Mount Vesuvius

volcano · italy · ancient history · geology

Volcano near Naples. Mount Vesuvius sits on the Gulf of Naples in Italy, about 9 kilometers east of the city. It is one of several volcanoes in this region that form what scientists call the Campanian volcanic arc.

Destructive 79 AD eruption. In 79 AD, Vesuvius erupted so powerfully that it buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and pumice. This eruption preserved these cities in time, giving us amazing glimpses of ancient Roman life.

Cone inside a crater. Vesuvius has a large cone that is partially surrounded by a steep rim called a caldera. The caldera was created when an earlier, much taller volcano collapsed inward after a huge eruption long ago.

Still potentially active. Vesuvius is still considered an active volcano, meaning it could erupt again in the future. Scientists carefully monitor it because millions of people live nearby.