View over Naples to Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is one of Europe's most famous active volcanoes. It is located in the Italian region of Campania, just 9 km from the center of the city of Naples. Today's massif is the remainder of the once much higher Somma volcano. After its eruption in 79 AD, a caldera had formed here, in which gradually developed the cone of today's Vesuvius. Typical of Vesuvius are plinian eruptions, usually accompanied by pyroclastic flows. The name Plinian Eruption refers to Pliny the Younger, who as a young man had written down his observations at the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. At that time the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae and Oplontis had been buried. The last eruption occurred from March 18 to 29, 1944. Today the very dangerous volcano is densely populated except for its flanks. Alone in Naples live approximately one million people, in the vicinity of Naples even more. The photo shows a view to the east, taken from the western edge of the Astroni crater in the area of the Phlegrean Fields west of Naples.