Is it just us or is it getting hot in here, gang? Prepare to delve into the depths of the earth and uncover these seriously hot volcano facts – if you dare!


Volcano facts

Volcano facts

1. Put simply, a volcano is an opening in the Earth’s surface.

Usually found in a mountain, the opening allows gas, hot magma and ash to escape from beneath the Earth’s crust.

2. The word “volcano” comes from the Roman name “Vulcan”.

“But who was Vulcan?” you might ask. He was the Roman god of fire!


 

Love animals? You’d love our magazine!

Ask your parents to check out Nat Geo Kids magazine!

National Geographic Kids magazine
(AD)

3. Volcanoes are often found at meeting points of “tectonic plates”.

These plates are pieces of the Earth’s surface that fit together just like a jigsaw puzzle.

4. Volcanoes can also occur over “mantle plumes”.

Ever heard of mantle plumes? They’re super-hot areas of rock inside the Earth!

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Volcanoes of Ecuador primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!


5. Approximately 350 million people live within “danger range” of an active volcano.

That means that around one in 20 people live in an area at risk of volcanic activity.

Volcano facts

6. Volcanoes are classified as active, dormant or extinct.

This refers to the amount of volcanic activity. “Active” means there’s regular activity, “dormant” means there’s been recent activity but the volcano is currently quiet, and “extinct” means it’s been so long since the last eruption that it’s unlikely to ever erupt again.

7. Volcanoes can be a variety of shapes.

These geographical wonders come in various shapes and sizes, but there are two main types – composite volcanoes, which are cone-shaped with steep slopes, and shield volcanoes, which are wide with gentle slopes.

8. Magma and lava are two different things!

Magma is the name given to hot liquid rock inside a volcano. Once it leaves the volcano, it’s known as lava.

Psst! Make sure you download our awesome volcano facts infographic – show your friends, family, or stick it on your wall!


9. Volcanoes don’t just occur on land.

They can be found on the ocean floor and under ice caps, too!

10. Lava from a volcano can reach 1,250°C.

If you used a glass thermometer to take the temperature it would melt!

11. The world’s largest active volcano is Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

Standing a whopping 4,169m tall, this geological giant last erupted in 2022.

Volcano facts

12. Volcanoes exist throughout the solar system!

Other planets and moons have volcanoes, too! The largest volcano in our solar system is Olympus Mons, found on Mars.

13. In A.D. 79, the Italian town of Pompeii was destroyed and buried by a volcano called Mount Vesuvius.

Incredibly, the ash deposits preserved the town and the remains of the people within it. Today, it’s one of Italy‘s most popular historical sites!

14. About 1,900 volcanoes on Earth are considered active, likely to explode again. Yikes! 

Most of the world’s active volcanoes are found on the “Ring of Fire“, a 40,000 km horseshoe shaped area of the Pacific Ocean.

15. The loudest sound in recorded history was made by a volcano called Krakatau.

Found in Southeast Asia, when Krakatau erupted in 1883 it released 200 megatrons of energy – that’s the equivalent of 15,000 nuclear bombs. Boom!

Volcano facts

16. Volcanoes can produce rich, fertile land.

Over time, lava and ash break down to produce nutrient-rich soil, great for growing crops! That’s why some people like to set up home on the slopes of a volcano.

17. It’s not just humans that makes use of volcanoes – birds do, too!

Maleo birds bury their eggs in the sand or soil near volcanoes to keep them warm. When the chicks hatch they claw their way up to the surface!


Check out this explosive video, full of exciting facts and information about volcanoes!

Discover other forces of nature with our geography features, including tornado facts, hurricane facts, tsunami facts and more!


What did you think of our volcano facts, gang? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Likes

LEAVE A COMMENT

THANK YOU

Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.

WELL DONE,
YOUR COMMENT
HAS BEEN ADDED!

COMMENTS

  • cool

  • Hazel R

    i got a plus because of u thanks xx

  • nice

    niiiiccceeee

  • Hazel

    Cool

  • Cool

  • masteratyeets123

    cool

  • Liam

    i love volcanos especially in documentaries

  • Tiffany

    Let's take action.

  • Flynn

    Wow

  • Tiffany

    It helps me to learn more about interesting facts.

  • Chloe Betteridge

    I like Volcanoes now Really Cool

  • Tim

    Awesome

  • Tim

  • fdsfghgfdfg

    Cool

  • Moritz

    It helps me when I am searching for interesting facts

  • amber

    nice

  • bentley

  • kariah.grays

    It helps me learn a lot about volcanoes a lot.

