Tuya

A tuya is a special kind of flat-topped, steep-sided volcano. It forms when lava bursts out through a thick glacier or ice sheet. These volcanoes are rare. You can only find them in places that had both glaciers and active volcanoes in the past.

When lava erupts under a glacier, it cools very quickly. This makes the lava pile up and form a steep hill. If the eruption lasts long enough, it can melt the ice or break through the top. After this, lava can flow and create a flat cap on the hill.

Scientists study the lava flows in tuyas. This helps them learn about how big and thick glaciers used to be. It also helps them understand Earth’s climate history and how glaciers have changed over time.

Formation

Tuyas are a special kind of volcano. They form when lava erupts through thick ice or glaciers. They have flat tops and steep sides, often standing alone on a flat area. You can find tuyas in places like Iceland, British Columbia, Oregon, and even under the ice in Antarctica.

These volcanoes were created when heat melted the ice, letting lava flow out. The lava cools quickly when it touches water, forming layers that build up the tuya's shape. Sometimes, if the volcano breaks through the ice, it ends with a flat lava top.

Etymology

The word "tuya" comes from Tuya Butte, a volcano in the Tuya River area of northern British Columbia, Canada. In 1947, a geologist named Bill Mathews wrote a paper naming these special flat-topped volcanoes "tuyas." This name is now used by scientists around the world. Nearby, Tuya Mountains Provincial Park helps protect this unique landscape.

Examples

Tuyas are special kinds of volcanoes. They form when lava erupts under thick glaciers or ice sheets. The cold ice makes the lava cool quickly, so it cannot spread out far. Instead, it piles up and makes a steep, flat-topped hill. When the ice melts, the hill remains. These volcanoes are rare. We only find them where there were both glaciers and active volcanoes together.