A volcanic mountains starts out as a simple crack in the Earth called a volcanic vent. Magma erupts out of the ground as lava flows, clouds of ash, and explosions of rock. This material falls back to Earth around the vent, and piles up around it. Over time (and sometimes quite quickly) a volcanic mountain builds up, with the familiar cone shape.
- Volcanism is the eruption of molten rock from inside the Earth to the surface. Volcanism occurs because of Earth’s internal heat, and is associated with tectonic processes and a part of the rock cycle.
- Volcanic eruptions occur when molten lava reaches the surface of the Earth.
- On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging, and most are found underwater.
Example of Volcanic Mountains
- Mount St. Helens in North America
- Mount Kea and Mount Loa in Hawaii
- Pico Teide in the Canary Islands
- Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines
Read also : Effects Of Volcanism
