The eruption of Washington's Mount St. Helens in 1982 melted snow and ice to trigger this lahar on the mountain's north side.
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A magnitude-7 earthquake devastated Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, flattening buildings and killing thousands. The extent of human loss was initially unknown as people struggled to reach those trapped in the rubble. Next, see what other natural disaster can be initiated by an earthquake.
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A magnitude-9.2 earthquake -- the largest to ever hit the U.S. -- struck Alaska in 1964. Only 15 people died in the quake itself, but the resulting tsunami killed 110 more people and caused $311 million in property damage. Learn about a more recent tsunami on the next page.
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On Dec. 26, 2004, a massive underwater earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale rattled the Earth off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island. But the most powerful and destructive aftermath of this devastating earthquake was the tsunami that it caused. The death toll reached higher than 220,000, and many communities suffered disastrous property damage.
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A 9.0-magnitude earthquake that caused a tsunami struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. This photo, taken aboard an SH-60B helicopter from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, shows just some of the devastation the day after the earthquake.
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A typhoon, which is a strong tropical cyclone just like a hurricane, can cause destruction when it reaches land. This photo shows Typhoon Nesat, which landed in Haikou in the Hainan Province of China in 2011. It was the 17th typhoon to strike the country that year, and more than 300,000 residents were forced to evacuate.
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Floods have claimed millions of lives in the last hundred years alone, more than any other weather phenomenon. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 is a recent example of the vast devastation flooding can cause.
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While floods can follow tsunamis and hurricanes, they can also occur inland. Heavy rains in the spring of 2001 flooded Davenport, Iowa. Until the waters subsided, locals had to get around town by rowboat. But water doesn't have to be in its liquid state to wreak havoc on communities and take lives.
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When a blizzard strikes, it's best to stay inside and off the roads. In some cases, massive amounts of snow can damage buildings and even cause them to collapse. But snow doesn't have to be falling from the sky to cause destruction, as we'll see next.
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Tornadoes can reach wind speeds of 318 miles per hour (512 kilometers per hour) and measure miles across, scarring the Earth and decimating homes and buildings in the process. In 1925, the infamous U.S. Tri-State Tornado hit parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, claiming 695 lives.
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Tornadoes commonly take on a funnel-like shape, with the narrow end touching down on Earth. As they move along, they gather more dirt and debris, especially as they destroy the obstacles they encounter. Tornadoes can also form over water, as you'll see next.
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Tornadoes are some of the most incredibly violent storms on Earth, and they can strike anywhere -- even in large cities. This twister hit downtown Miami in 1997. Luckily, it caused only minor damage, but photos of the storm have made it famous.
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