Volcano

:This article is about volcanoes. For the action movie, see Volcano (movie). For other meanings of the word eruption, see eruption (disambiguation)

Related Topics:
Volcano (movie) - Eruption (disambiguation)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A volcano is a geological landform (usually a mountain) where magma (rock of the Earth's interior made molten or liquid by extremely high temperatures along with a reduction in pressure and/or the introduction of water or other volatiles) erupts through the surface of the planet. Although there are numerous volcanoes (some very active) on the solar system's rocky planets and moons, on Earth at least, this phenomenon tends to occur near the boundaries of the continental plates. However, important exceptions exist in hotspot volcanoes.

Related Topics:
Geological landform - Mountain - Magma - Planet - Solar system - Earth - Continental plates - Hotspot volcanoes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The name "volcano" originates from the name of Vulcan, a god of fire in Roman mythology.

Related Topics:
Vulcan - Roman mythology

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The study of volcanoes is called vulcanology (or volcanology in some spellings).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~