Mount Vesuvius behind city of Naples. The modern cone of Vesuvius is flanked on the left by Monte Somma, the rim of a caldera that formed about 17,000 years ago. Eight major explosive eruptions have occurred since, including the 79 CE eruption that destroyed Pompeii and other towns. A period of frequent, long-duration eruptions began in 1631 and the latest eruption of Vesuvius was in 1944.

Photo by Dan Dzurisin, 1983 (U.S. Geological Survey).

This image is made available as a Public Domain Work, but proper attribution is appreciated.

Keywords: stratovolcano | caldera

Vesuvius