Volcanoes form when magma rises up from below the Earth's crust and erupts. There are three main types of volcanic eruptions that differ based on the speed and viscosity of the magma: magmatic, phreatomagmatic, and phreatic. Monitoring volcanoes for changes in shape, temperature, and seismic activity can help predict eruptions and allow for evacuation planning to reduce risk to humans. The largest volcanic eruption in history was the Lake Toba eruption in Indonesia around 75,000 years ago.