What are volcanoes fun facts?

More than 80% of the earth’s surface is volcanic in origin. The sea floor and some mountains were formed by countless volcanic eruptions. Gaseous emissions from volcano formed the earth’s atmosphere. There are more than 500 active volcanoes in the world.

What are volcanoes for kids information?

A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock below the surface of the earth. When pressure builds up, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot up through the opening and spill over or fill the air with lava fragments.

What are 3 good things about volcanoes?

Volcanoes can provide people with many benefits such as:

• volcanic rock and ash provide fertile land which results in a higher crop yield for farmers.
• tourists are attracted to the volcano, which increases money to the local economy.
• geothermal energy can be harnessed, which provides free electricity for locals.

Why are volcanoes important?

Despite their reputation as destructive forces, volcanoes actually were critical to the development of life on Earth. Without volcanoes, most of Earth’s water would still be trapped in the crust and mantle. Besides water and air, volcanoes are responsible for land, another necessity for many life forms.

How do volcanoes erupt kids facts?

Volcanoes form when magma travels from the Earth’s upper mantle to its surface. Pressure builds up inside the volcano and pushes magma through cracks in it. When the magma reaches the surface it erupts. Lava, steam, gaseous sulfur compounds, ash and broken rocks can come out of a volcano when it erupts.

Why do we need volcanoes?

Put simply, volcanoes keep the Earth warm and wet, which are two critical elements for sustaining life. Scientists wanted to know how volcanoes played a role in planetary formation elsewhere in the solar system, and how they could have the potential for underground life.

How many volcanoes are in the world?

There are about 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, aside from the continuous belts of volcanoes on the ocean floor at spreading centers like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. About 500 of those 1,350 volcanoes have erupted in historical time.

Do any animals live in volcanoes?

You can find bears, rabbits, rodents, and bobcats running around. There are a greater variety of animals in these ecosystems because of their accessibility. Still, animals who settle there evolved to survive in these volcanic locations.