# Smithsonian Volcanoes Scraper (`parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes volcano records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program Holocene catalogue. Returns each volcano's name, type, location, tectonic setting, and eruption history as a flat row.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Other, Education
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.32 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Smithsonian Volcanoes Scraper

**Scrape detailed volcano records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, up to the full Holocene catalogue.** Every record includes eruption history, location, tectonic setting, and physical characteristics. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program is the world's authoritative source for volcano data, but browsing and downloading records one by one is slow. This Actor reads the public volcano catalogue directly, collecting structured data on each volcano's type, location, last eruption, and more. It returns a clean dataset ready for analysis, mapping, or integration into your own geological database.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program for |
|---|---|
| Geologists and volcanologists | Compile a regional inventory of Holocene volcanoes for hazard assessment. |
| Risk analysts | Extract eruption histories to model volcanic threat scores for populated areas. |
| Data journalists | Gather global volcano statistics for an interactive map or feature article. |
| Educators | Build a teaching dataset of volcano types, locations, and tectonic settings. |

### What it does

This Actor collects volcano records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program's online catalogue and returns each one as a flat row.

- 🌋 **Full catalogue access:** Scrape the complete Holocene volcano list or target a specific subset by URL.
- 📍 **Geospatial data:** Each record includes latitude, longitude, and elevation for direct use in GIS tools.
- 📋 **Structured output:** Returns a consistent schema with volcano name, type, tectonic setting, and eruption timeline.
- ⚙️ **Configurable volume:** Set a maximum number of records to control the size of your dataset.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program data

**🌋 Build a regional hazard map.**

A geologist scrapes all volcanoes in a tectonic subduction zone, loads the coordinates into QGIS, and overlays population density to prioritize monitoring.

**📊 Analyze global eruption trends.**

A researcher collects the full Holocene catalogue, filters by eruption type, and charts activity patterns over the last 12,000 years.

**📰 Create a data-driven story.**

A journalist scrapes volcano locations and last-eruption dates, then builds an interactive globe showing which cities sit near active volcanoes.

**🏫 Teach plate tectonics.**

An educator downloads volcano coordinates and tectonic setting fields, then has students plot them to reveal the Ring of Fire.

### Why choose this scraper

|  | What you get |
|---|---|
| **Authoritative source** | Data comes directly from the Smithsonian, the definitive global volcano database. |
| **Complete records** | Each row bundles physical traits, location, and eruption history in one place. |
| **GIS-ready** | Latitude and longitude fields let you map the results immediately. |
| **No manual copying** | Scrapes hundreds of records in one run instead of clicking through individual volcano pages. |

### How it compares

No other Store actor targets Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program the same way, so the honest comparison is with the alternatives teams actually weigh.

| | Smithsonian Volcanoes Scraper | Build it in-house | By hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Run it now, zero config | Days of engineering | None, but hours per pull |
| When Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program changes | Maintained for you | You fix it | You re-learn the page |
| Proxies, retries, anti-bot | Built in | Your problem | Browser only |
| Output | Fixed JSON schema, CSV/Excel export | Whatever you build | Copy-paste |
| Cost | Pay per result | Engineering time | Analyst hours |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor from the default Holocene volcano catalogue URL or any other list page on volcano.si.edu, and set a maximum record count to limit the run. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
  "startUrl": "https://volcano.si.edu/volcanolist_holocene.cfm",
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
  "startUrl": "https://volcano.si.edu/volcanolist_holocene.cfm",
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  },
  "maxItems": 200
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.00146 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $0.15 |
| 1,000 results | $1.46 |
| 10,000 results | $14.60 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Smithsonian Volcanoes Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check that the start URL points to a valid volcano list page on volcano.si.edu. If you are using a filtered URL, confirm the filter returns results when you open it in a browser.

**The run is slow or timing out.**

The site uses Cloudflare protection. Make sure the proxy configuration is set to use Apify residential proxies. If you are scraping a large number of records, increase the run timeout in the Actor settings.

**Some fields are empty in my dataset.**

Not every volcano record on the Smithsonian site has every field populated. If a volcano lacks a known eruption date or tectonic setting, that field will be blank in your output.

**The scraper stopped before reaching my maximum count.**

The site may have rate-limited the requests. Try reducing the maximum items and running in smaller batches, or ensure residential proxies are enabled.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What data does this Actor return for each volcano? | It returns the volcano name, country, type, latitude, longitude, elevation, tectonic setting, and the known eruption history as listed on the Smithsonian catalogue page. |
| Can I scrape only volcanoes from a specific country? | The Actor scrapes whatever list page you provide as the start URL. You can navigate the Smithsonian website to filter by country or region, then copy that filtered URL into the Actor input. |
| How many volcano records can I scrape in one run? | You control the maximum with the 'Maximum volcanoes' input. The full Holocene catalogue contains over 1,400 volcanoes, and you can set the limit to collect all of them. |
| Does this include eruption dates and details? | Yes, the Actor captures the eruption history section from each volcano's page, including start and stop dates, eruption type, and VEI when available. |
| Is the data suitable for GIS mapping? | Yes, each record includes latitude and longitude coordinates that you can import directly into ArcGIS, QGIS, or any mapping tool. |
| Do I need an API key to use this? | No, the Actor reads the public web pages of the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. No registration or API key is required. |
| Can I get the data in Excel format? | Yes, the Actor exports to CSV, JSON, Excel, and XML, so you can open the results in your preferred tool. |
| What is the Holocene catalogue? | It is the Smithsonian's list of volcanoes known to have erupted in the last 12,000 years, which is the default dataset this Actor scrapes. |
| Does the Actor handle Cloudflare protection on the site? | Yes, it uses Apify's residential proxies by default to route around Cloudflare and keep the scraper running. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Smithsonian Institution. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `startUrl` (type: `string`):

URL of the volcano list to scrape. Defaults to the Holocene volcano catalogue.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of volcano records to return

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Proxy settings for the scraper to bypass Cloudflare protection

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "startUrl": "https://volcano.si.edu/volcanolist_holocene.cfm",
  "maxItems": 100,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Complete dataset of all scraped records.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "startUrl": "https://volcano.si.edu/volcanolist_holocene.cfm",
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true,
        "apifyProxyGroups": [
            "RESIDENTIAL"
        ]
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "startUrl": "https://volcano.si.edu/volcanolist_holocene.cfm",
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": True,
        "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"],
    },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "startUrl": "https://volcano.si.edu/volcanolist_holocene.cfm",
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}' |
apify call parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/smithsonian-volcanoes-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/5hsg9059SubV7ugZK/builds/RrZtgoYBiuKvDZ1z4/openapi.json