Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

Pompeii was once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city until the destructive power of Mt Vesuvius caused its sudden demise. Mt Vesuvius is a composite cone volcano sitting on the convergent plate boundary where the African and European plates meet.  It’s eruption of 79AD sent out huge pyroclastic flows of hot ash, pumise, and gas, which completely buried Pompeii and its inhabitants. The site lay buried for centuries until excavation revealed that the layers of volcanic material had preserved much of the site, including cast of some of the inhabitants. On your trip to Pompeii, it is possible to freely explore excavated ruins.

An estimated 3 million people live in shadows of the dormant Mt Vesuvius and could be at risk if there is another eruption. This makes it an excellent case study for considering natural hazard planning and management. The area around the volcano is now a protected national park, and students can visit the area and view the old lava flows and walk to the crater to learn more about the volcano’s geological processes and the landforms within the volcanic landscape. You will be led around the crater by specialist onsite guide.