Are all volcanoes the same?

No two volcanoes are exactly the same, as they all have differences in dimensions of their mountains and craters, as well as their relative frequency and type of eruption. Volcanoes come in cinder cone, shield and stratovolcano varieties.

Volcanoes that are active erupt on a regular basis, while dormant volcanoes are considered inactive and aren't expected to erupt in the near future. Extinct volcanoes never erupt and aren't expected to ever erupt again. Some volcanoes have "quiet eruptions," meaning that lava spills out, but materials aren't ejected from the mouth of the crater. "Explosive" volcanoes have violent ejections that result in flying rock fragments, gases, ashes and lava.