Glossary: Calderas
From CosmoQuest
Volcanic calderas are made when lava flows out of a volcano, causing the top to collapse in on itself.
Calderas are much larger than volcanic craters and require a magma chamber to form. The magma chamber is what holds the molten material below the surface until it can erupt. When this magma chamber is emptied, the roof of the chamber collapses, forming the caldera.
Examples of volcanic caldera on the planets
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| Mars |
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