Did you know that a volcano is a conduit that communicates between an internal and an external tectonic plate? The internal tectonic plate reaches a very high temperature becoming what we know as magna, which then emerges through the surface and explodes. Volcanic eruptions are a slow and silent process, so it can take years for an event of this magnitude to occur.
A recent example of a volcanic eruption is the Kilauea volcano, located on the main Hawaiian island. It is a type of volcano with recurring eruptions that can last millions of years. Thanks to the successive shield eruptions of volcanos, the Hawaiian Islands were formed, and the biggest Hawaiian island continues to expand.
Here you have some fun facts about volcanos:
- The world’s largest volcano at 13,000 feet above sea level is Mauna Loa and it’s located in Hawaii.
- Volcanic eruptions can send ash up to 30 kilometers into the air.
- The internal temperature of a volcano can reach 1000ºC but the lava can reach up to 1200ºC when it reaches the surface
- There are approximately 10 to 20 volcanic eruptions per day on Earth.
- There are approximately 1,500 active volcanos on Earth, and most are found at the bottom of the ocean.
- Italy is the European country with the most active volcanos, it has 14 in total.
- The only rock in the world that can float in water is a volcanic stone, known as a pumice stone.
- Large volcanic eruptions can reflect solar radiation and lower the Earth’s temperature by several degrees.
- There is an area in the Pacific Ocean known as the Ring of Fire because most of the planet’s volcanoes are concentrated there.
- The soil in the areas near volcanoes is very rich and fertile, for this reason, there are people who build their houses next to volcanoes.
At Nutty Scientists, we have different workshops and scientific shows in which children will learn about different interesting geological phenomena such as volcanos through fun experiments and demonstrations.
