Before looking into the question of how are volcanoes formed, it can be helpful to know what a volcano actually is. Basically, it is a space that allows molten rock called magma to rise from under the Earth to its surface. When this magma erupts from a volcano, it is known as lava. This is the substance that forms the cone around the space.

If a volcano is erupting with lava, it is considered to be active. A volcano that has had no eruptions in many years but may do so again at some point is called dormant. A volcano is extinct if it has been dormant for longer than 10,000 years.

All volcanoes are not alike. Some of them may have cone shapes that are perfect and others have deep water filled depressions. The characteristics of a volcano come from the size and kind of the eruption. These elements help shape the volcano.

As for how are volcanoes formed, it is not quite as complicated as it may seem. Mos of them happen where 2 plates meet. If these 2 plates move away from each other, it leaves a gap. This allows the lava to bubble up between them. This volcano is on the floor of the ocean and invisible for the most part. The amount of magma has to be quite large before it can rise above the surface of the ocean. When that happens, it makes an island.

Another less common way that volcanoes are formed is with the collision of 2 plates when 1 plate is forced underneath the other. This friction causes the first melt and then magma comes up. While there are fewer volcanoes made in this way, these eruptions are the dangerous and violent ones.

Occasionally, volcanoes can begin in the center of the plates. These are known as hotspots. The hotspots are places connected to the hot mantle of the earth by channels.

There are 3 main kinds of volcanoes. They are called the shield volcano, the composite volcano, and the caldera volcano. There are 3 other less common types. They are called monogenetic fields, mid-ocean ridges, and flood basalts which makes 6 kinds in all.