Most volcanic activity actually happens beneath the ocean’s surface, forming new land masses and oceanic crust.
Lava can appear red, orange, or even blue depending on its temperature and chemical composition.
The word "volcano" originates from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge.
Volcanic eruptions can generate lightning due to the friction of ash particles in the plume.
Worldwide, over 1,500 volcanoes are considered active, with many monitored continuously for signs of eruption.
Mount Tambora’s 1815 eruption killed over 71,000 people and caused global climate disruptions.
Supervolcanoes like Yellowstone can emit enough ash and gases to trigger a global volcanic winter.
Depending on the terrain and viscosity, lava can flow at speeds capable of destroying everything in its path.
Islands like Hawaii and Iceland were formed from successive volcanic eruptions over time.
Stromboli in Italy has been erupting almost continuously for the past 2,000 years.
Despite its name, volcanic ash is actually made of tiny jagged particles of rock and glass.
The 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered Pompeii in ash, preserving the city for centuries.
Lava temperatures can reach over 1,200°C (2,192°F), hot enough to melt almost anything in its path.
Submarine eruptions are difficult to monitor due to their depth and remoteness.
Io, one of Jupiter's moons, is home to hundreds of active volcanoes, some more powerful than those on Earth.
Some volcanoes may not erupt for hundreds or even thousands of years and then suddenly become active.
In Iceland, geothermal energy from volcanoes is used to heat homes and power greenhouses.
Volcanic ash can damage jet engines, which is why flights are often canceled during eruptions.
Shield volcanoes, like those in Hawaii, have broad, gently sloping sides due to the flowy nature of basaltic lava.
Cinder cone volcanoes form quickly and are composed of ash, cinders, and volcanic rocks.
These volcanoes, like Mount Fuji and Mount St. Helens, can produce explosive eruptions and deadly pyroclastic flows.
Some eruptions, like the one at Mount Yasur in Vanuatu, have been ongoing for decades or longer.
Hot springs are heated by geothermal activity, often associated with volcanic systems.
These fast-moving currents of hot gas and rock can reach speeds over 700 km/h and temperatures of 1,000°C.
Volcanic ash can circulate in the atmosphere and affect regions thousands of kilometers away.
Gases like sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emitted during eruptions can be deadly in high concentrations.
Water can collect in volcanic craters to form lakes, such as Crater Lake in Oregon.
Magma is molten rock beneath the surface; once it erupts, it is called lava.
Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo hosts the world’s largest lava lake.
Pumice and basalt, both volcanic rocks, are widely used in construction and landscaping.
Yellowstone National Park sits atop a massive supervolcano that has erupted three times in the last 2.1 million years.
The Philippines is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and has over 20 active volcanoes.
When lava flows harden on the outside but remain molten inside, they can create large underground tubes.
Volcanoes emit sulfur dioxide which can combine with water vapor to produce acid rain.
Located in Sicily, Mount Etna erupts frequently and has been active for hundreds of thousands of years.
While they contribute to greenhouse gases, volcanic emissions are small compared to human sources.
Lava flows can destroy buildings by fire and bury entire towns under thick rock layers.
Some volcanic islands slowly subside into the ocean as tectonic activity shifts.
The 1980 eruption reshaped the area and left a lasting impact on the Pacific Northwest’s environment.
Some areas, like those in New Zealand, contain numerous vents across a broad volcanic field.
Many ancient civilizations saw volcanoes as the homes of gods or spirits due to their awe-inspiring power.
The dark skies from volcanic eruptions have inspired paintings and writings, including Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein."
In places like Iceland, volcanoes can erupt beneath glaciers, causing massive flooding events called jökulhlaups.
The Toba supervolcano erupted around 74,000 years ago, possibly reducing the global human population to a few thousand.
Drones are increasingly used to monitor volcanic activity in places too dangerous for people to reach.
Pumice is so porous that it can float on water, and rafts of pumice can drift for months in the ocean.
Underwater eruptions or landslides triggered by volcanic activity can generate powerful tsunamis.
Many movies, including sci-fi and fantasy films, use volcanic areas as dramatic natural backdrops.
After an eruption, pioneer species like mosses and lichens colonize the land, beginning ecological succession.
Some volcanoes erupt mostly ash and gases rather than lava, causing different hazards.
Volcanic bombs are large molten rocks ejected during eruptions that harden in the air before landing.
Some rare underwater volcanoes have lava lakes that remain hidden deep below the ocean surface.
These are glassy tubes formed when volcanic lightning strikes sandy ground, fusing the particles together.
This horseshoe-shaped region along the Pacific Ocean is the most volcanically active area on Earth.
At nearly 22 km high, Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano and mountain in the solar system.
Volcanically heated groundwater can erupt as geysers, as seen in places like Iceland and Yellowstone.
Many people visit active volcanoes like Mount Bromo or Arenal for their natural beauty and excitement.
Lahars are deadly volcanic mudflows that can bury entire communities downstream of volcanoes.
Large eruptions can inject ash and sulfur into the stratosphere, lowering global temperatures.
After destruction, nutrient-rich volcanic ash often helps forests and crops thrive.
Monitoring gases like sulfur dioxide helps scientists predict eruptions and issue warnings in time.