Nature is most often associated with tranquility and beauty but, without any warning, nature can flare up with a catastrophic ferocity. Commonly called 'natural disasters' - volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and floods can have a devastating impact on landscape and people's lives.

This book builds up a profile of some of the Earth's biggest killers. Discover which countries are most at risk and why, read about the destruction caused by the latest disasters, find out how scientists monitor the danger areas and see what can be done to prevent further disasters.