Mount Vesuvius

Vesuvius volcano in Italy 20110808 aerial view 1

Sommer, Giorgio (1834-1914) - n. 1167 - Napoli - Panorama (2)

Procession des reliques de Saint Janvier en 1822

Vesuvius (erupting), Brooklyn Museum Archives

Pompeii - Casa del Centenario - MAN

Mt Vesuvius 79 AD eruption

Mount Vesuvius (Italian: Monte Vesuvio) is a stratovolcano located on the Gulf of Naples in Campania, Italy, about 9 km (5.6 mi) east of Naples and a short distance from the shore. It is one of several volcanoes which form the Campanian volcanic arc. Vesuvius consists of a large cone partially encircled by the steep rim of a summit caldera caused by the collapse of an earlier and originally much higher structure.

Mount Vesuvius is best known for its eruption in AD 79 that led to the burying and destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as several other settlements. The eruption ejected a cloud of stones, ashes, and volcanic gases to a height of 33 km (20.5 miles), spewing molten rock and pulverized pumice at the rate of 1.5 million tons per second, ultimately releasing a hundred thousand times the thermal energy released by the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings. The towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried under meters of ash and pumice, and the site was lost for about 1,500 years until its accidental rediscovery in 1599. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, this area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, with approximately 2.5 million visitors every year.

History

The area around Vesuvius was originally inhabited by Italic tribes and was not documented by writers of the early Roman Republic. It was, however, considered a divinity in the religion of the Samnites, a pre-Roman people. The volcano entered recorded history with its dramatic eruption in AD 79. Since then, it has erupted many times, with the most recent eruption occurring in 1944, making it the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years. Its danger to the densely populated areas nearby is compounded by the fact that the time between eruptions has been increasing, making it difficult to predict when the next eruption will occur.

Geology and Eruption History

Mount Vesuvius is a composite volcano, consisting of a volcanic cone (Gran Cono) partially encircled by the steep rim of a summit caldera formed by the collapse of an earlier and much larger cone. The volcano has an eruption cycle of about 20 years, but the last eruption was in 1944. The long quiescent period that has followed is unusual and may portend a particularly dangerous eruption in the future. The volcano is closely monitored by the Osservatorio Vesuvio in Naples, which is part of the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

Impact on Population

The proximity of Mount Vesuvius to densely populated areas is a significant hazard. The area around the volcano is now home to approximately 3 million people, making it the most densely populated volcanic region in the world. Despite the risks, the fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain and the surrounding plains. In case of an eruption, the Italian government has emergency plans in place to evacuate millions of people as quickly as possible, but the effectiveness of such plans is untested.

Cultural Significance

Mount Vesuvius has had a significant impact on culture, not only in Italy but around the world. It has inspired countless works of art, literature, and folklore. The eruption in AD 79 was documented by Pliny the Younger in two letters to the historian Tacitus, providing a first-hand account of a volcanic eruption that has been invaluable to scientists and historians. The volcano and its eruptions have been featured in many films and books, contributing to its mythic status.

Tourism

Today, Mount Vesuvius is a major tourist attraction. Visitors can hike to the summit of the volcano, walking up a path that leads to the crater rim, offering stunning views of the Bay of Naples. The ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by the AD 79 eruption but preserved under layers of ash and pumice, attract millions of tourists each year who come to see the ruins and the artifacts preserved in situ.