  • Kashwini

    Tis cool facts helps me in homework and pop quiz

  • Mamie

    This so helping me do my homework

  • Delilah

  • cool guy

    this helps a LOT

  • cool guy

    this stuff helps me with homework

  • Gdogdizzleboy

  • dusty

  • Rosco

    I love this thing

  • Hope

    Great Facts

  • Rafia

    These are so educational And cool!

  • yui

    good

  • Amelya

    AMAZING FACTS!

  • Mochi uwu

    OMG I LOVE YOUR MAGAZINES OWO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • nice

  • Zihan

    nice

  • alana

    i love it

  • Yayyy

  • Alison

    Thank you for these they really help me on my assignment

  • Alison

    Thank you

  • ron

    cool

  • caiden

    interesting!!!!

  • Wow cool

  • Cassie

    Nice facts

  • Cassie

    Really cool facts

  • Wow

  • Cool

  • Anwar

    WoW

  • johnny.kelllett

  • shawaiz

  • Anonymous

    I think its interesting

  • claire

  • wade

    cool

  • Thelma Lumpkin

    My students enjoyed learning facts about volcanoes. Very interesting!

  • Mr. Hartley

    I love volcanoes!

  • Rory

  • K

  • Emma

    Awesome!

  • Nasha

    nice

  • Futtaim

    Nice

  • Jahmir Mason

    Very interesting. I didn't know some birds lay their eggs near the base of a volcanoe to keep them warm.

  • Cool!

  • elephent

    sooo intresting

  • Milani

    this si information really helped and is very informing to tell readers about the topic

  • jeff

    cool

  • J

    I LOVE IT

  • j

    i love volcanoes

  • Larva

    Wow

  • CHARLIE MORROW!

    amazing facts

  • raf

    omg this is cool

  • Will

    Cool beans

  • Ab

    I love Nokia’s so much I have a subscription

  • Abby

    I love it

  • jeff

    cool magizines

  • Tilly

    I love your magizines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Tilly

    I love your magizines.So I thought your website would be helpful

  • volcan

    great

  • tom

    very cool

  • Cool

    This was good info

  • siena

    hi thank you

  • Patrisha :3

    good help

  • kingston

    wow

  • Dis Lit

  • Jayden

    LIT

  • JOSHIE$

    you guys are the best

  • T.K^̮^

    love dis

  • Lusi

    Woww

  • rubbish

  • lukethebest2

    this is too lit

  • brie

    cool

  • I like chips

    Wow

  • messi

    important and super cool

  • coult

    this was explosively interesting.

  • Gobgogabgalab

    I love books and this basement is a true treasure trove

  • bailey smith

    i love it so much

  • Grayson B

    Awesome!

  • Grayson B

    Wow!

  • Harry Potter

    good

  • Lilli Myers

    We need to save our planet the amount of rubbish floating around is unexeptable

  • Crazygamer2837

    LOL!

  • teetar

    this helped with my geography project

  • wow those facts were really cool

  • Rosie

    I've seen a load of real ones in lanzarote- apparently it was formed as a massive volcano that rose out of the sea! We had a tour around the park and lukily they were inactive; phew!!! I really loved these facts well done!!!

  • Mad Hatter

    Awesome Videos! I loved them! So informative!

  • chat nior

    AWESOME

  • poppy

    volcanoes are awesome but I would be terrified if I saw a real one!

  • Georgia

    AMAZING VOLCANO

  • Tia

    Cool

  • Nathan

    WOW

  • Cooper

    Cool

  • Lily Brazier

    I like volcanoes they're very interesting and i loveeeeeeeeee them!!!!!!!!!!!

  • YourMum123

    I wanna jump into a volcano

  • Skyejohnstone

    This is so so so so so amazing and I'm loving it

  • Olivia Johnstone

    I'm so amazed by this

  • Awesome

  • wow

  • Volcano Scientist

    Volcanoes are interesting

  • tristan

    cool

  • Jayden steele

    Wow I need facts on how volcanoes eurupt

  • Volcanoes are pretty cool but it looks scary

  • Go girl

    Volcanoes are pretty cool

  • Maia

    Volcanos are very dangerous but it has a very good heat .

  • Cool I like it

  • Colby

    Awesome

  • Maia

    I do not like volcanoes but I will like to live by one because it's warm heat will warm my house up

  • Saraya

    Volcanos are the best I like them but I'm sure that I will be scard when I see one.

  • Faye

    Amazing!

  • kyleigh

    amazing

  • Shannon

    Wow

  • KoolKatz4321

    Yay!

  • BLT

    Wow

  • Lovecats

    I love volcanos they are sooo cool

  • perfect information for my volcano project

  • Chicken

    Chicken

  • Edward Usher

    This small line of info has taught me a lot of new information about volcanoes that I didn't know! A very well put together seventeen bits of info. Thank you for making it.

  • Kiera Duff

    They are very interesting and cool

  • Jordyn

    I love volcano. I really want to explore one.

  • hello

    hi

  • Suzla

    Very good for my class

  • lol

    lol

  • wow

  • Luella

    Thanks this is really good because i can use these facts for my volcano science project! Thanks!!

  • isabella

    this is a good for kids that like volcanoes

  • Gouldian

    Volcanoes are awesome. And I read about this explosion in Indonesia (it might have been the one from Krakatau) that was so loud that it woke people up in Western Australia!

  • teacher101

    very handy for my students

  • Violet

    I love volcanoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • TJ

    The fact about the word volcano from a Roman word "Vulcan" the Roman god of fire is actually cool.

  • Oscar

    I LOVE VOLCANOES (except that the fact volcanoes are dangerous)

  • Jon

    Awesome

  • Nik21

    I love the facts about volcanos. did you know that there's a volcano that has blue flames

  • Gerra

    I love this ❤️

  • ruby

    VOLCANOS ARE COOL!

  • Vitor Folda Mezzalira

    the volcanoes has lots of lava

  • Felipe Franzen Bigolin

    The volcanos is cool because of the lava.

  • Dominic

    Cool facts

  • jess

    i want to see a volcano erupt...it'll be awsome!!!!!!!!

  • Annie

    This helped me a lot for my school project!

  • locomotive

    sup NGKids

  • Tanvir

    Where is volcanoes

  • Lauren

    It's a really good website and helps my brother learn more.

  • I love volcanoes!

  • Alisi

    This is really great and is a great and fun website to use. It has lot's of info we can learn from and on a scale from 1 - 10, I give this a 9? Because there is always time for improvement! :)

  • cam

    i love volcanos!

  • ediesco

    volcanos are awsome

  • Faithmarie

    I really love learning about the Earth and this website has really helped me

  • chelsie

    this website is very good for volcanos

  • Chenai

    This website is amazing it has helped me with my homework.it is the best website I will ever come across.

  • deadpool2010

    i do not like volcanos lol

  • RedJewel

    Nice Article! This really helped out when I did my homework! Five Star!!!?

  • DoctorWhoEmily

    Wow this was so cool I learned new things from reading this. I already Know that Mauna Loa Hawaii has the tallest volcano in the earth because it comes all the way from the bottom of the earth.

  • bob22

    hi the video did not work but yay so:):);)

  • weavill

    amazing really useful!

  • dablife

    cant wait till a volcano explodes !

  • xXGraceXx

    Thanks National Geographic Kids! I was able to finish my report on volcanos because of your great facts! Thanks! <3

  • Random21

    So cool information

  • ElianaH

    Lava eruptions are cool!

  • Mckenzie

    My teacher will love this

  • Julia

    AWESOME

  • gbearmango

    Im doing a project about volcanoes at school and this was SOOO helpful. Thanks a lot!

  • alex14632

    hi I think these facts are overrated I m 9 and I know more

  • ferryberry678

    i was do this for school and it helpful cool

  • Ritlynn

    cool this is awesome

  • trin_bae

    These facts are so cool about volcanos

  • Meep

    this was cool I needed it for a school project! Thanks!!!!!

  • Abi-Gabbie

    Super awesome! Learned a ton, I LOVE VOLCANOES!

  • HazzaM

    This is awesome!

  • luyt

    the volcanoes are so cool

  • Girlygg

    Lol so helpful for my project

  • rebecca2029

    i am student in primary school and our teacher sent us home with an essay to write about volcanoes she said we should go on line and look up websites for imformation on the volcanoes and i came acroos this website i clicked on it and found wonderful imformation thank you so much

  • silverturtle

    volcanoes are the coolest natural disaster

  • Monkey-Approved

    This was awesome for my 5th grade class

  • anthonyli

    Thanks I learned a lot in the school

  • lovejen

    gives lots of information but it doesint answer my questions

  • Cool kid

    Cool so cool!

  • commas

    WOW

  • lionel messiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

    lol

  • eeyy

    yyuggugyygyg

  • lol

    lol

  • I_forget

    uuuhhh...

