How do volcanoes affect us?

Volcanoes can have a great impact on the areas near them and even areas that are quite far away. Volcanoes sometimes cause problems for people who live near them. However they also provide people with some benefits.

What are some problems caused by volcanoes?

Loss of life: Volcanic eruptions are very dangerous and can kill people and other living things.

Damage to property: Lava, ash and other material from volcanic eruptions can damage homes, other buildings, vehicles and other property.

Destruction of habitats: Volcanic eruptions can also destroy the habitats of many animals.

Health issues: Ash from volcanic eruptions can cause breathing difficulties and other health issues. Winds may carry ash from volcanic eruptions many miles away. When the volcano in St. Vincent erupted in 2021, ash reached neighboring islands like Barbados and St. Lucia.

What are some benefits of volcanoes?

Fertile soil: Volcanic ash is rich in minerals and helps make the soil fertile. Volcanic rocks eventually break down into fertile soil.

New land: When a large amount of molten lava flows into the sea, it can build up new piece of land. Also, if an undersea volcano erupts over and over again, it can grow bigger and taller until it reaches the surface of the sea and forms a new island. Many Caribbean islands were formed in this way including St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Montserrat.

This tiny island was formed from material which erupted out of a volcano.

Geothermal energy: In some areas near volcanoes, heat from below the surface can be used to generate electricity. This is known as geothermal energy. The picture below shows a geothermal power plant in Iceland.

Minerals: Sometimes as molten rock rises toward the surface, it carries precious minerals such as gold, silver and copper up with it. These minerals can then be mined for people to use.

Tourist attractions: Some volcanoes are tourist attractions. For example, thousands of tourists visit the Sulphur Springs Park in Soufriere, St. Lucia to see the crater, the fumaroles and to bathe in the pools of hot, black water. Parts of the Sulphur Springs Park is seen in the photos below.

(Photo by Gordon Leggett and used under this creative commons license.)

Many tourists enjoy bathing in the hot water pools at the Sulphur Springs Park. (Photo by Thank You (24 million) and used under this creative commons license.)