List of shield volcanoes facts for kids
A shield volcano is a special type of volcano. It gets its name because it looks like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. These volcanoes have a wide, gently sloping shape, not a steep cone. This shape is made by very runny lava, called basaltic lava, that flows easily over long distances. Think of thick syrup versus thin honey; the honey flows much faster!
This article lists different shield volcanoes. Some are still erupting, some are sleeping, and others are completely quiet.
Contents
Active Shield Volcanoes
Active volcanoes are those that are currently erupting or have erupted recently. They are still very much alive!
Active Volcanoes in Canada
- The lava plateau of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex in British Columbia.
Active Volcanoes in Ecuador
- Alcedo Volcano
- La Cumbre in the Galápagos Islands
- Sierra Negra in the Galápagos Islands
- Cerro Azul in the Galápagos Islands
- Fernandina Island in the Galápagos Islands
Other Active Shield Volcanoes
- Barrier in Kenya
- The lower part of Mount Erebus in Antarctica
- Erta Ale in Ethiopia
- The lower part of Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy
- Mount Wrangell in Alaska, USA
- Mount Karthala in Comoros
- Namarunu in Kenya
- Niuafo'ou in Tonga
- Mount Nyamuragira in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Piton de la Fournaise on Réunion Island, France
- Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua
- Kīlauea in Hawaii, USA
- Mauna Loa in Hawaii, USA
- Mount Halla on Jeju Island, South Korea
- Mascarin Peak on Marion Island, South Africa
Dormant Shield Volcanoes
Dormant volcanoes are like sleeping giants. They haven't erupted for a long time, but they could wake up again in the future.
Dormant Volcanoes in Canada
- Heart Peaks
- Itcha Range in British Columbia
- The lava plateau of Level Mountain in British Columbia
Dormant Volcanoes in the United States
- Arlington Cone in Arizona
- Belknap Crater in Oregon
- Gillespie Volcano in Arizona
- Haleakalā on Maui, Hawaii
- Hell's Half Acre in Idaho
- House Mountain in Arizona
- Hualālai in Hawaii
- Indian Heaven in Washington
- Larch Mountain in Oregon
- Mauna Kea in Hawaii
- Medicine Lake Volcano in California
- Newberry Volcano in Oregon
- Pelican Butte in Oregon
- Shoshone Lava Field in Idaho
- The Three Sisters in Oregon
- Wapi Lava Field in Idaho
Dormant Volcanoes in Costa Rica
- Tilarán
Dormant Volcanoes in Kenya
- Mount Marsabit
- Menengai
Other Dormant Shield Volcanoes
- La Grille in Comoros
- Queen Mary's Peak in the South Atlantic Ocean
- Rangitoto Island in New Zealand
- Santorini in Greece
- São Tomé in São Tomé and Príncipe, Atlantic Ocean
- Skjaldbreiður in Iceland
- Kollóttadyngja in Iceland
- Trölladyngja in Iceland
- Mount Takahe in Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica
- Taveuni in Fiji
- Karaca Dağ in Turkey
Extinct Shield Volcanoes
Extinct volcanoes are those that scientists believe will never erupt again. They are completely quiet.
Extinct Volcanoes in Antarctica
- Mount Andrus
- Mount Berlin
- Mount Moulton
- Mount Sidley in Marie Byrd Land
- Mount Terror in Ross Dependency
Other Extinct Shield Volcanoes
- Ball's Pyramid in Australia is a volcanic plug. This means it's the hard rock that was once inside a volcano's vent, left behind after the softer outer parts have worn away.
- Banks Peninsula near Christchurch, New Zealand
- Bermuda Pedestal in Bermuda, United Kingdom
- Dunedin Volcano in Dunedin, New Zealand
- Kohala in Hawaii, United States
- Kookooligit Mountains on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, United States
- Lord Howe Island, Australia
- Piton des Neiges on Réunion Island, France
- Poike on Easter Island, Chile
- Rano Kau on Easter Island, Chile
- Slieve Gullion in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Terevaka on Easter Island, Chile
- Topo Volcano, Azores, Portugal
- Tweed Volcano, Australia
- Mount Charter, Australia
- Mount Tor, Australia
- Mount Julia, Australia
- Mount Cripps, Australia
- Verkhovoy on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Shield Volcanoes on Other Planets
Did you know volcanoes aren't just on Earth? Other planets and moons have them too!
Mars & Venus
- Alba Mons (Mars)
- Olympus Mons (Mars) - This is the largest volcano in our solar system!
- Arsia Mons (Mars)
- Ascraeus Mons (Mars)
- Pavonis Mons (Mars)
- Syrtis Major Planum (Mars)
- Maat Mons (Venus)
- Theia Mons (Venus)
Io (Jupiter's Moon)
Io is one of Jupiter's moons and is incredibly volcanic. It has many volcanoes that erupt with sulfur instead of lava. Some of these include Pele and Tohil Mons.
Pyroclastic Shields
Some volcanoes are called "pyroclastic shields." These are similar to shield volcanoes but are formed by explosive eruptions of ash and rock fragments, not just runny lava.
Pyroclastic Shields in Bolivia
Pyroclastic Shields in Nicaragua
- Apoyeque
- Masaya
Pyroclastic Shields in Papua New Guinea
- Rabaul on New Britain island
Other Pyroclastic Shields
See also
- List of stratovolcanoes
- List of subglacial volcanoes
- List of cinder cones
- List of lava domes
- Shield volcano
