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Shield volcanoes are broad, gently sloping landforms primarily built by the eruption of low-viscosity basaltic lava. Due to the fluid nature of this lava, it can travel long distances before solidifying, resulting in the volcano’s characteristic wide, shield-like profile. These volcanoes typically produce non-explosive eruptions and are commonly found at oceanic hotspots and divergent plate boundaries. Their eruptions are frequent but relatively mild, making them important for studying effusive volcanic activity and lava flow dynamics.
