What is Runny lava?

Runny lava is lava that flows easily, like syrup or honey on a warm day.

Imagine you're pouring your favorite juice from a tall glass into a cup, it moves smoothly and doesn’t stick to the sides too much. That’s kind of what runny lava does when it comes out of a volcano. It spreads out slowly but keeps moving, covering the ground around the volcano.

Lava is made of hot rock that melted from deep inside the Earth. When it's runny, it means it has less stuff mixed in that makes it thick or sticky. Think of it like having a smoothie versus a chunky fruit salad, the smoothie flows easier.

If lava is runny, it can travel farther before cooling down and turning solid again. Sometimes, you can even walk on it if it's not too hot!

Runny lava might look like a slow-moving river of fire, glowing red or orange. It doesn’t jump around or puff up, it just keeps flowing, making new land or covering old ones, one smooth step at a time.