{"id":234,"date":"2025-05-30T09:00:42","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T09:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/natgeokids.com?p=234"},"modified":"2025-07-01T16:25:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T16:25:08","slug":"volcano-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/nz\/discover\/geography\/physical-geography\/volcano-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"17 explosive volcano facts!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is it just us or is it getting hot in here, gang? Prepare to delve into the depths of the earth and uncover these seriously hot volcano facts – if you dare!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Volcano facts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
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1.<\/strong> Put simply, a volcano is an opening in the Earth’s surface. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Usually found in a mountain, the opening allows gas, hot magma and ash<\/strong> to escape from beneath the Earth’s crust<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.<\/strong> The word “volcano” comes from the Roman name “Vulcan”.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“But who was Vulcan?”<\/em> you might ask. He was the Roman<\/a> god of fire<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Volcanoes are often found at meeting points of \u201ctectonic plates\u201d. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These plates are pieces of the Earth\u2019s surface<\/a><\/strong> that fit together just like a jigsaw puzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.<\/strong> Volcanoes can also occur over “mantle plumes”.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ever heard of mantle plumes<\/strong>? They’re super-hot areas of rock<\/strong> inside the Earth!

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Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Volcanoes of Ecuador primary resource<\/a>? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!<\/em>
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5.<\/strong> Approximately 350 million people live within \u201cdanger range\u201d of an active volcano.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

That means that around one in 20 people<\/strong> live in an area at risk of volcanic activity. <\/p>\n\n\n

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6.<\/strong> Volcanoes are classified as active, dormant or extinct.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This refers to the amount of volcanic activity. “Active<\/strong>” means there’s regular activity, “dormant<\/strong>” means there’s been recent activity but the volcano is currently quiet, and \u201cextinct<\/strong>\u201d means it’s been so long since the last eruption that it\u2019s unlikely to ever erupt again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Volcanoes can be a variety of shapes.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These geographical wonders come in various shapes and sizes, but there are two main types – composite volcanoes<\/strong>, which are cone-shaped with steep slopes, and shield volcanoes<\/strong>, which are wide with gentle slopes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. <\/strong>Magma and lava are two different things! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Magma <\/strong>is the name given to hot liquid rock inside<\/em> a volcano<\/strong>. Once it leaves the volcano, it\u2019s known as lava<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Psst!<\/em> Make sure you download our awesome volcano facts infographic<\/a> \u2013 show your friends, family, or stick it on your wall!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n


9.<\/strong> Volcanoes don\u2019t just occur on land.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They can be found on the ocean<\/a> floor <\/strong>and under ice caps<\/strong>, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.<\/strong> Lava from a volcano can reach 1,250\u00b0C.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you used a glass thermometer to take the temperature it would melt!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11.<\/strong> The world\u2019s largest active volcano is Mauna Loa in Hawaii. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Standing a whopping 4,169m tall<\/strong>, this geological giant last erupted in 2022<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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12. Volcanoes exist throughout the solar system!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Other planets and moons have volcanoes, too! The largest volcano in our solar system<\/strong><\/a> is Olympus Mons<\/strong>, found on Mars<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

13.<\/strong> In A.D. 79, the Italian town of Pompeii was destroyed and buried by a volcano called Mount Vesuvius. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Incredibly, the ash deposits preserved the town<\/strong> and the remains of the people within it. Today, it’s one of Italy<\/a><\/strong>‘s most popular historical sites!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14.<\/strong> About 1,900 volcanoes on Earth are considered active, likely to explode again. Yikes! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most of the world’s active volcanoes are found on the “Ring of Fire<\/strong>“, a 40,000 km<\/strong> horseshoe shaped area of the Pacific Ocean<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

15.<\/strong> The loudest sound in recorded history was made by a volcano called Krakatau. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Found in Southeast Asia<\/strong>, when Krakatau erupted in 1883 <\/strong>it released 200 megatrons of energy<\/strong> – that’s the equivalent of 15,000 nuclear bombs<\/strong>. Boom!<\/p>\n\n\n

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16.<\/strong> Volcanoes can produce rich, fertile land. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Over time, lava and ash break down to produce nutrient-rich soil<\/strong>, great for growing crops! That’s why some people like to set up home on the slopes of a volcano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17.<\/strong> It\u2019s not just humans that makes use of volcanoes – birds do, too! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maleo birds<\/strong> bury their eggs in the sand or soil near volcanoes to keep them warm<\/strong>. When the chicks hatch they claw their way up to the surface!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Check out this explosive video, full of exciting facts and information about volcanoes!<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n