Mt.

Vesuvius

* Three different names, Vesuvius, Mount Vesuvius, Italian Vesuvio

* Active volcano
* Above Bay of Naples in Southern Italy
* Originated somewhat less than 200 000 years ago
* Dormant for centuries before major eruption on August 24, 79CE
* Major eruption impacted Pompeii, Oplontis, Stabiae, Herculaneum
* A writer (Pliny the younger) located in west naples, accounted the catastrophe in
two letters to a historian called Tacitus
* More than ten eruptions from Vesuvius
* The King of Italy (who invaded Italy) took off taxes from people living on the
slopes of Mount Vesuvius because of the explosions of a certain eruption (year 512)
* Series of earthquakes (6 month time period) gradually increasing pressure
preceded a mass eruption on December 16, 1631
* Lava flow reached the sea
* Skies were darkened for several days
* 8 major eruptions and erupted more than 30 times in lifespan
* At 600 metres, high semicircular ridge (Mount Somma) encircles cone on the north
(at 1 132 metres)
* Between Mount Somma and the cone is the Giant’s valley (Valle de gigante)
* Large crater about 305 metres and 610 metres across
* More than two million people live in the vicinity and lower slopes of Mount
Vesuvius