Volcanoes

A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock below the surface of the earth. When pressure builds up, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot up through the opening and spill over or fill the air with lava fragments. Eruptions can cause lateral blasts, lava flows, hot ash flows, mudslides, avalanches, falling ash and floods. Volcano eruptions have been known to knock down entire forests. An erupting volcano can trigger tsunamis, flash floods, earthquakes, mudflows and rockfalls

The word volcano comes from the Roman God of Fire - Vulcan! 🔥 

Volcanoes are formed when magma from within the Earth's upper mantle works its way to the surface. At the surface, it erupts to form lava flows and ash deposits. Over time as the volcano continues to erupt, it will get bigger and 

They erupt because the Earth's crust is made up of huge slabs called plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. These plates sometimes move. The friction causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions near the edges of the plates. The theory that explains this process is called plate tectonics.

There are around 1500 active volcanoes in the world. We know of at least 80 which are under the oceans.

Imagine RAMJS had there very own volcano? It might look like this! But lucky for us, we aren’t built on any meeting points of tectonic plates!

Let’s take a trip to a real volcano...here’s Vesuvius in Italy...

Let’s take a trip to Mount Figi in Japan...

Volcano eruptions can be huge and cause lots of problems - and the worst can even kill thousands of people.But volcanic eruptions can also be a good thing - volcanoes add nutrients to soils, creating perfect conditions for many crops to grow in.There have been some huge volcano eruptions - here are the 3 deadliest...