On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging, and because most of Earth's plate boundaries are underwater, most volcanoes are found underwater.

Volcanoes are openings, or vents where lava, tephra (small rocks), and steam erupt onto the Earth's surface. Volcanic eruptions can last days, months, or even years.

Jan 8, 2026 · Strictly speaking, the term volcano means the vent from which magma and other substances erupt to the surface, but it can also refer to the landform created by the accumulation of …

The most well-known types of volcanoes are cinder cones, composite volcanoes (stratovolcanoes), and shield volcanoes. The illustration below provides an example of the difference in size between shield, …

May 21, 2025 · Volcanoes are classified as active, dormant, or extinct. Active volcanoes have a recent history of eruptions; they are likely to erupt again. Dormant volcanoes have not erupted for a very …

Feb 25, 2025 · Discover interesting facts about volcanoes, including why and where they form and history's deadliest eruption.

Volcanoes are Earth’s geologic architects. They’ve created more than 80 percent of our planet’s surface, laying the foundation that has allowed life to thrive. Their explosive force crafts...

Information from these reports, along with content from scientific studies and other sources, is compiled in the Volcanoes of the World database, a catalog of Holocene and Pleistocene volcanoes and their …

4 days ago · There are about 170 potentially active volcanoes in the U.S. The mission of the USGS Volcano Hazards Program is to enhance public safety and minimize social and economic disruption …

Jun 18, 2025 · You might want to check out a complete list of super volcanoes. These massive natural wonders have the power to alter the planet's climate and trigger global catastrophes. Unlike your …