Is Mt. Vesuvius Active, Dormant or Extinct?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 28, 2020

Mt. Vesuvius is an active volcano. Although it has not had a major eruption since 1944, potential future eruptions continue to pose a threat to the cities that surround it including Naples.

Mt. Vesuvius is located on the West coast of Italy and is known for some of the most famous volcanic explosions in European history. It has erupted 8 times since the beginning of recorded history. Its deadliest eruption occurred in the year 79 AD, destroying the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Mt. Vesuvius is part of the Campanian volcanic arc, a line of volcanoes formed at the edge of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.