Any opening in the earth that throws up hot rock and steam is a volcano (vl-k´n). Usually a volcano builds up a cone-shaped peak about its crater (kr´tr), as the mouth of the opening is called. A volcano is said to be "active" when it explodes from time to time. These explosions are called eruptions (-rp´ shn). They sometimes wipe out whole cities several miles from the peak. What causes eruptions like the one you see here? We know that the inside of the earth, or at least parts of it, are very hot. This heat causes gases to form and these after a time explode. A study of the view shows the result. In the upper left corner is an area of steam. Dense smoke, ashes, and cinders make up the heavier parts of the eruption. Melted stone, called lava, pours over the edge of the crater and runs down the sides of the cone. The built-up peak stands out clearly like a mound of ice. Many volcanoes are quiescent (not active) for years at a time. Then rumblings are heard inside for days or months, until finally an eruption takes place. What famous volcano is in the Mediterranean Sea? There are volcanoes in North America but most of the active ones are in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. Many islands in the Pacific have been thrown up by volcanic upheavals. Java is an island in the East Indies. Find it on the map. It belongs to the Netherlands. Much of the soil is volcanic ash, and is very rich. Rice, sugar, coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, maize, and indigo are grown on the large plantations. Its chief mineral is tin. Java is slightly larger than Pennsylvania, but it has almost one-third as many people as the whole United States. Keystone ID: 16400 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.