Vesuvio
Vesuvius – formidable, powerful, awe-inspiring and awe-inspiring at the same time – is one of the most famous volcanoes on Earth. Its height is 1,281 meters. Located in the south of the Apennine Peninsula, on the Gulf of Naples, Vesuvius, together with Etna on the island of Sicily and Stromboli on the Lipari Islands, is one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. At the same time, it is the only one on the continent located in the mainland of the Old World. The rest of Europe’s fire-breathing mountains are on island territories.
Video: Vesuvius Volcano and Pompeii
Contents- Highlights
- Geophysical features
- How Vesuvius formed
Most famous eruption - Volcanic activity of Vesuvius
- Vesuvius as a tourist destination
- Opening hours, how to get there
Highlights
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At the same time, Vesuvius was and still is an attractive tourist attraction – most notable in Italy’s Campania region. Fans to climb it has always found a lot. Until the end of the XIX century to help those wishing to look into the crater of the famous volcano came guides with mules, then for inquisitive travelers built a modern funicular, which operated until 1944, and after the then powerful eruption and never restored.
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Now at the service of tourists is provided chairlift, which brings to the parking lot at an altitude of 1000 meters. The remaining distance – 281 meters – people overcome on their own. It is a bit tiring, but conquering the legendary peak is worth it. It offers beautiful views of Naples, the island of Capri and the picturesque Sorrentine coast – a real pearl of Italy, where patricians, powerful rulers of ancient Rome liked to rest. And, of course, in the memory of a lifetime remains a vivid impression, which can be expressed by a short but succinct phrase: “I conquered Vesuvius!”
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Geophysical features
The volcano is part of the Somma-Vesuvius mountain system, consisting of three cones. From the outside we see the oldest of them, preserved on the slopes on the north and east sides. It has the appearance of an arc-shaped shaft and is called Monte Somma. Its height reaches 1138 meters. The second cone is the inner cone: it is Vesuvius proper. The third cone is considered temporary. He then appears, then, after strong eruptions, disappears. It is impossible for a mere mortal to see it. And not even because of its impermanence: it is simply located at the bottom of the crater, where only specialists look in – for example, the volcanic station founded back in 1842. The observatory is located on the northwestern slope, about 600 meters from the surface of the ground.
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How Vesuvius was formed
In prehistoric times, Vesuvius was replaced by a large basin shaped like a circus arena – a caldera. It was clearly volcanic in origin, given its proximity to the Somme. The walls were steep, the bottom was more or less flat. As a result of numerous eruptions of the latter, the old caldera was destroyed and Vesuvius appeared in its place. With his appearance fire-breathing mountain and became de facto double.
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The next day, the elements of Vesuvius, which did not think to subside, reached Pompeii. To imagine what was happening in its streets, it is enough to remember the picture of the Russian painter and muralist Karl Pavlovich Bryullov’s “The Last Day of Pompeii”, painted in 1830-1833. The great artist, called to the aid of his imagination, in bright colors reproduced the details of what happened. That the catastrophe was terrible, is confirmed by the results of recent studies. The power of the release of lava, ash and other components was – just think – 100,000 tons per second! Volcanic masses reached a fantastic height of 35 kilometers, and therefore it is not surprising that the air, warmed by 500 degrees, gained tremendous speed and rushed forward, literally sizzling everything around.
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About that terrible eruption of Vesuvius, written testimonies have also been preserved. Their author is the ancient Roman politician, writer and lawyer Gaius Pliny Caecilius Secundus, known as Pliny the Younger. Together with his uncle Pliny the Elder (Gaius Pliny Secundus), commander of the Misenian fleet, he was on one of the ships sailing in the Gulf of Naples in the immediate vicinity of the affected areas. Thus the young man became an unwitting witness to a terrible catastrophe. A huge cloud that appeared over the volcano Vesuvius at about one o’clock in the afternoon, reminded him of the outline of a pine tree, first evenly stretched, and then expanded into several “branches”. The cloud, recalls the Roman, was white in color, in some places stained with ash. Rapidly enlarged and blackened, it blocked the entire sky. Long streaks of flame ran through this mess like cracks, resembling lightning, only, unlike thunderstorms, unnaturally huge.
