In many parts of the world, volcanoes rise like towers above the land, sitting quietly for hundreds, even thousands, of years. Many appear to be no more than snow-capped mountains, which vacationers and locals use for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor recreation. Some people live in the shadow of a volcano, enjoying breathtaking views. But people often seem to forget that volcanoes are one of nature's most destructive forces. They sometimes find it difficult to believe that a solidlooking mountain, quiet and beautiful, may become a deadly monster.

This is the most familiar image of a volcano-an enormous, deadly force that destroys everything around it. The unimaginable power of a volcanic eruption is made all the more frightening by its unpredictability and mystery. In the past, volcanoes seemed to erupt without reason or warning. Sometimes the eruptions were small, but others wreaked havoc on the landscape.

Ancient Fears