12 Facts About Vesuvius

Vesuvius has erupted many times since and is the only volcano on Europe's mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years.

Vesuvius is a "humpbacked" peak, consisting of a large cone partially encircled by the steep rim of a summit caldera caused by the collapse of an earlier structure called Mount Somma.

Vesuvius is a stratovolcano and was formed as a result of the collision of two tectonic plates, the African and the Eurasian.

Vesuvius is the only one to have erupted in recent history, although some of the others have erupted within the last few hundred years.

Since 1750, seven of the eruptions of Vesuvius have had durations of more than five years; only Mount Etna has had as many long-duration eruptions in the last 270 years.

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Vesuvius is still regarded as an active volcano, although its current activity produces little more than sulfur-rich steam from vents at the bottom and walls of the crater.

Vesuvius'storians have learned about the eruption from the eyewitness account of Pliny the Younger, a Roman administrator and poet.

Vesuvius's nephew attempted to resume a normal life, but that night a tremor awoke him and his mother, prompting them to abandon the house for the courtyard.

Vesuvius continued in his light ship to the rescue of Rectina's party.

Vesuvius set off across the bay but, in the shallows on the other side, encountered thick showers of hot cinders, lumps of pumice and pieces of rock.

Vesuvius's body was found with no apparent injuries on the next day, after dispersal of the plume.

The summit of Vesuvius is open to visitors, and there is a small network of paths around the volcano that are maintained by the park authorities on weekends.