Vesuvius

Vesuvius is a stratovolcano on the Gulf of Naples in Campania, Italy, situated east of the city of Naples. It is part of the Campanian volcanic arc and lies within a large caldera formed by earlier eruptions. The current cone rises within the caldera and has a central crater complex that remains active.

The volcano’s most famous eruption occurred in 79 CE, when a violent eruption blanketed Pompeii, Herculaneum, and surrounding towns with ash and pumice. Other notable eruptions occurred in the 17th century and in 1944, which marked its last major eruption to date.

Vesuvius is among the most studied and monitored volcanoes in the world due to the dense population living nearby. The surrounding area includes Naples and numerous towns, with millions of people in the broader region potentially affected by an eruption. The volcano is continuously monitored by Italian authorities, including the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and the Civil Protection Department, and risk mitigation plans, alerts, and evacuation procedures are in place for nearby communities.

Vesuvius is part of the Vesuvius National Park, established in 1995 to protect the volcanic landscape, geology, and cultural heritage of the area. The cone remains active, and future eruptions are anticipated, requiring ongoing scientific monitoring and preparedness.