When you think of a volcano, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Streams of red, steaming-hot lava pouring over the sides? Dark clouds of ash rising high into the sky? Maybe you think of a relaxing hot spring? Well, we all imagine one thing: a cone-shaped mountain looming over the horizon. But it can be as green and lush as any other mountain! At the top, of course, there’s a giant hole. Like an opening that goes all the way down…

Inside, there’s lava and gases being pushed outside. Lava is so hot that if you were standing at the top of the volcano and looked down, your face would feel as red as the color of that liquid rock oozing out! A volcanic eruption never comes without consequences for us. And I’m not just talking about people living nearby. The impacts are usually felt on a global scale too! For example, planes can’t fly for a while because of the blanket of ash released in the air. But what if there were never any volcanoes at all? Would Earth still be the same?

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