___                       _       _   _       _                        ______         _
 / _ \                     ( )     | | | |     | |                       |  ___|       | |
/ /_\ \_ __ _ __ __ _ _ __ |/ ___  | | | | ___ | | ___ __ _ _ __   ___   | |_ __ _  ___| |_ ___
|  _  | '__| '__/ _` | '_ \  / __| | | | |/ _ \| |/ __/ _` | '_ \ / _ \  |  _/ _` |/ __| __/ __|
| | | | |  | | | (_| | | | | \__ \ \ \_/ / (_) | | (_| (_| | | | | (_) | | || (_| | (__| |_\__ \
\_| |_/_|  |_|  \__,_|_| |_| |___/  \___/ \___/|_|\___\__,_|_| |_|\___/  \_| \__,_|\___|\__|___/







SOURCE 1: www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/mountains/volcanoes.htm

A volcano is a landform (usually a mountain) where molten rock erupts through the surface of the planet.
In simple terms a volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock (magma) below the surface of the earth. It is a hole in the Earth from which molten rock and gas erupt.

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Did you know?
The name "volcano" has its origin from the name of Vulcan, a god of fire in Roman mythology.
As pressure in the molten rock builds up it needs to escape somewhere. So it forces its way up “fissures” which are narrow cracks in the earths crust. Once the magma erupts through the earth’s surface it’s called lava.
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Magma is liquid rock inside a volcano.
Lava is liquid rock (magma) that flows out of a volcano. Fresh lava ranges from 1,300° to 2,200° F (700° to 1,200° C) in temperature and glows red hot to white hot as it flows.

There are around 1,510 active volcanoes in the world.
We currently know of 80 or more which are under the oceans.

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What are the three layers the Earth is made of?
First Layer
The crust is the outer layer of Earth. It is about 18 miles thick. It is the part we live on.
Second Layer
The second layer is called the mantle. It is about 1,800 miles thick.
Third Layer
The inner layer is called the core.
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The Earth's crust is made up of huge slabs called plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. These plates sometimes move.
Between the Earth's crust and the mantle is a substance called magma which is made of rock and gases.
When two plates collide, one section slides on top of the other, the one beneath is pushed down.  Magma is squeezed up between two plates.

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Did you know?
Volcanoes are like giant safety valves that release the pressure that builds up inside the Earth.
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When magma erupts through the earth's surface it is called lava, and over half of the world’s volcanoes are in a belt around the Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire.

SOURCE 2: http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/mountains/volcanoeruptions.html




Volcanic Eruptions
As well as the danger from the hot lava, an erupting volcano can trigger are life threatening things, such as;

-tsunamis
-flash floods
-earthquakes
-mud flows
-rock falls.

Volcanoes can have a very serious effect on the lands and people around them when they erupt.
-Buildings are destroyed and people are made homeless.
-People are killed.
-Clouds of ash cover plants making them inedible.
-Poisonous gases kill people and animals.
-Dust causes pneumonia and illnesses to the survivors.
-Dark skies, severe winds and heavy rains may follow an eruption for months afterwards.


One in 10 people in the world live within 'danger range' of an active volcano.
People can get used to living near a volcano, but it is always a little dangerous.
Scientists have estimated that at least 200,000 persons have lost their lives as a result of volcanic eruptions during the last 500 years.
People set up homes on the slopes of volcanoes because of the rich, fertile soil produced, for farming.