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PART IX Economic Benefits and Cultural Aspects of Volcanism  Most people think of volcanoes as either objects of awe and fascination or as agents of destruction. Indeed, at times they can be both. However, volcanoes also contribute to commerce and culture in a myriad of ways. The seven chapters in this section explore a few of the ways in which volcanoes enrich our lives and sometimes our pocketbooks.Modern life is highly dependent on energy to heat buildings, cook food, and run automobiles and machinery. In many volcanic regions geothermal resources are exploited either directly for heat, or indirectly for the generation of electricity. Geothermal energy may be renewable, provided that it is withdrawn at a lower rate than the natural heating. It is also clean compared with the burning of fossil fuels. These issues and other aspects of geothermal energy are discussed in the opening chapter of this section, Exploitation of Geothermal Resources. Volcanic ash and lava from eruptions often cover large expanses of ground and are detrimental to life, but over time these same materials weather to form soils. The resulting volcanic soils have unique physical and chemical features, which affect properties such as moisture retention. Some mountainous volcanic regions are noted for their production of coffee or wine, owing to volcanically derived soils. So, if you start your day with a cup of coffee and end it with a glass of wine, volcanoes may have been indirectly responsible. The following chapter, Volcanic Soils, details the properties, distribution and formation of such soils. Volcanic rocks are the most plentiful rock in many areas and are often employed as a building material for structures, road beds, in some types of cinder blocks, landscaping, and walls. The altered volcanic clay, bentonite, is commonly used in diverse products from drilling mud to cosmetics. The next chapter, Volcanic Materials for Commerce and Industry, describes many products derived from volcanoes. Hot springs and fumaroles are often found in close association with volcanoes. This combination has led to the development of many spas and resorts at volcanoes. The attractive mountainous terrain of volcanic areas are also attractive sites for hiking, camping, and climbing as well viewing the various surface manifestations of volcanic activities. These and related topics are discussed in the following chapter, Volcanoes and Tourism. Ironically, volcanic deposits are wonderful preservers of ancient buildings and artifacts, even though at the time of eruption they were undoubtedly viewed as destructive. Much of what we know of some ancient civilations was instantly preserved by the devastating force of volcanic eruptions. Examples include the well-known Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the Bronze Age Akrotiri in the Aegean. Other less well known sites near Ilopango in El Salvador, Arenal in Costa Rica, Sunset Crater in Arizona, Mount Rainier in Washington, Mount St. Helens in Washington, and in the Yukon Territory, have yielded clues showing the widespread effects of eruptions on the life of early peoples. The chapter Archaeology and Volcanism explores how archaeological sleuths have harvested information about early cultures and describes the origins of geomythology. Volcanoes have often been sketched, photographed, or painted by artists. The first known volcano artist painted a mural showing an eruption viewed from Catal Huyuk, Turkey, in 6,200 B.C. Since that time, many other artists have been impressed by the grand scale of fire, light, and energy of eruptions. In the chapter Volcanoes in Art, Haraldur Sigurdsson discusses artist's visions of volcanic eruptions through time. This chapter has more beautiful figures than any other chapter in this section, and it presents the author's unique insights into the historic depition of volcanoes in art by artists from various cultures and artistic genres. Volcanoes are often used as metaphors for power or unpredictability. Volcanoes are also frequently viewed as windows into the interior of the earth. These ideas show up repeatedly in popular culture, and often make their way into books, movies, cartoons, and other forms of expression. Two famous examples that began as books and were later made into films are the novel The Last Days of Pompeii by George Bulwer-Lytton (1834) and the science fiction work Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864). This section of the encyclopedia, and the entire text, concludes with the chapter Volcanoes in Literature and Film. This chapter provides brief descriptions and synopses of many volcano books and movies. Readers may be surprised by the far-reaching benefits of volcanoes outlined in this section and their broad impact on our lives. While we tend to think about volcanoes primarily while they are erupting, their products and images are found in many places in both ancient and modern life. A world without volcanoes would be a duller, less economically viable, and certainly less interesting place. Stephen R. McNutt | |