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Types of Volcanoes and distribution | UPSC Geography

A Volcano is an opening in the earth through which gases and molten rock materials come outwards. These molten rocks become various types of rocks, and landforms are formed. 

Types Of Volcanoes 

The volcanoes are classified into various types and they are: 

1)Shield Volcanoes 

Shield Volcanoes are those that are not very vertical, but are far wider. The lava in the shield volcanoes flows to a far distance when compared to other volcanoes. They consist of frozen lavas, and they are made of basalt. Shield volcanoes look like a warrior’s shield from the top. They are less explosive in nature. 

2)Cinder Cone Volcanoes 

 Cinder Cone Volcanoes are small volcanoes, and they consist of grainy cinders also called igneous rocks, and no lava. They have very vertical sides and a small crater on the top. 3)Composite volcanoes 

Composite volcanoes are cone-shaped with vertical sides and small craters on the top. The composite volcanoes consist of layers of solid lava that flow out with a mixed element of sand and volcanic rocks like cinders and ash. They are very explosive in nature. 

4)Caldera volcanoes

Caldera volcanoes are the most explosive volcanoes when compared to other volcanoes on the earth. When they erupt they collapse on themselves. The magma chamber is larger than other volcanoes. 

5)Mid-Ocean Ridge Volcanoes 

Mid-Ocean Ridge volcanoes occur underneath the oceans and the areas that surround the oceans. The central portion of this ocean ridge experiences frequent eruptions. They are wrapped around the globe and stretched nearly 65,000 km. 

Distribution of Volcanoes 

1. Volcanoes are not spread across the Earth’s surface randomly. They are found on the margins of continents, island chains, and underneath the ocean. 

2. The volcanoes are spread along divergent borders and they are less violent and more fluid than other volcanoes. 

3. The volcanoes that are found near the continental areas are always explosive in nature. 

4. There are many active volcanoes on this earth, and some of them are considered Hot Spot volcanoes. These volcanoes are peaceful and they are not dangerous. 

Even though most of the volcanoes look quite similar but they are various types of volcanoes and their characteristics and volcanic activity are based on the place and their behavior. Like the extinct volcanoes are not expected to cause any problems in the future.

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