Introduction

The volcanoes are erupting! The magma is hot and the lava is flowing! Grab your fire retardant suit and head for the nearest crater. Volcanoes are a major force in shaping the Earth's surface and creating new land. This site will take you to volcanoes both present and past, offer fun activities and challenging quizes to test your knowledge. Follow the links on this page to find the answers to the questions that follow, but don't loose site of the big question or you might end up near the edge of a calderra. Have fun and stay cool!

Questions

1. What is the name of the volcano that experienced a violent eruption in the United States in 1980?
   
   
2. What are the three different types of volcanoes called?
   
   
3. What is the biggest volcano on Earth?
   
   
4. Where does magma come from?
   
   
5. What type of volcanic flows are the most dangerous and why?
   
   
6. What is the name of the bowl-like opening in the volcano?
   
   
7. How would the theory of plate tectonics explain how a typical volcano functions?
   
   
8. What is the molten rock within the Earth's surface called?
   
   
9. What do we call a magma chamber that has collapsed?
   
   
10. Explain the relationship between volcanic eruptions and movements of the Earth's plates.
    
    

The Internet Resources

• Exploding Volcanoes
• Volcano World Index
• Volcano World
• Volcano! Earth Science Lesson Plan. Discovery Kids
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• How Volcanoes Work
• Enchanted Learning: Volcanoes
• National Geographic Expeditions in Geography
• Understanding Volcanoes
• Volcano World Kid Quiz

The Big Question

What influence have volcanoes played in the formation of the Earth's surface over time? How do we explain these forces? Where are some of the active volcanoes located in the world today and what are they made up of?