Volcanoes Facts for Kids

Mount Fuji in Japan is both an active volcano and a sacred site — it last erupted in 1707.

The most common gas released by volcanoes is water vapor — not the toxic gases you might expect.

Scientists believe much of Earth's ocean water originally came from volcanic eruptions billions of years ago.

Bizarre creatures like tube worms and eyeless shrimp live near underwater volcanic vents in total darkness.

Pyroclastic flows — clouds of hot gas and rock — can race down a volcano at over 450 miles per hour.

Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed Pompeii, is still active today with 3 million people living nearby.

When a volcano's crater fills with rainwater, it becomes a crater lake — Crater Lake in Oregon is 1,943 feet deep.

Most diamonds reach Earth's surface through deep volcanic pipes called kimberlites that erupt from 90 miles underground.

The 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga was so powerful its shockwave circled the Earth multiple times and was detected from space.

The Hawaiian Islands are a chain of volcanic islands formed as the Pacific tectonic plate moved over a hotspot in Earth's mantle.