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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Hot_spot
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-02
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508b
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13 lines
In geology, a hypothetical region of high
thermal activity in the Earth's mantle. It is
believed to be the origin of many chains of
ocean islands, such as Polynesia and the
Galapagos. A volcano forms on the ocean crust
immediately above the hot spot, is carried
away by plate tectonic movement, and becomes
extinct. A new volcano forms beside it, above
the hot spot. The result is an active volcano
and a chain of increasingly old and eroded
volcanic stumps stretching away along the
line of plate movement.