Volcano Features and What They Erupt
Understanding volcanoes becomes much easier once you know their basic parts. The crater is that massive bowl shape you see at the top, whilst the main vent acts like the volcano's throat - it's the weak spot in Earth's crust where all the action happens. Some volcanoes even have secondary vents, which are like extra escape routes for the molten rock.
Deep underground, there's a magma chamber - think of it as a giant underground lake of liquid rock just waiting to escape. When this magma finally reaches the surface, we call it lava.
But volcanoes don't just spit out lava. They create ash clouds filled with tiny rock particles and gases, hurl out volcanic bombs (chunks of rock), and sometimes produce terrifying pyroclastic flows - basically superhot avalanches of ash, rock and gas that can reach over 400°C. Now you know why people evacuate when volcanoes get grumpy!
Quick Tip: Remember that magma becomes lava once it reaches the surface - same stuff, different name!