Volcanoes in Italy
Volcanism and earthquakes
Italyis set on a geological powder keg. The earth's crust below the country is highly active, because the two continental plates of Europe and Africa meet each other directly in Italy. One can see on the map of Italy that these geological upheavals lead from Sicily along the Apennine up to Veneto. The results are recurring earthquakes, sometimes with serious consequences and many still active volcanoes in Italy, which have the country firmly under control. Among them, the famous Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius!
Volcanoe Etna
Unsteady earth crustunder Italy
Theearth's crust in Italy has not yet come to rest. Just below the country, a geological fold runs through the land, where continental plates of Europe and Africa are bouncing together. This hot zone reaches from Sicily, along the Apennine to Venezia Giulia. Looking at the map of Italy, one can see along this line many famous and active volcanoes and popular thermal baths and mineral springs.
However, much more numerous and often more serious than the impact of volcanoes, are earthquakes. Several times a year it comes to smaller or stronger earthquakes in Italy. Only in the last century there were many severe earthquakes, which destroyed not only Italian cities and cultural sites, but usually also caused loss of many lives. The last major earthquake occurred in April 2009 in the Abruzzi. The city of L'Aquila was affected very hard - 20 people lost their lives and over 10,000 houses were destroyed.
Mount Etna
Active volcanoes in Italy
In addition toIceland, the still famous volcanoes in Europe today are situated in Italy. No fewer than six active volcanoes are located on the peninsula, which break out at regular intervals: The Vesuvius near Naples, Stromboli and Vulcano on the Aeolian Islands, the Campi Flegrei, the island of Ischia and Europe's largest volcano - Mount Etna on Sicily. Even if the Etna now seems to be more quiet, scientists are expecting the next big eruption of Vesuvius very soon - that volcano which laid Pompeii in ashes in ancient times.
Human being & volcano
Positive aspects of volcanoes in Italy
Althoughthe six volcanoes in Italy are a permanent danger for the population, the country can also benefit from the geological faults. While the major volcanoes act as tourist magnets and attract many thousands of visitors every year, other cities along the fault line derive advantage from the thermal and mineral springs, solfataras and soffiones.
All in all, the volcanoes and its attractions are also from our point of view places of interest one must have seen in any case.
