The Mantle

The mantle is a huge layer inside Earth. It sits between the thin crust on top and the hot core below. The mantle is made of hot rock that can slowly move. It is about 1,800 miles thick, which is most of Earth.

Hot and Slow

The mantle is very hot, reaching thousands of degrees. The rock in the mantle is so hot it can flow like thick syrup, but very slowly. This slow movement takes millions of years. The top part of the mantle is more solid. Deeper down, the rock gets softer and hotter.

Why It Matters

The moving rock in the mantle makes things happen on Earth's surface. It pushes the pieces of the crust around, which causes earthquakes. It also helps create volcanoes when hot rock rises to the top. Mountains form where the mantle pushes the crust together. Earth would be a very quiet place without the mantle.

Fun Facts

• The mantle makes up about 84 percent of Earth's total volume.
• No one has ever drilled all the way through the crust into the mantle.
• The hottest part of the mantle can be over 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Did You Know?

The rock in the mantle moves only a few inches each year, which is about as fast as your fingernails grow.