Volcanoes can be found all over the world.

There are approximately 1,500 active

volcanoes in the world. The majority of volcanoes are found where tectonic plates
collide. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a path that traces the boundaries, there are around
75% of the planet's volcanoes are located between several tectonic plates in the Pacific
Ocean.
Volcanoes are classified into several types based on their shape and size. The Mayon
Volcano in the Philippines is an example of a strata volcano that appears as a tall steep
mountain. The shield volcanoes are flatter and dome-shaped, similar to the Moana Loa
in the United States. Calderas, on the other hand, are large depressions in the earth's
surface, like Mount Bromo in Indonesia. Lastly, mid-ocean ridges are underwater chains
of volcanic mountains, including the Mid-Atlantic ridge's hydrothermal vent.
All volcanoes emit gas and molten rock, which is also known as magma. Lava, on the
other hand, is magma above the ground that can reach temperatures of 2000 degrees
Fahrenheit. In a phenomenon known as pyroclastic flow, volcanoes can erupt with
searing hot gas formed in the mantle.
Pyroclastic flow is a gas mixed with hot ash that can travel at speeds of up to 100 miles
per hour down the side of a volcano, burning everything in its path. Scientists use the
VEI, or volcanic explosive index, to measure and classify eruptions. It takes into
consideration the volume of lava, gas, and other volcanic emissions.
In 1815, Indonesia experienced the most destructive volcanic eruption in recorded
history. Mount Tambora, a large strata volcano, erupted with a VEI of 7. The explosion
caused earthquakes, tsunamis, and pyroclastic flows, which dispersed the land and
killed tens of thousands of Indonesians. The eruption even destroyed Mount Tambora's
summit, transforming the 13,000-foot-tall mountain into a 3.640-foot-deep caldera.
Volcanoes are the most destructive natural forces, but they also allow life to flourish on
Earth. Volcanic ash adds nutrients to nearby soil, making it fertile. Furthermore, when
lava cools and hardens into a rock, it creates a new landform. Volcanoes helped to
terraform the planet by releasing heat from the earth's core, resulting in the rich,
dynamic landscapes we see today.