Mount Vesuvius

Vesuvius is a stratovolcano (composite volcano) that stands about 1,281 meters (4,203 feet) tall, though its height changes with each eruption. It's part of the Campanian volcanic arc and sits on the convergent boundary where the African Plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate. The volcano has a distinctive structure with a large cone (Gran Cono) partially encircled by the rim of an older summit caldera called Mount Somma. Vesuvius is best known for its catastrophic eruption in 79 AD that buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of volcanic ash and pumice. This eruption preserved these ancient cities in remarkable detail, providing an extraordinary snapshot of Roman life. The eruption killed thousands of people, including the famous Roman author Pliny the Elder, who died while attempting a rescue mission.

After the 79 AD eruption, Vesuvius has had numerous significant eruptions, with the last major one occurring in March 1944 during World War II. Since then, it has been relatively quiet, though it remains active and carefully monitored. Today, Vesuvius is a protected national park, with marked trails, a visitor centre, and guides stationed near the crater. The terrain is rugged but manageable for most visitors with moderate fitness