Abstract

There are many volcanoes in Western Canada, and the possibility of an eruption, even a large one, cannot be ruled out. The most recent volcanic eruption in Canada was Lava Forks in northern British Colombia, about 150 years ago. Volcanoes erupt, in part, because of pressure from dissolved gas within the liquid rock called magma. If the magma is fluid, the eruption will be in the form of a lava flow. If the magma is more viscous an explosive eruption may occur, depositing volcanic ash over a wide area.