Vesuvius - active or extinct volcano? This question interests many. But at the same time, this volcano has a very interesting history. His eruptions are known throughout the world.
Volcano Vesuvius
On the shores of the beautiful Gulf of Naples, fifteen kilometers from the Greek city of Naples is one of the most famous volcanoes in history. He gained his fame thanks to eruptions, accompanied by colossal destruction and a huge number of victims. In those days, no one had a question: is Vesuvius an active or extinct volcano? Everything was obvious. His eruptions were immortalized in paintings by brilliant artists, novels and films ...
Description of Vesuvius
Vesuvius is an active volcano. Or extinct, judging by the fact that he has not erupted since 44 years of the last century. Its height is 1.3 kilometers, and the perimeter of the base reaches 75 kilometers. This volcano has a polygenic origin. Its structures were formed as a result of a number of eruptions, accompanied by periods of relative rest.
So still it is possible to observe Monte Somme from a great distance. This is the northern wall of Vesuvius, which is the remnant of an ancient cone, subsequently destroyed by an explosive eruption of the end of the 1st century A.D. The modern cone is located somewhat south.
Vesuvius in history
The volcano Vesuvius (active or extinct, we examined above) continues to be considered very dangerous and at the same time mysterious. He left an indelible mark on history. This is due not only to numerous eruptions, but also to unusual incidents, as well as events associated with the name of the leader of the rebellious slaves of Spartacus.
So, for example, the inhabitants of Naples in 1669 AD became witnesses to the extremely unusual that plunged them into the shock of an accident - rain from the crosses. Small double black pyroxene crystals as a result of the eruption fell directly on the heads of the inhabitants of the city, causing amazement and fear.
The events of 72 AD are also associated with Vesuvius, when supporters of the famous political figure-revolutionary Spartak hid from the Roman forces pursuing in the crater of the volcano. Fortunately, the rebels managed to wait out the most unfavorable time, and then break out of the encirclement.
Eruption Timeline
In historical chronicles about eighty volcanic eruptions are described , thirty of which occurred already in our era. The most famous are the events of 79, 1631, 1794, 1822.1872, 1906 A.D.
The most recent of the eruptions occurred in the middle of the twentieth century. Despite the ongoing debate that the Mount Vesuvius is active or extinct, the eruption photos of those times do not leave any questions.
A huge lava flow erupted during the eruption to almost a kilometer high. Two Italian cities were seriously destroyed. 37 residents and many pets killed the volcano Vesuvius. Acting or extinct, he earned himself bloody fame.
But none of the listed eruptions can be compared in the scale of destructive consequences with the events of 79 AD. e.
Harbingers of trouble
Pompeii already in the middle of the 1st century AD e. constituted a very rich, prosperous city. The resorts of Pompeii liked to come wealthy Romans. In addition, soils fertilized with volcanic ash were particularly fertile, making it possible to obtain unprecedented grape harvests. The volcano Vesuvius (active or extinct, then did not matter) did not attract attention.
At that time it was a single-headed cone about 2.5 km high. Currently, the height of Vesuvius is slightly higher than 1.3 km. Since the volcano had not erupted by that time for more than a century, its slope was completely covered with forests, including real plantations of wild grapes.
It seemed that the volcano Vesuvius - asleep, or acting, but very rarely. All this led to the fact that the inhabitants of the surrounding area with pleasure settled in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping mountain of fire and even on its slopes. However, in the 60s n. e. the volcano began to show clear signs of activity. So in 62, there was a major earthquake, which caused significant damage to five cities located in the vicinity of Vesuvius. This catastrophe is described by Seneca and Suetonius. Less powerful tremors continued further, right up to the eruption.
The last two days of Pompeii
On August 24, 79, huge clouds of smoke rose above the crater of the volcano. The stream of white-brown color rose to a huge height. All this was accompanied by strong tremors. In 10-11 hours, the smoke and dust stream reached a height of 20 km. Then, small pebbles up to 3 cm in diameter began to fall into the adjacent territories.
For Pompeii, an extremely unfavorable weather situation developed: the northern winds demolished the main mass of volcanic ash in the direction of the city. Therefore, in two days Pompeii was literally buried under a layer up to 3 meters thick. However, the gradual process of covering the city under volcanic materials made it possible for a large number of residents to evacuate on time, avoiding death.
Repeated eruptions of Vesuvius led to the fact that clouds of hot ash fell on Pompeii, Stabia and other cities, which led to the suffocation of everyone who did not have time to escape.
Heraclanum suffered another fate. The heavy rains that accompanied the eruption led to the formation of a powerful red-hot mudflow (lahara), which almost washed the city into the sea, completely destroying it. Vesuvius activity lasted on August 24 and 25, on August 26.
Vesuvius today
Is Vesuvius sleeping now or not? Since 1944 there is no data in the annals of his subsequent eruptions, but he continues to be considered valid. Periodic activity is expressed in hot gases escaping to the surface. Thus, the observations allow us to answer the question: is Mount Vesuvius active or extinct.
The coordinates of the mountain are 40 degrees north latitude and 14 degrees east longitude. Currently, a volcanological laboratory is operating in the vicinity of the city. Scientists carefully monitor the signs of Vesuvius activation. Fortunately for Italians, volcanology has advanced far from ancient times and allows a sufficiently complex set of signs to accurately predict the signs of an impending eruption.
Around the mountain there is a national park, which attracts a huge number of tourists. Those who wish can climb to the top of Vesuvius by looking into its crater (a magnificent view opens from the top). There is also the opportunity to contemplate the ruins of the cities destroyed by the volcano and excavated by archaeologists - Pompeii, Herculaneum. The plaster casts illustrating the poses of the dead city dwellers make a particularly depressing impression (the reenactors poured plaster between the layers of ash). Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vesuvius - active or extinct volcano? Whatever it is, it still attracts travelers.