  • dfgsdg

    ok

  • lollololololololololololol

    lol

  • Holly123queen

    Ok

  • popo

    i look wird

  • Anhalese-Bricker

    My mom saw the volcano in Hawaii last week.

  • AndrewYu

    OMG! the ashes look scary and mount st helens ash nearly reached 14 miles per 30 seconds

  • Rasmussen

    BOOM!BOO BOO, BOO, BOOM!

  • cool23

    this is cool

  • Gissele4356

    National Geographic is great these volcano facts help ALOT. I think its REALLY AWSOME and its a website thats OUT OF THIS WORLD.

  • Person_Man

    valcanos r cul!!@@!@!!!!???!@#$%^&%%*&^(*)^#!!!!!????

  • CRAZZYJUTT

    Cool

  • Kyler

    Awesome bro

  • Kyler

    Last take action

  • bob

    cool

  • science101

    this is a good app for me thanks for making it

  • Pickle_and_Peanut_24

    DA BOMB SON!!!!!

  • curry swish goldenstate swiwsh

    pretty cool guys

  • vanessa lopez padiila

    really cool volcano

  • MCIPPLAYANIC11

    This is awsome

  • Sharply

    Cool

  • haillynn

    you doen a great job you helped me pass my test

  • Kathrynn

    Awesomely amaizing!

  • bob

    LOLLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

  • Baile

    AWSOME

  • Gtgghnthhtnh

    Weird

  • Dkdkmdmd

    Weird

  • Boom

    Nice

  • Boom

    Hi

  • georgia

    that is so cool

  • AWESOMEDUDE1989

    AWESOME

  • TipI

    Wow

  • Alexis Flores

    Im writing about volcano. Volcano are very awesome

  • yo -mom

    that is so so so so bad i didnt learn a thing boo -___-

  • yo -mom

    that is really bad

  • nikeisha04

    AMAZING

  • 132

    lolololololololoololol

  • awsome sauce

    hi and cool

  • harry91287763

    ggg

  • harry91287763

    really good

  • horner

    hello friends

  • FrostBlade

    SOOOO COOL!!

  • FrostBlade

    Wicked!

  • Artimus Prime

    AWESOME

  • Pop girl

    Wow

  • rarity

    intresting facts

  • Krisha

    Very informative and cool

  • shahed

    OUTSTANDING!

  • Hip

    Wow

  • MollyANNNNNN

    SICK

  • noe

    these place rocks

  • whhhhat

    SOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOL!

  • lolmo

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Bobby

    I think it is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool

  • zachary_smith

    terrible

  • AWESOMESASSYGURL

    no. just no. why would u even? dead. SO dead.

  • Bob

    U spelt mt vesuvius wrong

  • jasmin

    so cool i love it

  • JGHJFV

    COOL YEAH

  • hzsguw

    lame

  • stampy

    awsome

  • dawidgowin

    wow

  • cutiepoppie

    love it

  • 156006132

    Awsome!!!!!!!! :)

  • Gaberomomoro

    ty

  • Gaberomomoro

    Cool this helped me in my science class

  • Unone

    Epic

  • Aarna

    Cool

  • 2099

    awesome whoa volcano pizza

  • Freya-Dupee95

    It was so helpful for my report

  • CLENDENE_881710

    SO AWSOME

  • light

    this is awsome such cool major eruptions i am bursting wih excitment big facts about volcanoes so cool

  • light

    wow amazing volcanoes havr came to life such amazing major eruptions

  • Adam,Ben and Luke

    Volcano was made from the ground?

  • KAILEYE3

    these volcano facts are explosive!

  • Susan Aarna

    so cool

  • Aarna

    So Cool

  • Aarna

    So so so Cool

  • BIGBADWOLFENDY

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Hehe lol. ;-)

  • starling

    Wow

  • vina

    cool

  • vina

    rubbish

  • vina

    wow

  • Zeddo

    Awesome!

  • hilo

    OMG!

  • hea

    yay

  • Gecko_lover_XD

    Amazing!!!

  • Emma crncevic

    Cool facts they really helped me at school

  • Adnan 01

    Nice job with the video

  • Adnan 01

    Very good and interesting

  • woohoocoolio007

    awsome

More Like Physical Geography

Physical Geography

Tsunami facts: check out the mighty wave!

Learn all about these mammoth forces of nature!
Physical Geography

Structure of the Earth!

Join us on our journey to the centre of the Earth!
Physical Geography

Kids reveal their experiences of the Boxing Day floods

Many children lost their homes, classrooms and playgrounds…
Physical Geography

30 freaky facts about the weather!

A storm’s a-brewin’, gang!