10 Interesting Facts About Volcanoes

Volcanoes can be Active, Dormant or Extinct

An active volcano is one that has had an eruption in historical times.  A dormant volcano is one that has erupted in historical times. An extinct volcano is one that scientists think probably won’t erupt again.  

Volcanoes can Grow Quickly

Although some volcanoes can take thousands of years to form, others can grow overnight. For example, the cinder cone volcano. 

20 Volcanoes Erupting Right Now

Somewhere, around the world, there are likely about 20 active volcanoes erupting as you’re reading this. Some are experiencing new activity, others are ongoing. 

Volcanoes are Dangerous

Some of the most deadly volcanoes include Krakatoa, which erupted in 1883, releasing a tsunami that killed 36,000 people.

Supervolcanoes are Really Dangerous

Geologists measure volcano eruptions using the Volcano Explosivity Index, which measures the amount of material released.  The largest explosion on record was Toba, thought to have erupted 73,000 years ago. 

The Tallest Volcano in the Solar System isn’t on Earth

The tallest volcano in the Solar System isn’t on Earth at all, but on Mars. Olympus Mons, on Mars, is a giant shield volcano. 

Tallest and Biggest Volcanoes on Earth are side by side

The tallest volcano on Earth is Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, with an elevation of 4,207 meters. It’s only a little bigger than the largest volcano on Earth, Mauna Loa with an elevation of only 4,169 meters. Both are shield volcanoes that rise up from the bottom of the ocean.  

The Most Distant Point from the Center of the Earth is a Volcano

You might think that the peak of Mount Everest is the most distant point from the center of the Earth, but that’s not true.  It's  the volcano Chimborazo in Ecuador.

Volcanoes are pool of 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.

Volcanoes have 20 miles radius

The danger area around a volcano covers about a 20-mile radius. 

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