What Is a Volcano?, Slides of History

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What Is a Volcano?

Lava glows white to red hot as it flows. The temperature of lava ranges between 700˚C and 1200˚C… that’s hot! Lava glows white to red hot as it flows. The temperature of lava ranges between 700˚C and 1200˚C… that’s hot! The name ‘The name ‘ volcano’volcano’ is taken from the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.is taken from the Roman god of fire, Vulcan. A volcano has a vent or chimney that allows lava, ash and gas to escape from a magma chamber below the surface of the earth. A volcano has a vent or chimney that allows lava, ash and gas to escape from a magma chamber below the surface of the earth. A volcano is a mountain or hill, where molten rock erupts through the surface of the earth. A volcano is a mountain or hill, where molten rock erupts through the surface of the earth.

Guess how many volcanoes

there are in the world:

There are around 1,510 active volcanoes in the world. We know of at least 80 volcanoes that lie beneath the ocean. Answer

Africa Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is a dormant volcano. This means it is inactive - for now. Its last eruption is thought to have been about 200,000 years ago. Hawaii Hawaii was created by five volcanoes. Kilauea has been continually erupting since 1983! Loihi is an underwater volcano. Photo courtesy of ronardios @ flickr.com North America Mount St Helens is close to the town of Portland, Oregon. In 1980 it erupted with the loss of 57 lives. It last erupted in 2008 and scientists believe it is only a matter of time before it erupts again. Photo courtesy of bslax28 @ flickr.com Philippines Mount Pinatubo is an active volcano. It had been dormant for almost 500 years but erupted in 1991 and is regarded as one of the most destructive volcanic eruptions of recent times. Europe Records from as long ago as 1500BC show how active Mount Etna is. Vesuvius famously destroyed the Roman town of Pompeii and on the Greek island of Santorini, a huge eruption tore the island in half. Photo courtesy of bslax28 @ flickr.com The ‘Ring of Fire’ contains 75% of the world’s volcanoes. 452 volcanoes stretch from the tip of South America, up the coast of North America, down through Japan and into New Zealand. Tectonic Plates The Earth’s crust is broken into sections, or tectonic plates. They move constantly but only by a few centimetres each year. This movement causes the plates to slip against each other. The result can be an earthquake or volcanic eruption. Iceland Home to 130 volcanoes, Iceland has a volcanic eruption on average once every five years. The most famous and active volcano in Iceland is mount Hekla, which has erupted 18 times since 1104, the last time in 2000.

In 1995, a volcano erupted on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. It buried the capital city in 12m of mud, destroyed the airport and docks and the population of the southern island was evacuated for their own safety. Photo courtesy of Leonora (Ellie) Enking @ Flickr.com

Why Do People Choose to

Live near Volcanoes?

Scientists estimate that 1 in 10 people live near a volcano. While it is dangerous to live close to a volcano, the surrounding slopes provide rich fertile soil which makes the area a good place to farm. Did you know ...? There are volcanoes on other planets too. Triton is Neptune’s largest volcano but instead of releasing lava, it releases ice!

What Are the World’s Most

Dangerous Volcanoes?

There are different ways to decide whether a volcano is ‘dangerous’. The simplest way to label a volcano is to determine whether a volcano is: Extinct - is not expected to erupt again. Dormant - not active but expected to erupt again. Active - has erupted in recorded history.

Click on each volcano to find out more.

Location: Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo Volcano Type: Stratovolcano Last erupted: 2016 Elevation: 3,470m Interesting Facts

• Best known for its large lava lakes.
• During a recent eruption, lava travelled at 60km per hour. The people of Goma were rescued, but 147 people were killed and 4,500 buildings were destroyed. Photo courtesy of Radio Okapi @ flickr.com

Mount Nyiragongo

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Location: Near Mexico City, Mexico Volcano Type: Stratovolcano Last erupted: 2005 - 2016 (ongoing) Elevation: 5,426m Interesting Facts

• Known as ‘Popo’.
• In 2016, a plume of ash which travelled 5km into the sky was recorded.
• Covered in a glacier, it has the potential to create vast mud slides should it erupt.
• Mexico City, home to 20 million people, is only 70km away. Photo courtesy of Russ Bowling @ flickr.com

Popocatépetl

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Location: China Volcano Type: Stratovolcano Last erupted: 1903 Elevation: 2,744m Interesting Facts

• Located on the border between North Korea and China.
• Also known as Mount Paektu or Mount Baekdu.
• Recently shown an increase in the frequency of activity.
• When Changbaishan erupted in 969AD, it was the largest eruption for 100,000 years. Photo courtesy of Wo Shing Au @ flickr.com

Changbaishan

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Location: Pasto, Colombia Volcano Type: Stratovolcano Last erupted: 2010 Elevation: 4,276m Interesting Facts

• 450,000 people live in Pasto on its eastern slopes.
• Became active again in 1988.
• In 1993, an eruption killed nine people who were on a scientific expedition to the volcanic summit.
• Since 2000, Galeras has erupted almost every year. Photo courtesy of DAVID [email protected]

Galeras

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Location: Java, Indonesia Volcano Type: Stratovolcano Last erupted: 1977 Elevation: 2,911m Interesting Facts

• Mount Merapi means ‘mountain of fire’.
• Has produced more lava flow than any volcano in the world.
• Has erupted regularly since 1548.
• Lava flow has been recorded as travelling at 70 mph.
• In the 2010, 353 people were killed and 320,000 were made homeless. Photo courtesy of Jimmy McIntyre @ flickr.com

Mount Merapi

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Location: Hawaii Volcano Type: Shield volcano Last erupted: 1984 Elevation: 4,169m Interesting Facts

• Largest volcano in the world.
• One of five volcanoes making up Hawaii.
• Has been erupting regularly for 700,000 years with 33 eruptions since 1843.
• Mauna Loa means ‘long mountain’.
• It rises 4km above sea level, but is 17km high from its base on the sea bed. Photo courtesy of Lauren Bacon @ flickr.com

Mauna Loa

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