Psssst, it's me, Diddley! You can't see me, but I'm here, hiding behind this
volcano wall just in case it erupts. Since that was one of the theories of my extinction, I'm not taking any chances of getting too close!




This is our earth. If you can imagine it as a layer cake with a slice taken out of it, these are what each layer would be.
The top layer is called the CRUST. It's the part we live on and is about 18 miles thick. In the crust there are cracks called PLATES and are always moving.
These plates are really boundry lines that divide our continents, sort of like a jig saw puzzle.
The second layer is called the MANTLE and it is about 1,800 miles thick.
The last layer is called the CORE.

The further down through each layer we travel, it get warmer and warmer heating up to about 7,000 degrees.
Between the crust and the mantle is a substance called MAGMA which is made of rock and gases.
Because the plates are always moving, they create friction that heats the magma. The gas bubbles want to get away from the hot rock so they get bigger and bigger from the heat until finally they escape out through a vent in the earth and this is called a VOLCANIC ERUPTION.
The gas bubbles also carry out molten rock which is called LAVA and once cooled it becomes hard rock that forms mountains.



There are 3 different volcano shapes. The shape it becomes, depends on what kind of lava came from it and how it ran.
CONE SHAPE, also called STRATA volcanos such as Mt. Fuji in Japan, a beautiful snow topped mountain.
SHIELD volcanos that looked sort of like an upside down saucer. A very big one is named Mauna Loa, in the Hawaiian Islands.
The 3rd is called CINDER CONE volcanos that sort of looks like a cup with columns on the side.
Two of these kind are in Britain, Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland and Fingal's Cave in Scotland.

There are also 3 different types of volcanos.
ACTIVE, meaning the eruptions can be anytime and often.
DORMANT, meaning it has been a while since it has erupted, but could at anytime.
EXTINCT, meaning it hasn't erupted in a very long, long time so it probably won't ever again.
However, scientists have been fooled!



Volcanos are found all over the world, on every continent with the exception of Australia, and sit in odd positions.
For instance in North America, they are only found on the Western side of the country.
In Europe they are found mostly in the central Mediterranean area.
Volcanos are also under the Ocean where they first erupt and eventually become bigger and bigger until they form
islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands, Surtsey and Tristan da Cunha.



There are different kinds of eruptions and this depends on how strong they are.
VULCANIAN are violent and gush out dust, gas, and ash.
PELEEANs are huge and gushes out a cloud of lava and gas.
HAWAIIAN ones are kind of quiet and consists of liqid lava and flows in fiery rivers.
The last kind is a STROMBOLIAN, also rather quiet but constant and pours out a thicker lava than the other kinds.



Volcanos aren't just scary and dangerous, they are also very useful. Here are just some of the things we get from them.
FARMLAND. Because some lava from many years ago has broken down, it makes the soil very rich is some places such as Indonesia, India and Italy.
JEWELRY, such as gold and silver found in volcanic rocks in places like North and South America.
COPPER. From areas in Montana, USA and Chile.
HOT WATER. Sometimes in places like New Zealand, the gases and magma don't always erupt.
The gas flows quietly through the crust of the Earth getting closer to the surface where it heats the water that's in the ground, producing what is called a GEYSER.
Lot's of things we use at home are made from crushed stone from the volcano, such as toothpaste, cleanser, make up and other things.
Roadways also contain material from the crushed stone.



Well, I certainly hope you learned something from the information I brought back from my visits and I'm happy you were here.
When I returned, I visited with my friend from school to talk about volcanos and wanted to share with you what my friend had to say about them.

"They can burn anything in their path. If you pour a lot of water on the lava, it will turn to stone. If you get close to volcanos, you have to be careful if they are going to erupt. Volcanos are mountains with lava inside and they have a big hole in the middle at the top."

I'd say, that pretty much sums it all up!



Since I'm hiding and my dino pal "Brach" is more brave than I, he will present my guestbook for you to come say hi to me and tell me what you know about volcanos!