Volcanic craters are depressions above a volcanic vent that form as a result of explosive eruptions or collapse. Craters can form at the summit of a volcano or on its flanks. Their sizes and shapes vary widely. Some, like this 600-m wide, 300-m deep crater of Italy's Vesuvius volcano, are large and deep, and have steep-sided walls. Other craters, such as maars and tuff rings produced by powerful explosions involving water-magma interaction, are often much wider than they are deep. Vertical-walled pit craters form by collapse over an eruptive fissure.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1982.

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Vesuvius