Mt' Vesuvius

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Mt. Vesuvius

• By Dan Ponte

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Geographic Whereabouts and other facts
Mt. Vesuvius is located east of Naples in Italy.
Although currently not erupting, it is the only
active volcano located on the European mainland
(other volcanoes such as Mt. Etna and Stromboli
are active, but are on islands such as
Sicily). The closest city is Naples. The area
around the volcano is densely populated. The
cities around it are in great danger if it erupts
again. Over 3,100 people have been killed over
the years by this volcano, and a few villages
(San Sebastiano, San Giorgio, and Massa di Somma)
have been destroyed. Vesuvius last erupted in
1944.
Vesuvius, viewed from Pompeii.
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Geological Aspects
Vesuvius is a composite volcano. Its lava is
mafic. Because of this, eruptions are very
violent and explosive. Most of the lava is
composed of andesite. Vesuvius is located on a
convergent boundary. This is where the African
plate is being subducted under the Eurasian.
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History and Use
Vesuvius has much history behind it. Gaius
Plinius Secundus (aka Pliny the Younger) wrote a
famous account of the 79 eruption in a letter to
Tacitus. There have been many eruptions, one of
the earliest recorded being in 79, and then later
throughout the 1000s, the 1600s, the 1700s, the
1800s, and a couple in the 1900s, the most recent
ones being in 1906 and 1944. There are no known
beneficial uses for this volcano, as it has been
mostly destructive throughout its known history.
Vesuvius (seen here in green) is located at
4049 N 1426 E.
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Sources

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesuvius