How Does a Volcano Erupt and What Happens After?

A volcano erupts when hot stuff inside the Earth comes rushing out like a magical explosion.

Imagine the Earth is like a giant cake, and deep inside it are lava, gas, and magma (which is like lava that’s still underground). These things are super hot, almost like fire. When pressure builds up inside the Earth, it’s like when you shake a bottle of soda and then open it, fizz! The magma pushes through cracks in the ground until it finally bursts out as lava.

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After a volcano erupts, the lava cools down and becomes rock, creating new land. Sometimes, big eruptions can send ash high into the sky, like smoke from a fire. This ash can travel far away, covering nearby areas in a gray blanket. People might have to wear masks or even leave their homes for a while.

Sometimes, after the lava stops flowing, it becomes quiet again, but volcanoes never really sleep forever. They just take naps!