advantages and disadvantages of volcanism

ADVANTAGES OF VOLCANOES ·        Provide energy Volcanoes provide resources for energy extraction, also called geothermal resources.  Heat from the earth's crust is being converted to energy.  The big advantages to this type of energy are that it is very clean and the resources are nearly inexhaustible. ·        Fertile soil When a volcano erupts it throws out a lot of ash.  At short notice this ash can be very harmful to the environment, but on the long term the ash layer, which contains many useful minerals, will be converted to a very fertile soil. Nearly everywhere volcanoes are located people use the rich soil for farming.  Even after an eruption people still return because of the fertile soil around the volcano. ·        Tourism Volcanoes attract millions of visitors every year, for different reasons. Around the volcano may be warmbathing lakes, hot springs, bubbling mud pools and steam vents. Tourism creates jobs in shops, restaurants, hotels and tourist centers / national parks. Locals economies can profit from volcanism throughout the year, whereas skiing, for example, has only a limited winter season.                                             DISADVANTAGES OF VOLCANOES •Sea - during a volcanic eruption earthquakes happen, and tsunamis may be created. Also, if it is a volcanic island, the island may be destroyed, and there is no escape. •Lava flow - these are very slow moving, but destructive as they cannot be stopped and they set fire to everything in their path. •Pyroclastic flow - these are impossible to outrun, travelling at about 300 km/h, and are extremely destructive.  •Mudflow/lahar - these are mud rivers that have the consistency of cement, and destroy everything in their path, including buildings.