The word volcano is derived from the name of the ancient Roman island of Vulcano which lies off the southwest coast of Italy. The Romans believed that Vulcan, the god of fire and the maker of weapons, used the volcano on that island to forge his weapons.

Volcanoes are not alive but scientists use human terms to talk about volcanoes, such as active, alive, dormant, resting, sleeping, extinct, dead, lifetime, and restless.

The island in the middle of the picture is Vulcano. The island was formed by Vulcanian eruptions, which are eruptions of hot gas and steam followed by ejections of thick and pasty lava.

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