How Do Volcanoes Shape the Earth's Surface?

Imagine a giant cake maker inside the Earth. When it bakes, it pushes out hot lava like batter. This lava cools and becomes new land, like when you make cookies and they spread out on the tray. Volcanoes do something similar to shape mountains, islands, and even whole continents.

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Examples

A volcano erupts and covers a field with red hot lava, creating new land that will one day become a forest.
A volcano erupts underwater, forming an island that kids can swim to.
Volcanoes build up layers of ash over time, like stacking cookies in a jar.

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Categories: Science · volcanology,geology,earth science