Explosive Volcano Facts

1. Put simply, a volcano is an opening in the Earth’s surface.

Usually found in a mountain, the opening allows gas, hot magma and ash to escape from beneath the Earth’s crust.

2. The word “volcano” comes from the Roman name “Vulcan”.

“But who was Vulcan?” you might ask. He was the Roman god of fire!

3. Volcanoes are often found at meeting points of “tectonic plates”.

These plates are pieces of the Earth’s surface that fit together just like a jigsaw puzzle.

4. Volcanoes can also occur over “mantle plumes”.

Ever heard of mantle plumes? They’re super-hot areas of rock inside the Earth!

Learn more here: National Geographic Kids

Amazing Amazon Facts 

1. The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest.

Covering over 5.5 million square kilometres, it’s so big that the UK and Ireland would fit into it 17 times!

2.  The Amazon is found in South America, spanning across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

3. Running through the north of the rainforest is the Amazon River — a network of many hundreds of waterways that stretches 6,840km.

Although there is some debate, most scientists agree that the Amazon is the world’s second longest river after the River Nile.

4. In 2007, a man named Martin Strel swam the entire length of the Amazon river!

To complete his splashing jungle journey, Martin powered through the water for up to ten hours a day for 66 days!

Learn more here: National Geographic Kids