Wezuwiusz

Wezuwiusz, known in Italian as Vesuvio, is a stratovolcano located to the east of Naples on the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Italy. It forms part of the Campanian volcanic arc and sits within the Somma-Caldera complex, with the current cone occupying the interior of a large caldera produced by earlier collapses.

The summit rises about 1,281 meters above sea level. Wezuwiusz is an active volcano with a long history of explosive eruptions. The most famous eruption occurred in 79 CE, when pyroclastic flows and ash blanketed Pompeii, Herculaneum, and surrounding towns. Since then, Vesuvio has produced periodic eruptions, including events in the modern era; the most recent eruption occurred in 1944. Following 1944 the volcano has remained largely dormant, though it continues to exhibit fumarolic activity and seismic signals.

Monitoring and hazard: The volcano is carefully observed by the Osservatorio Vesuviano, part of Italy’s Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). It tracks seismic activity, ground deformation, gas emissions, and satellite data to detect signs of renewed eruption and to issue early warnings. The surrounding area is densely populated, making Vesuvio one of Europe’s most dangerous volcanoes due to the potential for fast-moving pyroclastic flows and widespread ash plumes. Authorities maintain emergency plans and a red zone (Zona Rossa) for evacuation of residents living near the volcano.