Volcanoes have two natures. For most of their long lives, they are quiet.
When they destroy things, their bad side makes news and history. But we don’t always think of their good side. Volcanoes give us mountains to ski on and lakes to swim in. They also give us hot springs to soak in. Magma contains valuable elements such as gold, silver, and sulfur. As it cools, some of the elements form minerals. They harden in spaces inside the rocks, where miners find them later. Magma also heats water under the ground. We can tap into it to make heat and electricity. That’s called geothermal power. It’s clean and can be renewed. Volcanic areas make special homes for animals and plants. And sometimes, ash and rock preserve clues about life from long ago.
