🌋VolcanoAtlas

Mount Vesuvius

The Most Dangerous Volcano in Europe

Elevation

1,281 m

Last Eruption

1944

Type

Somma-stratovolcano

Country

Italy

Location

Loading map...

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskHigh
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity82 years agoHistoricalRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

INGV Observatory
National Institute of Geophysics
Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Normal
No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Italy Volcanoes
Explore by country
Somma-stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Campania
Regional volcanoes
red and blue car parked beside white and blue house during daytime

Christopher Ott

via Unsplash

a group of people standing on top of a mountain

Europeana

via Unsplash

Volcano erupting with a large ash cloud over town.

Europeana

via Unsplash

Volcanic eruption with lava flow and smoke at sunset.

Europeana

via Unsplash

Volcanic landscape with a smoking cone in the distance

Europeana

via Unsplash

red and yellow boat on sea shore during daytime

Sean Ferigan

via Unsplash

Other Volcanoes in Italy

Interesting Facts

🌋

The 79 AD eruption released thermal energy roughly 100,000 times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, ejecting approximately 3.3 km³ of magma in less than 24 hours.

🌋

Vesuvius is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted in the last 100 years — every other historically active European volcano is on an island.

🌋

The term 'Plinian eruption' — used worldwide to describe explosive volcanic columns reaching the stratosphere — is named after Pliny the Younger, who described Vesuvius's 79 AD eruption in letters that became foundational texts of volcanology.

🌋

Population density in some high-risk municipalities on Vesuvius's flanks reaches 30,000 people per square kilometre, making it the most densely populated volcanic hazard zone on the planet.

🌋

The 472 AD eruption was so powerful that ash reportedly reached as far as Constantinople (modern Istanbul), over 1,200 km (750 mi) away.

🌋

Grapes grown on Vesuvius's slopes produce the wine 'Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio' (Tears of Christ), cultivated on the same volcanic soil since Roman times and recognised with DOC status.

🌋

The volcano's current summit crater is approximately 300 m deep and 600 m across — a void formed during the 1944 eruption that effectively ended over three centuries of near-continuous activity.

🌋

Vesuvius has an unusual 'somma' structure — a younger cone (Gran Cono) growing inside the collapsed caldera of an older, taller volcano (Monte Somma) — and is in fact the type locality for which all 'somma volcanoes' worldwide are named.

🌋

The Osservatorio Vesuviano, established in 1841 on the volcano's western flank, is the oldest volcanological observatory in the world and now operates over 30 seismometers monitoring the volcano.

🌋

During the 1944 eruption, the US Army Air Forces' 340th Bombardment Group lost 78–88 B-25 Mitchell bombers at the nearby Pompeii Airfield — destroyed not by enemy fire but by accumulated volcanic ash and cinder.

🌋

The current dormant period of over 80 years is the longest since the ~500-year quiet interval that preceded the devastating VEI 5 eruption of 1631 — a parallel that deeply concerns modern volcanologists.

