Volcanoes, volcanic activity, and geological formations
Mount Vesuvius in Italy is famous for its eruption in 79 CE that buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest mountain on Earth when measured from its base on the ocean floor.
The Ring of Fire contains about 75% of the world's active volcanoes.
Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes and are formed by fluid lava flows, like those in Hawaii.
Stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes) are steep-sided and built from layers of lava and ash.
Krakatoa (Krakatau) in Indonesia erupted in 1883, one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history.
Mount Fuji in Japan is an iconic stratovolcano and the country's highest peak.
Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, making it one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
Calderas are large volcanic craters formed by the collapse of a volcano after a major eruption.
Hot spots are areas of intense volcanic activity, often far from plate boundaries, like Hawaii.
Volcanic ash can travel great distances and affect air travel and climate.
Lava flows can destroy everything in their path but also create new land.
Pyroclastic flows are fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic matter that are extremely dangerous.
Volcanic soil is often very fertile, making volcanic regions important for agriculture.
Geysers and hot springs are surface features related to volcanic activity and geothermal energy.