Tuya

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

When lava erupts under a glacier, it cools very quickly and cannot flow far. This causes the lava to pile up and form a steep hill. If the eruption lasts long enough, it can either melt all the ice or break through the top of the ice. After that, normal lava flows can create a flat cap on top of the hill.

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

Formation

Tuyas are a special kind of volcano formed 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 from below melted the ice, allowing lava to flow out. The lava cools quickly when it touches water, forming layers that build up into the shape of a tuya. 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" after studying Tuya Butte. This name is now used by scientists all over the world. Nearby, Tuya Mountains Provincial Park helps protect this unique landscape.

Examples

Tuyas are special types of volcanoes that form when lava erupts underneath thick glaciers or ice sheets. Because the lava cools very quickly in the cold ice, it cannot spread out far. Instead, it piles up and creates a steep, flat-topped hill once the ice melts away. These volcanoes are rare and are only found in places where there were both glaciers and active volcanoes at the same time.