What are composite volcanoes?

Composite volcanoes are big mountains made by layers of rock and lava from many eruptions over time.

Imagine you're building a tower with blocks, sometimes you stack big blocks on top of each other, and sometimes you add smaller ones in between. A composite volcano is like that tower, but instead of blocks, it uses lava, ash, and rock from different eruptions.

Each time the volcano erupts, it adds a new layer to its shape, just like adding another floor to your block tower. Some eruptions are loud and explosive, sending ash high into the sky, while others are quiet, letting lava flow slowly down the sides.

Mount Fuji in Japan is a famous composite volcano. It looks like a perfect cone because it has many layers of rock and lava from hundreds of eruptions over thousands of years, just like stacking blocks one after another to make a tall, strong tower.