TRIVIA

A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock below the
surface of the earth. When pressure builds up, eruptions occur.

In an eruption, gases and rock shoot up through the opening and spill over or fill the air
with lava fragments. Eruptions can cause lava flows, hot ash flows, mudslides, avalanches,
falling ash and floods.

The danger area around a volcano covers about a 20-mile radius.

Fresh volcanic ash, made of pulverized rock, can be harsh, acidic, gritty, glassy and
smelly. The ash can cause damage to the lungs of older people, babies and people with
respiratory problems.

Volcanic lightning occurs mostly within the cloud of ash during an eruption, and is
created by the friction of the ash rushing to the surface. Roughly 200 accounts of this lightning
have been witnessed live.

An erupting volcano can trigger tsunamis, flash floods, earthquakes, mudflows and
rockfalls.

More than 80% of the earth's surface is volcanic in origin. The sea floor and some
mountains were formed by countless volcanic eruptions. Gaseous emissions from volcano
formed the earth's atmosphere.

There are more than 500 active volcanoes in the world. More than half of these
volcanoes are part of the "Ring of Fire," a region that encircles the Pacific Ocean.
 Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found mainly in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and
Washington, but the greatest chance of eruptions near areas where many people live is in
Hawaii and Alaska.

The sound of an eruption volcano can be quiet and hissing or explosive and booming.
The loud cracks travel hundreds of miles and do the most damage, including hearing loss and
broken glass.

The most deadly eruptions have occurred in Indonesia, with tens of thousands of lives
lost to starvation, tsunami (as a result of the eruption), ash flows, and mudflows.

The biggest volcanic eruption ever recorded by humans was the explosion of Mount
Tambora on Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, in 1815. It ranked a 7 (or "super-colossal") on the
Volcanic Explosivity Index, the second-highest rating in the index.

The gas and other particles spewed high into the atmosphere during the 1991 eruption
of Mount Pinatubo reduced global temperatures by about 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 degrees
Celsius) during the following year.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the most active on Earth, has been erupting
continuously for more than 29 years, beginning Jan. 3, 1983.

"Lahar" is an Indonesian word that refers to a type of volcanic flow: a mixture of rock
debris and water that originates on the slopes of the volcano. Typically it forms when snow or
ice on a volcano is melted by volcanic material.

Diamonds are the hardest natural substance found on earth

Rubies are the most popular gemstone today.

Geodes are dull balls of igneous or sedimentary rock on the outside, but contain very beautiful
crystals on the inside.

SAFETY TIPS

Have an earthquake readiness plan.

Consult a professional to learn how to make your home sturdier, such as bolting bookcases
to wall studs, installing strong latches on cupboards, and strapping the water heater to wall
studs.
Locate a place in each room of the house that you can go to in case of an earthquake. It
should be a spot where nothing is likely to fall on you, like a doorframe.
Keep a supply of canned food, an up-to-date first aid kit, 3 gallons (11.4 liters) of water per
person, dust masks and goggles, and a working battery-operated radio and flashlights in an
accessible place.
Know how to turn off your gas and water mains.

IF SHAKING BEGINS

Drop down; take cover under a desk or table and hold on.
Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit.
Stay away from bookcases or furniture that can fall on you.
Stay away from windows. In a high-rise building, expect the fire alarms and sprinklers to go
off during a quake.
If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.
If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to
the ground.
If you are in a car, slow down and drive to a clear place. Stay in the car until the shaking
stops.