Vesuvius Volcano, Italy

One of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world is Mount Vesuvius located in Italy, in the immediate vicinity of Naples. More than three million people live close to it. In the case of another eruption, all of them may be in a great danger. The great eruption of Vesuvius was famous in ancient times. In 79 AD, the volcano destroyed two cities of Ancient Rome, Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The eruption that happened in ancient times was described as a real apocalypse. Within hours, cities located near the volcano were hidden under a layer of ash. The sun was completely blocked by clouds of volcanic dust. The darkness reigned over the ancient Roman city. The massive eruption resulted in the formation of the caldera of incredible size, which is about 15 km in diameter. People have been watching the activity of Vesuvius for hundreds of years. According to historical data, it has erupted 80 times over the last 2 000 years.

One of the most recent devastating eruptions occurred in 1805, when lava flows have destroyed a significant part of Naples. The disaster claimed the lives of 26 000 people. Over the long history, Vesuvius activity have formed the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the immediate vicinity. This outstanding natural attraction was a magnet for visitors back in the 17th century. In the late 19th century, a funicular was built on the slopes of the volcano. The vehicle brought people to the volcano’s vent. However, it was destroyed during the next eruption in 1944. Currently, it’s possible to get to the crater of one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world only using pedestrian path. Next - Etna Volcano