Lava
Lava is magma that flows onto the Earth's surface. Like magma, lava can be either thick or thin.[1] Blocky lava is so thick and slow that it barely moves along the ground. Other types of lava, like pahoehoe, aa, and pillow lava, are thinner and flow faster.[1]
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[change] Types of lava
[change] Blocky lava
Blocky lava is cool, stiff lava that cannot travel far from where it was erupted. Blocky lava usually oozes out from a volcano only after an explosion has let out lots of the gas pressure from the place where there is magma. Blocky lava makes jumbled piles of sharp chunks.
[change] Pahoehoe
Pronounced pah HOY HOY[1], pahoehoe gets its name from the Hawaiian word for "ropy" because its surface looks like coils of rope. Pahoehoe lava flows slowly, like wax dripping down from a candle, making a glassy surface with round wrinkles.[1]
[change] Aa
Aa is a Hawaiian word that is about a type of lava that has a sharp, jagged surface.[1] This stiff lava pours out quickly and makes a crust that breaks easily. The crust is torn into sharp pieces as the hot lava underneath still moves. Aa is named after the sound you would make ("Aaah!") if you were to walk across this type of lava in bare feet.[1]
[change] Pillow lava
Pillow lava is made when lava erupts underwater. It makes round lumps that are the size and shape of pillows.[1] Pillow lava has a round shape because the lava cools very quickly when it touches water.[1]
[change] Gallery
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Stromboli eruption. The yellow/reddish things in the picture are lava.
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When lava cools down it looks like this. Those are drips of lava which have become cold again
