Robert Nadeau, age 11, of Old Forge, for s question:

How does a volcano form?

The roots of a volcano are perhaps thirty miles below the surface of the ground. No one has been down that far into the earth’s crust and we can only guess what happens down there. However, we have some pretty good theories about what causes a volcano to form and erupt. It is believed that there are cracks and weak spots deep in the earths crust.

Some of these areas set up stresses and strains far below ground. There is terrific heat, enough to melt solid rock. A deep pool of this molten rock is called magma. Stresses and strains force the magma to push up through cracks and vents. When this happens it comes pouring forth as molten lava which hardens to form layers of new rock or a graceful volcanic cone.