Exploratour - Comparing the Surfaces of Earth and Mars

This is an image of Mt. Cotopaxi in Ecuador.
Click on image for full size
Image from the U.S. Geological Survey

Leave the tour and learn more about volcanoes .

Earth has many volcanoes of different shapes and sizes. Composite volcanoes, also known as strato-volcanoes, have the classic shape of a volcano - they are tall, circular, and have steep sides. They can sometimes rise over 3000 m above their base.

Famous composite volcanoes include Mount Fuji in Japan, Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador, Mount Rainier in Washington, Mt Pinatubo in the Philippines, and Mt. Etna in Italy.

Sheild volcanoes can grow to be very big! They are usually tall and broad, with flat, rounded shapes. The Hawaiian volcanoes are good examples of shield volcanoes. They are built by many lava flows over a long time.

Famous shield volcanoes include Mauna Kea and Kilauea (two of the Earth's most active volcanoes), and Olympus Mons of Mars.

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