stratovolcanoes

Stratovolcanoes, also called composite volcanoes, are tall, steep-sided mountains formed from layers of hardened lava, ash, and volcanic debris. They develop from alternating explosive eruptions and lava flows, creating a layered structure. These volcanoes tend to be quite explosive due to the thick, viscous magma that traps gases, leading to powerful eruptions. Examples include Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount St. Helens in the USA. Their shape and eruptive behavior make them some of the most dramatic and potentially dangerous volcanoes, often associated with convergent tectonic plate boundaries where oceanic and continental plates meet.