Steam power

That big, white cloud may look like smoke from a fire, but it is actually little bits of water floating in the air.

The orange lava coming out of the rock is very hot, and the water is cold. When the hot lava touches the cold water and heats it up very fast, it turns the water into steam. When there is lots of steam, it looks like a cloud.

Heating up water very fast like this can be very useful because it makes power. Some trains and boats don't use gas like your car does. They use steam to make power. These engines are called steam engines.

Next time your parents cook, or you eat a really hot meal, look at the steam coming up from the food!