MOUNT FUJI
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Picture Courtesy: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/mount-fuji-view-japan-block-tourists-b2557005.html
Context: Fuji City combats tourist disruption by installing barriers on the Fuji Dream Bridge due to overcrowding and safety concerns over Mount Fuji views.
About Mount Fuji
- Mount Fuji, also known as "Fujisan" in Japanese, is an active stratovolcano located on Honshu Island, the tallest mountain in Japan, which is covered in snow for five months each year.
- It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and holds deep cultural and religious significance in Japan, being considered one of the "Three Holy Mountains" and a sacred site for centuries.
- Mount Fuji's status as a dormant but active volcano adds to its mystique. The last eruption in 1707 left a mark on the landscape and continues to influence the geological understanding of the region.
- Its construction from basaltic lava flows and prominent summit craters contribute to its distinct appearance and geological significance.
- Designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2013, Mount Fuji's cultural, aesthetic, and geological importance is recognized on a global scale, further cementing its status as an iconic symbol of Japan.
Stratovolcano
- Stratovolcanoes have a conical shape, formed by layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra (volcanic debris) built up over time.
- Unlike shield volcanoes, which have gently sloping sides, stratovolcanoes have a steep profile. This steepness is due to the viscosity of the lava, which causes it to cool and solidify relatively quickly, preventing it from flowing far from the vent.
- At the top of a stratovolcano is a summit crater, formed by the accumulation of erupted materials. This crater can sometimes be filled with lava or contain a lake, depending on the volcano's activity.
- The magma that forms stratovolcanoes is often felsic, meaning it has high to intermediate levels of silica. This results in magma with high viscosity, which tends to trap gas bubbles and contribute to explosive eruptions.
- The name "composite volcano" comes from the composite, stratified structure of these volcanoes, built up from sequential eruptions of lava, ash, and other volcanic materials.
- Stratovolcanoes are among the most common types of volcanoes on Earth, found in many volcanic regions around the world. They are particularly abundant in subduction zone settings where one tectonic plate is being forced beneath another.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Which of the following statements accurately describes the formation process of stratovolcanoes? 1. They are formed by a single, explosive eruption that builds a cone-shaped mountain. 2. They are composed of alternating layers of hardened lava flows, ash, and volcanic debris. 3. They are located primarily along divergent plate boundaries where tectonic plates are pulling apart. 4. The presence of a central vent allows for the passage of magma to the surface. 5. Stratovolcanoes are the largest type of volcano on Earth. How many of the above statements are correct? A) Only two B) Only three C) Only four D) All five Answer: A |
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