Volcanoes look just like mountains most of the time, but they’re actually openings in the earth’s crust where magma escapes. Once the magma escapes the volcano in an eruption, we call it lava. Lava is so hot, it ranges from 1,300 to 2,200 °F – which is extremely hot!
The two most common types of volcanoes are stratovolcanoes and shield volcanoes. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are the ones you’re probably most familiar with, as they look like regular mountains shaped like cones with a crater on top. Shield volcanoes are more dome-shaped but still mountain-like. Some shield volcanoes can start underwater, and slowly build their way up as lava erupts and then hardens. The Hawaiian Islands are formed from shield volcanoes!
Volcanoes erupt in two main ways. Some explode, shooting lava, ash, and other debris high into the sky. These are the most dangerous, as they can create a lot of damage really fast. Others are effusive, which means the lava pours or flows out of the opening slowly, making them less dangerous.
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- The largest active volcano on earth is Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which last erupted in 2022.
- Volcanoes exist on other planets as well, with the largest in the solar system being Olympus Mons on Mars.
- There are roughly 1,900 active volcanoes on earth that are likely to explode again.
- Lava and ash break down to produce nutrient-rich soil, which is great for crops.