Types of Volcanoes

Not all volcanoes look the same. Some are tall with steep sides. Others are wide and flat. The shape of a volcano depends on the type of lava it produces and how it erupts. Scientists have identified three main types of volcanoes.

Shield and Cinder Cone Volcanoes

Shield volcanoes are wide and flat, like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. They form from runny lava that flows a long way before hardening. The volcanoes in Hawaii are shield volcanoes. Cinder cone volcanoes are small and steep. They form when chunks of lava shoot into the air and pile up around the opening.

Composite Volcanoes

Composite volcanoes are the tall, classic-shaped volcanoes. They are also called stratovolcanoes. They are built from layers of lava and ash over many eruptions. Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount St. Helens in Washington are composite volcanoes. These volcanoes can have very explosive eruptions.

Fun Facts

• Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the world's largest shield volcano. It is so big that it makes up half the island.
• There are about 1,500 active volcanoes on Earth, plus many more under the ocean.
• The tallest volcano in the solar system is Olympus Mons on Mars, which is about 72,000 feet tall.

Did You Know?

Some volcanoes form underwater and can grow so tall they poke above the ocean surface to create new islands. The Hawaiian Islands were all formed this way over millions of years!