What is a volcano and how does it form?
Volcanoes are found all around the world. They can be located on many different continents and in many different types of climates. The formation of a volcano begins in the mantle of the Earth. Inside the volcano deep down in the mantle is a magma chamber. The magma chamber of a volcano is where magma is formed and gathered. When magma becomes extremely heated and is put under pressure, it begins to escape upwards through the central vent of the volcano and sometimes through the weak sides.
When magma gushes out of weak spots on the outside of the volcano or out of the top of the volcano, it is called an eruption. An eruption is like opening a can of shaken soda. In a can of soda, bubbles of gas separate from the liquid and force the liquid out, just like the gas and pressure force the magma out of the volcano. When magma erupts from the volcano, it turns into lava.
Lava is made up of materials like ash, cinders, and hot, molten rock. As lava cools and hardens, it becomes something called igneous rock . The igneous rock that is formed from lava builds up over time. If the rock builds high enough, it can form a mountain or an island form. Sometimes, volcanoes cause dangerous changes in the landscape of our Earth.