volcano

VOLCANOES Volcanoes are holes or vents in the Earth’s crust, created when molten hot magma under the crust of the Earth is forced upward to the surface. Magma collects in a chamber beneath the crust, pressure builds up and forces it up through cracks or fissure and a conduit to the surface is created. Hot gases try to escape but are trapped in the magma. The surface of the Earth begins to bulge until …

…composite volcano is Mt. Fuji in Japan. The third type of volcano is the shield volcano. Shield volcanoes are gently sloping mound shaped volcanoes formed by weak eruptions with liquid lava that spreads out around the crater. Volcanoes are constantly changing the face of Earth. Even though they are sometimes deadly, volcanoes are an important part of the Earth’s geology and they help humans to better understand the internal processes that shape our planet.