Volcanoes - Brief Article

New Internationalist, Oct, 2001 by Susan Watkin

Volcanoes are named after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. Lava (from the Italian lavare (to wash) was originally used to describe water flowing after heavy rain. Pumice, a light lava looking a little like a solid sponge, is from the Latin spuma (foam). The caldera, or opening at the top of a volcano, is from the Latin caldaria, cauldron. Fumarole, the opening through which smoke pours, is from the Latin fumarium, a smoke chamber for ageing wine.

And finally some volcano names: Cotopaxi in Ecuador from the Quechua for 'shining mountain'. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania from the Swahili for 'mountain of the god of cold'. Popocatepetl in Mexico from the Nahuati for 'smoking mountain'.