We learn more about the features of Earth - Part 28 Volcanoes - Information and video lesson for kids

We learned about Tsunamis and today we will look at another natural phenomena that can cause a lot of damage if it erupts, and that is a volcano.

A volcano is an opening in the surface of the earth and if they are active, which means they can erupt, things like ash, magma and lava can come out of it.

You will usually find volcanoes where the plates that makes up Earth meet.  75% of the world's volcanoes are found in the Pacific ocean in the 'Ring of fire'.  You can read more about it here.

The word volcano originally comes from the name of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan. 

While most of the volcanoes are found where the tectonic plates meet, they can also be found in areas where the rocks in that area is very hot.  Spots like these are found in Hawaii.

The rocks get so hot under the ground that they melt and this is called 'magma'.  Once it comes out of the volcano and starts flowing down the hill, it is called 'lava'.

There are a lot of volcanoes on Earth and they are even found on other planets like Mars where the biggest know volcano in the solar system is found.  You can do extra research on this volcano - find out the name and how big it is.

Some famous volcanic eruptions of modern times include Mount Krakatoa in 1883, Novarupta in 1912, Mount St Helens in 1980 and Mt Pinatubo in 1991. 

Volcanoes can be found on the crust of Earth but also under the sea or ice caps.

We can divide volcanoes in three groups - 'Active', which mean they erupt from time to time or 'dormant' which means they have not erupted for a very long time, it as if the volcano is sleeping and the the 'extinct volcano' which is very unlikely to ever erupt again.

If a volcano erupts, it can shoot ash as high as 30 km up into the air and also gives of many gasses.

Common volcanic gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen sulfide. 

One of the rocks that forms when the lava cools down quickly is a 'pumice' and it is very light, it can float on water and it is used to remove dead skin from your feet.

1. What is a volcano?
2. What is magma?
3. What is lava?
4. How does a volcano erupt?
5. Name a few common volcano gasses.
6. Name two types of volcanoes.