3/31/23, 9:51 PM What is Lava | Volcanic Lava | DK Find Out

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Lava
When hot, liquid rock (magma) erupts from a volcano onto Earth’s surface it is
called lava. If there is pressure inside the volcano, this red-hot, glowing liquid may
spurt up into the air like a fountain. If there is less pressure, the lava may flow out
of the volcano’s vent (opening) or seep out of a crack in the ground called a
fissure. Most of the lava then runs down the side of the volcano like a hot, glowing
river. This is called a lava flow. As the lava cools, the flow slows down and
thickens, before it stops and eventually turns back into solid rock. 

Volcanic lava can be up to 12 times hotter than

boiling water.

Take the volcanoes quiz

Types of lava

Lava flow

s of lava

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