Volcanoes: Mountains That Can Explode

Lexile: 860 | Grade: 5

Passage

Most mountains stay still. But some have the power to shake, rumble, and erupt. These are volcanoes—openings in the Earth’s surface where molten rock, gases, and ash escape from deep underground.

Volcanoes form near cracks in the Earth’s crust, often where tectonic plates meet. Beneath the crust is a layer called the mantle, where rock melts into **magma** because of extreme heat and pressure. When magma rises to the surface, it can cause an eruption.

Some eruptions are gentle, with lava flowing slowly down the sides. Others are violent, sending ash clouds high into the sky and covering nearby land in thick layers of rock and dust.

Volcanic eruptions can be dangerous. They can destroy homes, block sunlight, and even change weather patterns. But volcanoes also help create new land. Many islands, like Hawaii, were formed by underwater eruptions over millions of years.

Scientists called **volcanologists** study volcanoes to better understand how they work and to warn people when one might erupt. Today, they use tools like seismometers to measure ground movement and satellites to track changes in temperature and shape.

Although volcanoes can be powerful and scary, they are also a natural part of Earth’s cycle of change. They remind us that the ground beneath our feet is always moving—even when we can’t feel it.