Mount Belinda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Belinda |
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This picture shows Mount Belinda erupting in 2005. The colors show how much heat the volcano was giving off.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,370 m (4,490 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,370 m (4,490 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Montagu Island, South Sandwich Islands |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | 2001 - 2007 |
Mount Belinda is a large volcano located on Montagu Island. This island is part of the South Sandwich Islands, which are found in the Scotia Sea. Mount Belinda is the tallest point in the South Sandwich Islands, standing at 1,370 meters (about 4,490 feet) high. It is part of a group of islands that belong to the United Kingdom.
What is Mount Belinda?
Mount Belinda is a type of volcano called a stratovolcano. These volcanoes are usually tall and cone-shaped. They are built up over time by many layers of hardened lava, ash, and rocks from past eruptions.
A Sleeping Giant Wakes Up
For a long time, Mount Belinda was quiet. It was inactive until late 2001. That's when it started to erupt! The volcano began to release huge amounts of hot, liquid rock called basaltic lava.
This lava was so hot that it melted the thick layers of ice on the volcano. Scientists found this very interesting. It was like a "natural laboratory" for them. They could study how lava and ice interact. This also helps them understand how life might survive in extreme places, like on the planet Mars.
The Big Eruption of 2005
The volcano became even more active in 2005. The activity grew stronger in the fall of that year. A long stream of lava, about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long, flowed from the top of Mount Belinda all the way to the sea.
The lava first flowed northeast from the volcano's opening. Then, a rocky ridge called an arête changed its direction. The lava started flowing straight north instead. By the end of 2007, the eruption had stopped. In 2010, the volcano was mostly quiet again. The only activity was from small vents called fumaroles, which released steam and gases. There was also some heat from the cooling lava.
See also
In Spanish: Monte Belinda para niños
