A volcano is a rupture on the Earth's crust, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. Volcanoes can be seen on other planets as well. Venus and Mars both have volcanoes on them. Mars is host to the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, which towers 16 miles high over the Martian landscape.
Volcanoes exist on Earth because the crust is broken into 17 major, rigid tectonic plates that float on a hotter, softer layer in its mantle. Therefore, on Earth, volcanoes are typically found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging. Some examples of this are, a mid-oceanic ridge, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which has volcanoes caused by divergent tectonic plates pulling apart; the Pacific Ring of Fire, where we are located, has volcanoes caused by convergent tectonic plates coming together. Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching and thinning of the crust's interior plates. Volcanoes are usually not formed where two tectonic plates slide past one another.
Mount Baker, located just over the border in Washington, is the closest volcano to the lower mainland. It lies in the Cascade Mountain Range.
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1) When was the last time Mt. Baker and Mt. St. Helens erupted?
2) What have people seen rising from the peak on cold winter days?
3) What are the names of the 3 volcanoes in BC that are listed?
4) According to the information sign is Mt. Baker active or inactive?
5) (optional) Post a photo at the location with Mt. Baker, if it's not cloudy.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano