Volcanoes Facts for Kids

Lava tubes are hollow tunnels left behind after lava drains away — some are big enough to walk through.

Stratovolcanoes like Mount St. Helens are the most dangerous type because they erupt explosively with very little warning.

Volcanic eruptions helped create Earth's early atmosphere by releasing gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

The largest volcanic eruption in recorded human history was Mount Tambora in 1815, which ejected 36 cubic miles of rock.

Ancient Romans mixed volcanic ash with lime to make concrete so strong that their buildings are still standing 2,000 years later.

Cinder cone volcanoes are the simplest and smallest type — some are only a few hundred feet tall.

Volcanologists wear special heat-resistant suits so they can study lava and volcanic gases up close.

Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the largest active volcano on Earth, covering about half of the Big Island.

Large volcanic eruptions can temporarily cool the entire planet by blocking sunlight with ash and sulfur in the atmosphere.

Most volcanoes form at the edges of tectonic plates where Earth's crust is being pushed together or pulled apart.