volcanoes

A Volcano is a place in the earth's surface through which molten rock and other materials reach the surface. There are three types of Volcanoes:

1. Cinder Cones- They are made mostly of cinders and rock. They cause explosive eruptions. They have narrow bases and steep sides.

2. Shield Volcanoes- They are made of slow moving lava flows. The lava from a shield volcano is runny, so the lava flows over a large area. A dome shaped mountain is formed after several eruptions.

3. Composite Volcanoes- They are built up of rock particles and lava that alternate. A violent eruption occurs during the formation of a composite volcano. After that a quiet eruption produces a lava flow covering the rock particles. After many eruptions a cone shaped mountain forms.

Volcanoes can also trigger tsunami's, floods, earthquakes, rockfalls, and mudflows. Volcanic eruptions are most likely in the states of Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. The danger area around a volcano covers approximately a 20 mile radius. Some danger may exist 100 miles or more from a volcano, leaving Montana and Wyoming at risk.