🌋

Vesuvius National Park, established in 1995, protects 135 km² of the volcano and includes 54 km of hiking trails through lava fields, Mediterranean scrub, and the historic Valle del Gigante.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Vesuvius still active?
Yes, Mount Vesuvius is classified as an active volcano by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program and every major volcanological authority. In volcanological terms, an 'active' volcano is one that has erupted within the Holocene epoch (last 11,700 years) and shows evidence of ongoing magmatic activity. Vesuvius meets both criteria: it has erupted 61 times in the last 9,000 years, most recently in March 1944, and continues to exhibit low-level seismicity (200–400 micro-earthquakes per year) and fumarolic gas emissions from its summit crater. The Osservatorio Vesuviano, part of Italy's INGV, operates a comprehensive monitoring network of seismometers, GPS stations, and gas sensors. Volcanologists universally agree that a future eruption is not merely possible but inevitable.
When did Vesuvius last erupt?
Vesuvius last erupted between March 18 and March 23, 1944, during the Allied occupation of southern Italy in World War II. The eruption produced lava flows that destroyed the villages of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio and Massa di Somma, lava fountains exceeding 600 m (2,000 ft) in height, and pyroclastic flows on the northern and eastern flanks. Twenty-six civilians were killed, and the US Army Air Forces lost 78–88 B-25 bombers at the nearby Pompeii Airfield. The eruption, rated VEI 3, reshaped the summit crater to its current 300 m-deep, 600 m-wide form. The volcano has been in a state of repose ever since — over 80 years, the longest quiet period since the dormancy preceding the catastrophic 1631 eruption.
Could Vesuvius erupt again?
Yes, volcanologists consider a future eruption of Vesuvius to be inevitable. The volcano has averaged approximately one eruption per decade over the past two millennia, and the current dormant interval of over 80 years is exceptionally long by post-1631 standards. Historically, longer repose periods at Vesuvius have correlated with more explosive subsequent eruptions — the ~500-year dormancy before 1631 produced a VEI 5 blast. Italian authorities plan for a reference scenario of a sub-Plinian eruption (VEI 4), which would require evacuating approximately 600,000 people from the zona rossa within 72 hours. The precise timing cannot be predicted, but the monitoring network operated by the Osservatorio Vesuviano is designed to detect escalating precursory signals weeks to months before an eruption.
How many people died in the 79 AD eruption?
Death toll estimates for the 79 AD eruption range from approximately 2,000 to 16,000 people, with the wide range reflecting uncertainty about the populations of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Oplontis at the time, and how many residents successfully fled during the eruption's initial pumice-fall phase. Archaeological excavations have recovered approximately 1,150 bodies at Pompeii and over 300 at Herculaneum, but many more remain unexcavated or were never buried in identifiable form. The primary causes of death were pyroclastic surges (superheated gas-and-ash clouds travelling at over 100 km/h at temperatures of 300–700°C), building collapse under accumulated pumice, and asphyxiation. The most prominent casualty was Pliny the Elder, the Roman naturalist and fleet commander, who died at Stabiae while attempting a rescue mission.
How tall is Mount Vesuvius?
Mount Vesuvius stands at 1,281 m (4,203 ft) above sea level, measured to the summit of the younger Gran Cono. However, the volcano's height has changed significantly with successive eruptions. Before the 79 AD eruption, Vesuvius was likely a single peak approximately 2,000 m (6,600 ft) tall; the Plinian eruption destroyed the upper portion and created a caldera. The adjacent Monte Somma caldera rim, the remnant of the older edifice, reaches 1,132 m (3,714 ft) at Punta Nasone. For comparison, Vesuvius is considerably smaller than its Sicilian counterpart Mount Etna, which rises to 3,357 m (11,014 ft) — nearly three times the height. The 1906 eruption alone reduced Vesuvius's summit by approximately 220 m.
What type of volcano is Vesuvius?
Vesuvius is classified as a somma-stratovolcano, a specific type of composite volcano. A stratovolcano (or composite volcano) is built from alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, and other pyroclastic material, producing a steep-sided conical profile. What makes Vesuvius a 'somma' stratovolcano is its distinctive dual structure: the active cone (Gran Cono) has grown inside the caldera of an older, partially collapsed volcano (Monte Somma). This structural type is named after Vesuvius's Monte Somma itself, making Vesuvius the type locality for all 'somma volcanoes' worldwide. Stratovolcanoes as a group produce the most explosive and dangerous eruptions on Earth, driven by gas-rich, viscous magma — and Vesuvius is an archetypal example.
Can you visit Mount Vesuvius?
Yes, Vesuvius is open to visitors year-round through Vesuvius National Park. The standard route is Sentiero n. 5 (Path No. 5), a well-maintained 1.5 km gravel path from the car park at ~1,000 m to the crater rim at 1,281 m, taking approximately 25–40 minutes to walk. At the summit, visitors can peer into the 300 m-deep crater, often observing fumarolic steam vents, and enjoy panoramic views of the Bay of Naples, Capri, and Pompeii below. Entry fees are approximately €10 for adults, and hours vary seasonally (typically 9:00–17:00 in summer). Most visitors reach the car park via shuttle bus from Ercolano Scavi station on the Circumvesuviana railway from Naples. Combining a Vesuvius summit hike with a visit to Pompeii or Herculaneum at the base is the classic day trip from Naples.
What would happen if Vesuvius erupted today?
Italian authorities plan for a reference scenario of a sub-Plinian eruption (VEI 4), comparable to the 1631 event. In such a scenario, pyroclastic flows could reach populated areas within 5–15 minutes of eruption column collapse, necessitating the emergency evacuation of approximately 600,000 people from the 25 municipalities in the zona rossa (red zone). Ashfall would blanket Naples and the surrounding Campania region, potentially collapsing older roofs, disrupting water supplies, and shutting down transportation. European airspace across the central Mediterranean would likely be closed. A larger Plinian eruption (VEI 5, comparable to 79 AD) would extend the danger zone significantly. The Piano Nazionale di Emergenza provides for a 72-hour evacuation window triggered by escalating seismic and geochemical precursors, though critics question the feasibility of evacuating this many people through the region's congested infrastructure.
How far is Vesuvius from Naples?
Mount Vesuvius is approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) east of the centre of Naples, making it visible from virtually every point in the city. The municipalities directly on the volcano's flanks — including Torre del Greco, Ercolano (the site of ancient Herculaneum), and Torre Annunziata — have populations exceeding 50,000 each, and the archaeological site of Pompeii lies at the southeastern base. The entire zona rossa hazard zone, encompassing areas within direct reach of pyroclastic flows, extends approximately 7–10 km from the summit in all directions.
Why is Vesuvius so dangerous?
Vesuvius is considered one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes due to a convergence of factors. First, its magma is gas-rich and viscous (phono-tephrite and tephri-phonolite compositions), favouring explosive eruptions that produce deadly pyroclastic flows rather than slow-moving lava. Second, approximately 3 million people live within its hazard zone, with population densities in some flank municipalities reaching 30,000 per km² — the highest of any volcanic area on Earth. Third, its eruption history demonstrates capability for VEI 5 events with devastating pyroclastic flows reaching the coast. Fourth, the current dormancy of 80+ years suggests substantial magma accumulation, and longer rest periods at Vesuvius have historically preceded more violent eruptions. Fifth, the region's dense urban development and congested infrastructure pose enormous challenges for emergency evacuation.