Volcanoes come in different shapes, depending on the type of eruption. Shield volcanoes have shallow, sloping sides and are formed by very hot, runny lava that spreads over a wide area. The majority of the volcanoes that happen occur along the cracks in the lithosphere that mark the edges of the tectonic plates.
"<span>A </span>shield volcano<span> is a type of </span>volcano<span> usually built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. They are named for their low profile, resembling a warrior's </span>shield<span> lying on the ground. This is caused by the highly fluid (low viscosity) lava they erupt which travels farther than lava erupted from stratovolcanoes."
