Our planet has amazing shapes on its surface. Some places are flat, and some rise up high into tall mountains. Let's find out how the land can be so exciting!
What is a mountain?
A mountain is a very tall part of the land. It rises much higher than the ground around it. Mountains have a bottom called the foot, sides called slopes, and a top called the summit or peak. The tallest mountain on Earth is Mount Everest. Many mountains together are called a mountain range.
| Part | What it means |
|---|---|
| Foot | The bottom of the mountain |
| Slope | The steep side you climb |
| Summit | The very top |
Volcanoes
A volcano is a special mountain with an opening. Deep under the ground it is very, very hot. Melted rock called magma lives down there. When a volcano erupts, the hot melted rock pushes up and out of the top. Once it is out in the air, we call it lava, which glows bright orange because it is so hot.
Put these steps of a volcanic eruption in order:
- Magma builds up under the ground
- Pressure grows inside the volcano
- The volcano erupts
- Lava flows down the sides
Earthquakes
An earthquake is when the ground shakes. The Earth is made of huge pieces of rock called plates. Sometimes these plates push and slide against each other, and when they suddenly move, the ground trembles. Small earthquakes just wobble a little; big ones can knock things over.
Staying safe
These forces can be powerful, so people living near volcanoes and shaky ground learn safety rules, like having a plan and listening to grown-ups.