Overview

Mount Vesuvius is a 1,218 meter volcano 9 miles east of Naples, Italy. The mountain was formed by the collision of two tectonic plates, the African and the Eurasian. The caldera initially began forming 17,000-18,300 years ago and was enlarged by many successive eruptions. The volcano is still active, though little more than steam is currently produced. While Vesuvius periodically erupts the eurption of April 7, 1906 was particularly devistating.

Eruption of 79

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24th, in the year 79 CE, covered the city of Pompei and other surrounding communities, most notably Herculaneum. The 19-hour eruption spewed 1 cubic mile of white pumiceous ash, composed mainly of leucite phonolite. The Roman general Pliny the Elder, as well as many others, died from inhaling the poisonous sulfuric gas and dust that resulted from the burst of pyroclastic flows.

External Links

• Mount Vesuvius

• Volcanic Ash and Eruptions