Cinder Cone:These volcanoes are formed from violent eruptions. that throw ash and cinders into the air. The ashes pile up as loose materiel. Since it is loose materiel they are not very high, but has steep sides. Try this, go into a sandbox and take a shovel. Scoop some sand into the shovel and pour it into one pile from about 13 inches above the sand. Watch how it piles up. Notice that it canÕt get to high before the sand slips and it colapses.

Shield Volcanoes: These volcanoes are composed of lava flows.Since these lava flows are runny they cover a lot of land. After a few of these eruptions a dome-shaped volcano is formed. These volcanoes are generally not very steep, but large. The largest is Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa is four kilometers above sea level.

Composite Volcanoes: These volcanoes are a combination of cinder and sheild. It is made up of alternating layers of lava and rock particles. When this volcano is being formed a huge eruptions occurs. This eruption throws out volcanic bombs, cinders, and ash. Then as if it were a train and running out of steam, a small eruption follows. This eruption makes a lava cap that covers the rock particles. After many of these cycles a cone shaped mountain forms. These volcanoes often have a funnel shaped pit at the top. This pit is called a crater. If it becomes fairly large as a result of the walls collapsing, it is called a caldera.

Submarine Volcanoes: These volcanoes are common on some parts of the ocean floor. Some are active at the present day. Submarine volcanoes erupt the same way that volcanoes on land do. The submarine volcanoes blast steam, rocks, and debris to the top of the ocean surface. Many more volcanoes are at the bottom of the ocean, though they are not active because the water pressure is too high.