Volcanoes and Earthquakes ebook is available to be downloaded here now.
- Title: Volcanoes and Earthquakes
- Editor: Britannica Illustrated Science Library
- Publisher: Britannica Illustrated Science Library
- Pages: 56
The purpose of this book is to help you better understand the causes of fractures and the magnitude and The full-color, illustrated book you hold in your hands contains shocking scenes of cities convulsed by earthquakes and volcanoes, natural phenomena that, in mere seconds, unleash rivers of fire, destroy buildings, highways and bridges, and gas and water lines and leave entire cities without electricity or phone service. If fires cannot be put out quickly, the results are even more devastating. Earthquakes near coastlands can cause tsunamis, waves that spread across the ocean with the speed of an airplane.
A tsunami that reaches a coast can be more destructive than the earthquake itself. On Dec. 26, 2004, the world witnessed one of the most impressive natural disasters ever. An undersea quake with a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale shook the eastern Indian Ocean, causing tsunamis that reached the coastal areas of eight Asian nations, causing about 230,000 deaths. The earthquake was the fifth strongest since the invention of the seismograph. Satellite images show the region before and after the catastrophe.
Throughout history, nearly all ancient peoples and large societies have thought of volcanoes as dwelling places of gods or other supernatural beings to explain the mountains’ fury. Hawaiian mythology, for instance, spoke of Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, who threw out fire to cleanse the earth and fertilize the soil. She was believed to be a creative force. Nowadays, specialists try to find out when a volcano might start to erupt, because within hours after an eruption begins, lava flows can change a lush landscape into a barren wilderness.
Not only does hot lava destroy everything in its path, but gas and ash expelled in the explosion also replace oxygen in the air, poisoning people, animals, and plants. Amazingly, life reemerges once again from such scenes of destruction. After a time, lava and ash break down, making the soil unusually fertile. For this reason many farmers and others continue to live near these “smoking mountains,” in spite of the latent danger. Perhaps by living so close to the danger zone, they have learned that no one can control the forces of nature, and the
only thing left to do is to simply live.