Volcanoes are both horrendous in their destructive power and fascinating in how they alter landscapes. While there are many types of eruptions, volcanoes themselves fall into two general categories:
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•shield volcanoes - very tall, but very very wide, dome shaped volcanoes caused by fast-flowing lava;
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•stratovolcanoes - the classic, conical-shaped volcano formed by alternating layers of ash and lava.
A caldera, on the other hand is a volcano that has eroded and collapsed in on itself, leaving what we often call a ‘crater’.
Studying volcanoes reveals much about what is going on underground in Earth’s crust and mantle.