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A thick darkness fell. Ashes fell incessantly. Desperate cries of doomed men could be heard from the shore. In these difficult conditions, the commander of the fleet, showing great courage, decides to send ships to the coast and try to save those who have not yet died. As the ships approached, continues his memoirs Pliny the Younger, it became unbearably hot. Along with the ash, black rocks began to fall from above, and from the crater of the volcano rushed upwards an impressive column of flame. In total in Pompeii, according to available data, then killed 2000 people. The same number of people volcanic emissions buried alive in the vicinity of the city. But many, thanks to desperate and brave sailors, managed to escape. Pliny the Elder himself was killed during the rescue operation..Vesuvius, having done its black work, fell asleep, leaving no stone unturned from the settlements located at its foot. Not only Pompeii and Herculaneum, but also Stabiae were destroyed: ash and mud covered them completely. In time, the memory of the lost cities-beautiful cities faded into oblivion. Seventeen centuries later, while digging a well, sculptures of ancient Roman gods were accidentally discovered. It was decided to start excavations. Upon their completion, the archaeologists saw a stunning picture – as if a time machine had transported them to the era of antiquity. Seven-meter layer of volcanic ash perfectly preserved the houses of Pompeii inhabitants, temples, amphitheater, workshops, household items, works of art. The innocent victims of the Vesuvius eruption were reminded of the voids in the compacted ash, repeating the contours of human bodies. They were filled with plaster, and the resulting figures, along with found household utensils put in storage in the museum, which is visited by tourists with interest.
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Video: Reconstructed eruption of Vesuvius in 79
Vesuvius volcanic activity
After the ’79 eruption and the destruction of several cities, a huge 15-kilometer caldera formed. Subsequent volcanic activity of Vesuvius has been somewhat weaker. For example, it is well known eruption of 1631, when ash and lava killed about 4 thousand people, but not because the release of lava and ash was very powerful, but because of the high population density. It seems that the death of Pompeii did not teach people anything, they still densely settled in the vicinity of the formidable giant. Spewing from the depths of the masses of earth rocks, the volcano did not even “spare” itself: its height decreased by as much as 168 meters. Once Vesuvius fired double crystals of pyroxenes – rock-forming silicate minerals. Visually it looked like a “rain”…of small black crosses, much to the surprise of the Neapolitans.
.The eruption of 1805 was even weaker than the previous ones, but again it was not without casualties and destruction. Naples was almost completely flattened to the ground, and the total number of deaths amounted to an impressive figure: 26,000 people. Vesuvius also woke up in 1794, 1822, 1872, again and again reminding people that the neighborhood with him can be very dangerous. In the early morning of April 4, 1906, a crack formed in the southwest side of the cone, from which magma poured out, the crater began to spew ash and scatter two-ton rocks, destroying everything around. And the gas release was so powerful that the top of the fire-breathing mountain flew off like a hat under the blowing wind.
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Opening hours, how to get there
Vesuvius National Park operates according to a schedule that is adjusted in different months. In March and October you can visit here from 9:00 to 16:00, in April, May-June and September – until 17:00. In the peak season (July-August) the time of excursions is increased by another hour. From November to February, on the contrary, the time is reduced – until 15:00. The ticket office located in Ercolano, a commune in the province of Naples, is open almost year-round, except for days when the volcano becomes more active, which carries potential dangers.
.You can get there from Naples by taking the train that leaves daily in the direction of Vesuvius from the main train station, which is located in Piazza Garibaldi. Travel time will take 9-16 minutes, the final stop is Ercolano-Scavi station. Then transfer to a minibus and in half an hour you are already on the territory of the national park. If you don’t catch the train, don’t be disappointed and wait for the next train, which will come very quickly.
.From Naples to Vesuvius there is also bus transportation, which leaves daily at 9:00 and 10:15 from Piazza Piedigrotta, travel time – 1 h 30 min. The return trip departs at 12:30 and 14:00. Buses to Vesuvius volcano, starting at 8:00 and until 11:20, also depart from Pompeii, from Piazza Amphitheater. On the journey, which lasts approximately 60 minutes, they make several stops.
.If you have some free time, be sure to check out the souvenir shops near the ticket office. Here you can also have a bite to eat and recover after a hard but bright and memorable trip to the most famous volcano on the planet – Vesuvius.
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