Characteristic features and history of the volcano Vesuvius

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

Mount Vesuvius is a stone's throw from the small town of Naples. You need to overcome only a distance of 9 km to find yourself at its foot. At first glance, it is even difficult to imagine that it is the only one operating in Europe.

History of Mount Vesuvius

The destruction that followed its eruption in the 1st c. n. e., were extraordinary. As a result of increased volcanic activity in 79 AD, the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were completely destroyed. Stones, ashes and molten lava - all this brought death to the inhabitants of beautiful Italian cities. Almost 16,000 people are believed to have died in the catastrophe caused by the natural phenomenon. The eyewitness accounts of this terrible event have come down to our time, recorded in two letters of Pliny the Younger, who reported the horror he had experienced to the historian Tacitus.

What are the characteristics of Mount Vesuvius today?

Currently, Vesuvius is estimated by experts as a very dangerous volcano, as almost 3 million people live dangerously close to it. Human. Try to find Mount Vesuvius on the map. Did you notice one very important detail? The area adjacent to it is by far the most densely populated volcanic area in the world. In 1944, the local population was very excited that huge clouds of ash were rising in the crater of this volcano, caused by landslides in the crater.

Now scientists are warning that Vesuvius is becoming more and more dangerous. Seismic studies carried out indicate that at a depth of 10 km under this mountain there is a layer with unusual properties. The researchers believe that, most likely, active magma came out at this level. In this regard, the population should be prepared for emergency evacuation in the event of a possible sudden volcanic eruption.

How to get to Mount Vesuvius? Tours

Modern tourists can visit Vesuvius and see with their own eyes the surroundings of the volcano, and even be in close proximity to its crater. To walk through the territory of the national park, you need to get to Naples. Then you should be patient, as in this city you usually have to spend a lot of time in traffic jams.

The most purposeful and patient, of course, have a chance to visit the famous park, and most importantly, the Vesuvius volcano, whose photo will later become a worthy addition to your photo album. Entrance to the territory is paid - a ticket costs € 8.

The road up to the volcano crater is a dustyserpentine. If you look around, you can clearly see Naples and the Gulf of Naples below. Climbing the mountain is quite difficult, so for tourists in some places there are benches where you can relax. You can buy souvenirs from your visit to Vesuvius at the shops along the road.

After a difficult journey, an unforgettable sight appears before the eyes of tourists - the mouth of a great volcano. When tourists notice green plants directly on the inner elephants of the crater, they are overcome by very strong emotions. It is amazing that life also develops in such dangerous places, choosing a time of short lull in the development of a powerful geological process!