From literally anywhere in Naples Vesuvius stands threateningly close by, like a loaded gun pointed at the heart of the city…
Even eggheads find it difficult to be absolutely precise about this but scientists think that Vesuvius formed about twenty-five thousand years ago and today the volcano is rated as one of the most dangerous in the world – not because of its size but because of the proximity of millions of people living close by and if it was to go off again with a similar eruption to the one that destroyed Pompeii in 79 A.D. then it is estimated that it could displace up to three million people who live in and around the city of Naples.
The volcano has a major eruption cycle of about two thousand years so the next eruption is dangerously imminent.
I visited the top of the Volcano in 1976.
Have Bag, Will Travel 
I remember this from before. Another great example of reposting a good article. Our Australian volcanoes are mostly just interesting hills dotting wide open plains.
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Recycling is good, saves the planet!
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No volcanoes here, but I live in an earthquake zone with a tsunami threat thrown in for good measure. (Last one in my community was 1964.) Nature can be fierce!
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Just need to get out in good time I guess. No volcanoes or earthquakes in UK!
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Reblogged this on clawingmywayin.
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You haven’t changed a bit Andrew!
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Thanks Denzil!
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Just for thrills we live with a tsunami threat on one side and volcanoes on the other. Things could get exciting I suppose.
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Nerves of steel? Luckily where we live this part of the World is safely benign!
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I remember wandering through Pompeii and staring up at Vesuvius, Andrew. It still looms ominously. –Curt
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It seems almost benign now Curt, it is the knowledge of what it did that continues to intrigue us. 2,000 years ago but even so well documented.
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I considered my visit to Pompeii as one the highlights of my European trips, Andrew. A fascinating place. Fortunately, I visited when very few people were there. –Curt
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I don’t know when you visited Curt, I first went in 1976, today visitors can only see a third of what I saw then because of environmental and health and safety issues. Apparently the place is falling apart due to under-funding!
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Sad… such a treasure. We are off on our conditioning hike, Andrew. Be back next week.
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and I think that potus needs to visit the top of that one in Hawai’i
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Need some stout shoes!
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He’s that thick skinned I doubt he’s notice
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