Fire from the Earth

A volcano is an opening in the Earth's surface where hot melted rock, called magma, can escape from deep underground. When a volcano erupts, it can throw ash, gas, and burning rock high into the air. Once the melted rock reaches the surface, it is called lava, and it slowly destroys everything in its path. Although volcanoes are very dangerous, they are also useful in surprising ways. Over time, the ash makes the soil around them extremely rich, so farmers can grow excellent crops there. Volcanoes also created many of the islands we see in the ocean today. Scientists study them carefully to warn people before an eruption happens.