Volcano

Normal Information
Volcanoes are regions in the terrain that in which lava and gasses can come out. They can come in numerous different shapes and intensities.

Facts
A volcano is rated on the VEI scale, or the Volcanic Explosivity Index. This scale ranges from 1 to 8. 1 is a very nonexplosive eruption, and is known as "Gentle." VEI 5 is similar to the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. However, VEI 8, or Mega Colossal, is also known as a Supervolcanic Eruption. A supervolcanic eruption is an extremely rare but powerful version of a volcanic eruption. Unlike normal volcanoes, supervolcanoes usually are calderas, which look similar to meteorite craters. There are numerous types of normal volcanoes. Different volcanoes have different threats, from lava flows to massive electric ash thunderstorms.

Fun Facts

 * Three volcanoes are erupting somewhere as you are reading this
 * Mount Tambora is mistaken as a supervolcano, but it is not
 * Volcanoes have 3 states: Active, Dormant, and Extinct. Active volcanoes are volcanoes that erupted recently and have magma in their magma chamber. Dormant volcanoes are volcanoes that have erupted a long time ago and are able to erupt again. Extinct volcanoes are volcanoes that have a depleted magma chamber or are completely destroyed and can never erupt again.
 * Strong eruptions can cause volcanic winter, which is caused by ash that blocks out sunlight, which lowers temperatures
 * A volcano was responsible for an extinction around 200 million years ago or so
 * Volcanoes can cause tsunamis
 * It is possible that a hyper-volcanic eruption could occur, which is many times stronger than a super-volcano and about 1,000 times more powerful than the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980!