Volcanic activity in the Somma-Vesuvius area goes back at least 400,000 years ago, this is the age of some lavas found in deep holes of 1345 meters.
Vesuvius, or more properly the Somma-Vesuvius, is a volcano that reaches a maximum height of 1281 meters. It is made by the oldest volcano of M. Somma, whose summit collapsed creating a caldera, and the most recent volcano of Vesuvius, who grew up within this caldera.

With the first eruption of plinian pumice, which occurred 18,300 years ago, began the collapse of the volcanic area and the formation of the Somma caldera following the decay of part of the summit. After this event, volcanic activity and the subsequent phases of subsidence have contributed to the formation of the youngest volcano, Vesuvius. The activity of this volcano, born inside the caldera of Mount Somma, was characterized by great variability of both the type of eruptions of the chemical composition of magma emitted.Variability in eruptive behavior of Mount Vesuvius is due, in first approximation, to the alternation between periods of “open conduit”, and long periods with “closed conduit”, with no activity, followed by large Plinian eruptions.  The history of the volcanic area Somma-Vesuvius began about 25,000 years ago with the increase of the Somma due to predominantly eruptions of low energy. This activity lasted until about 19,000 years ago and has resulted in the formation of the volcanic area Somma. The northern part of this most ancient area is still well preserved and is represented by the Monte Somma. Volcanic activity in the Somma-Vesuvius area goes back at least 400,000 years ago, this is the age of some lavas found in deep holes of 1345 meters. Vesuvius, or more properly the Somma-Vesuvius, is a volcano that reaches a maximum height of 1281 meters. It is made by the oldest volcano of M. Somma, whose summit collapsed creating a caldera, and the most recent volcano of Vesuvius, who grew up within this caldera. scienceshops.