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THEMATIC VOLCANO PHOTO GALLERY:

- Stratovolcano -


Semeru stratovolcano, Java, Indonesia.


Brief explanation:

Steep, conical volcanoes built by the eruption of viscous lava flows, tephra, and pyroclastic flows, are called stratovolcanoes. Usually constructed over a period of tens to hundreds of thousands of years, stratovolcanoes may erupt a variety of magma types, including basalt, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite. All but basalt commonly generate highly explosive eruptions. (Abbreviated from USGS Photoglossary).

Stromboli stratovolcano, Eolian Islands, Italy.

Semeru stratovolcano, Java, Indonesia.

Ol Doinyo Lengai, E-African Rift Valley, Tanzania, is also a stratovolcano. Perhaps the most famous of all,- Vesuvius volcano near Naples, Italy. Before the Plinian eruption in 79 AD the volcano was considerably higher and had a more typical "look" of a stratovolcano. The violent eruption and caldera collapse in 79AD destroyed the top of old Vesuvius volcano, but being an extremely active volcano, Vesuvius has already begun to rebuild a new cone (on the right); the left peak, Monte Somma, is a remnant of the pre-79AD edifice (dotted red line).
The N cliffs of Santorini expose the interior of an ancient eroded stratovolcano truncated by caldera collapse. The typical alternating sequence of lava flows (dark layers) and tephra (red and light colours) can be observed.