Volcanic mountains are formed by the deposition of lava and pyroclastic materials around a volcanic vent. That is why these mountains are also known as ‘mountains of accumulation’.
Lava and pyroclastic materials ejected from an active volcano accumulate in the form of a cone. It may be noted that volcanic mountains are also formed on the sea floor. When such submarine volcanic mountains rise above the sea surface, they appear as islands.
The Aleutian Islands are typical example of volcanic mountains. The Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, the Cotopaxy and Chimborozo in Equador, the Fujiyama (Japan) and Visuvius in Italy are the classical examples of volcanic mountains.
The highest volcanic mountain in the world is found in Chile (South America). It is known as Aconcagua and its elevation is 7021 m. In the United States also there are certain notable volcanic mountains such as, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood.
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Remember that the base of volcanic mountain may be the ocean floor, a plain, a plateau or a mountain range.
However, they occur as independent isolated highlands, in chains, and in groups. Their heights may resemble low mounds or they may rival the highest diastrophic ranges in their elevation. Volcanic mountains are symmetrical in shape.