Living near volcanoes can really change people's lives in different ways. How these changes affect communities depends on how often and how strongly the volcanoes erupt.

Positive Effects:

1. Farming Benefits:

   • The soil in volcanic areas is full of minerals, which makes it great for farming. In fact, crops grown in these regions can produce 20-50% more than those grown in regular soil.

2. Tourism Growth:

   • Volcanoes, whether active or not, bring in lots of visitors. For example, in 2020, tourism in places like Hawaii helped the local economy by adding over $17 billion!

Negative Effects:

1. People Losing Their Homes:

   • When a volcano erupts, it can force people to leave their homes. For instance, when Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980, nearly 57,000 people had to evacuate, and the area lost around $1 billion in timber because of it.

2. Health Problems:

   • Volcanic eruptions can spread ash and gases that are harmful to people's health. Research shows that each year, over 300,000 people have health issues related to volcanic ash.

3. Damage to Buildings and Roads:

   • Volcanoes can also destroy buildings and roads. For example, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 caused about $10 billion in damages and repairs.

In short, living in volcanic areas comes with both good and bad impacts. People can enjoy better farming and tourism, but they also face dangers to their homes and health.