volcanoes By: M.Wells

Facts About Volcanoes Volcanoes are mountains that build higher and higher as they erupt. Once a volcano erupts it might produce ash or lava. Volcanoes can make many types of rocks. There are as many 1,500 active volcanoes around the world. The most important volcano in the United States is Mt. Ranier.

Components of a Volcano Parts of a Volcano

Images of Volcanic Rocks Scoria Basalt

Volcanoes Effects on People The Good Parts Volcanoes affect people in many ways, some are good and some are not. Some of the bad ways are that houses, buildings, roads and fields can get covered with ash. As long as you can get the ash off (especially if it is wet), your house may not collapse, but often people leave because of the ash and are not around to continually clean off their roofs. If the ash fall is really heavy it can make it impossible to breathe. The Good Parts The main good effect that volcanoes have on the environment is to provide nutrients to the surrounding soil. Volcanic ash often contains minerals that are beneficial to plants, and if it is very fine ash it is able to break down quickly and get mixed into the soil.

Volcanoes Effects On the Environment

Volcanoes- Key Terms/Definitions Magma Lava Ash Eruption Cloud