[[File:Lava 24 X 24.png|thumb|250px|Lava appearance in ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''.]]
'''Lava''' is a hazard in many parts of [[Mushroom World]], especially inside castles. When [[Mario]] touches lava, it can scorch him. terribly, causing him to run around, almost uncontrollably, in pain. In some instances, it may result in him losing some health (as seen in ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', ''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'' and its [[Super Mario Galaxy 2|sequel]], and ''[[Paper Mario]]''), or instant [[Game Over|death]] (as seen from ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'', ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' in Bowser's intermission after getting the [[Garnet Star]], ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' in [[Corona Mountain]] and most 2D platformer Mario games, such as ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Mario World]]''). Even a [[Star]] cannot protect Mario. The effect lava has on [[Bowser]] varies as well, ranging from not affecting him at all to actually killing him at least once. This could mean that there are different temperatures (or even separate types) of lava that differ from game to game.
