2. Relief
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Volcanic eruptions vary. Sometimes the lava comes out slowly and sometimes it comes
out through violent explosions. Violent explosions are the most common and the most
dangerous and unpredictable. They cause destruction in the area affected, from the
burning ash, the lava flows and the dangerous gases that are emitted.
When volcanoes have not been active for more than 100 years, they are called dormant
volcanoes, but they can become active at any moment.
There are not many major volcanoes on the Iberian Peninsula, but the Canary Islands
are all volcanic, especially Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. In 2012, a submarine volcano
began to form off the island of El Hierro.
Eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy
TYPES OF VOLCANOES
Hawaiian
Hawaiian eruptions are the calmest
volcanic eruptions. They don’t produce
explosions and have very fluid lava
flows. They are typical of the Hawaiian
Islands. Examples: Mauna Kea, Mauna
Los and Kilauea.
Vulcanian
These eruptions produced violent explosions
that eject volcanic bombs and ash. Example:
Vulcano (Lipari Islands, Italy).
Vesuvian
These eruptions produce violent explosions
which form a large column of ash and gas.
Examples: Vesuvius (Italy) and Fujiama (Japan).
Stromboli
These are relatively low level, sporadic
eruptions with a lot of gases and fluid
lava which elevates the volcanic cone
when it solidifies. Examples: Stromboli
(Italy) and Teneguía (La Palma island, the
Canaries)
Pelean
Pelean eruptions are very violent. They
raise a dense dome of lava that solidifies
on the crater and eject burning clouds
of ash and gas. Examples: Mount Pele
(Martinique) and Krakatoa (Indonesia).
