A color sketch of a side-cut view of the parts of a typical volcano. Starting at the bottom, the lower strata (layers) have a hollow “well” for a magma chamber. From the magma chamber, there are streams of magma rising through the strata. The magma rises through more than one streams, some of the streams push up the strata layers, other streams move to the top opening(s) of the volcano. The raised opening that emits magma is called the cone. The stream that moves to the top of the cone is called the Central Vent. Along with the magma, the volcano emits a stream of tephra (ash and rock).
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