Craters more than 1 km in diameter are called calderas. Formed when the top of a volcanic cone collapses, they may be up to 60 km in diameter. During an eruption, magma is ejected from the magma chamber via the central vent and secondary vents. The vents are gradually emptied. The central part of the volcano can no longer support the weight of the volcanic cone and the top collapses. The cone’s material covers the bottom of the caldera, which has very steep sides. Some calderas fill with water and form lakes.

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