Lava bench
Encyclopedia
A lava bench is a volcanic landform with a horizontal surface raised above the level of the surrounding area. They are created when molten lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...

 travels away from a volcanic vent and expands an old shoreline. If a newly formed lava bench rests on sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....

s, it may pose hazards due to its extremely unstable structure.
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