Vesuvius

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii

Discover the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, buried in volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted

Area of Italy affected by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 ce

How volcanoes work, explained by a volcanologist

Watch buildings crumble during the volcanic eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius in 1944

excavations near Mount Vesuvius

For Students

Vesuvius summary

Read Next

Arenal Volcano in northwestern Costa Rica in the province of Alajuela.

Are Volcanoes Dangerous When They’re Not Erupting?

Bear Hat Mountain above Hidden Lake on a crest of the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana

Exploring 7 of Earth’s Great Mountain Ranges

Volcanic eruption of a volcano near Antigua, Guatemala

What Causes a Volcano to Erupt?

Denali (Mount Mckinley), Denali National Park, Alaska.

7 (or 8) Summits: The World’s Highest Mountains by Continent

Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom

What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?

Discover

Watergate scandal. Richard M. Nixon. President Nixon gives a press conference and talks to the press, March 12, 1971.

9 American Political Scandals

Four year old boy with grandfather and father lighting Hanukkah menorah. Photo taken on: December 21st, 2009

Which Is Correct: Hanukkah or Chanukah?

Orange basketball on black background and with low key lighting. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time

Facsimile of one of William Henry Ireland's forgeries, a primitive self-portrait of William Shakespeare(tinted engraving). Published for Samuel Ireland, Norfolk Street, Strand, December 1, 1795. (W.H. Ireland, forgery)

The Time a Law Clerk Successfully Forged a New Shakespeare Play to Impress His Dad

The Jeff Koons tulips sculputure outside the Guggenheim Museums in Bilbao, Spain, Basque Country.

What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Art?

Close-up of ostriches (Struthio camelus) necks and heads; location unknown.

6 of the World's Most Dangerous Birds

Ice Sledge Hockey, Hockey Canada Cup, USA (left) vs Canada, 2009. UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver, BC, competition site for Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic ice sledge hockey. Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver Olympics

10 Best Hockey Players of All Time

Vesuvius

volcano, Italy

Also known as: Mount Vesuvius, Vesuvio

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 17, 2024 • Article History

Also called:: Mount Vesuvius or

Italian:: Vesuvio

See all related content

News •

Pompeii experts back Pliny's account of Mount Vesuvius eruption date • Dec. 13, 2024, 5:07 AM ET (The Guardian)

Vesuvius, active volcano that rises above the Bay of Naples on the plain of Campania in southern Italy. Its western base rests almost upon the bay. The height of the cone in 2013 was 4,203 feet (1,281 metres), but it varies considerably after each major eruption. At about 1,968 feet (about 600 metres), a high semicircular ridge, called Mount Somma, begins, girding the cone on the north and rising to 3,714 feet (1,132 metres). Between Mount Somma and the cone is the Valle del Gigante (Giant’s Valley). At the summit of the cone is a large crater about 1,000 feet ...(100 of 801 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.