Learn Volcano Vocab and More from the USGS

Quick, what's a Pele's hair? A pahoeohe flow? A fumarole? These are just some of the terms on the US Geological Survey (USGS) photo glossary of volcano terms. Just click any word or phrase, like "effusive eruption" (pictured right), and you'll find cool photos, detailed descriptions, and various volcano trivia with which to impress your friends. There are other handy pages on the USGS volcano website, which is intertwined with the Smithsonian volcano program pages, including a weekly volcanic activity report, regional volcano maps, and a comprehensive database of information on volcanoes from around the world.