While volcanoes have brought profound changes to landscapes here on Earth, volcanic activity on other planets and moons has followed a different path. It's easy to imagine space volcanoes as even more ferocious and devastating versions of the ones scattered across Earth, but in reality, most of them have fallen into dormancy.
Volcanic features have been observed on our fellow rocky planets, Venus and Mars, but they largely appear to be inactive right now. Some scientists, however, have suggested that current volcanic activity on Mars and Venus may not be so far-fetched after all, with new evidence emerging from recent studies.
What Gave Earth Its Volcanoes?
Earth boasts more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with 50 to 70 erupting every year. But why is our planet so volcanically active? The answer lies in plate tectonics, the movement of divided plates that make up Earth’s crust.
