Mount Vesuvius

The eruption in 79 AD, buried both towns, instantly preserving them in the ashes. All the lives gone; almost 25,000 people lost. The earthquakes, lava, and ashes all took out so many lives.

Today, Mount Vesuvius is classified as a dangerous and deadly volcano. It has erupted more than once since 79 AD. There are records of eruptions as late as 1906, 1929 and 1944. The eruptions have sometimes been so strong that ashes spread over quite a bit of southern Europe, reaching as far as Constantinople which is over 1000 miles away.

It is the only active volcano in mainland Europe to have erupted in the last hundred years. It is actually a volcano within a volcano. The remains of the older volcano are called Mt Somma and are said to actually have formed a measure of protection for that side of the volcano. Within is the actual Mt. Vesuvius.

People can be forgetful and some have begun to rebuild homes and vineyards at the base of the volcano. There are some two million people living around the base of the volcano. The ground is fertile and is a wonderful place for growing grapes. Grapes grown out of the rich soil of Vesuvius have in fact been given the name “Lacrima Chsrist” or Tears of Christ. They have forgotten how swiftly the volcano can unleash its weapons and how little warning they may have. It is to be hoped that modern science can indeed give sufficient warning so that no loss of life will take place.

The area around Mt Vesuvius was declared a national park in June 5, 1995. It is possible for visitors to visit the summit and there are maintained paths going up the volcano. For students of geography and geology it is a sight to see. Never is it completely safe.