Volcanoes Facts for Kids

The Pacific Ring of Fire is home to about 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes — roughly 450.

Kilauea in Hawaii is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth and has been erupting on and off since 1983.

Volcanic ash can travel around the entire world — after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, ash circled the globe.

Volcanoes can create brand-new islands — the island of Surtsey near Iceland was born from an underwater eruption in 1963.

Some lava flows move slower than a snail — thick lava can creep along at just a few feet per day.

When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, it flattened 230 square miles of forest in just a few minutes.

Iceland has volcanoes that erupt under glaciers, causing massive floods of meltwater called jökulhlaups.

Shield volcanoes, like those in Hawaii, are wide and flat like a warrior's shield because their lava flows long distances.

The word "volcano" comes from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, whose forge was believed to be under Mount Etna.

The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was so loud it was heard nearly 3,000 miles away — the loudest sound in recorded history.