[petuniasevan]

People have always tended to live near volcanoes despite the danger. The soil is richer than surrounding areas so crops grow well. The tradeoff is the chance of major eruptions: you can lose all that fertile land to the ash and lava in moments. The peril to human life and habitation is constant.

The volcano Vesuvius buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. By today's standards these would be considered smallish cities, containing about 5000 (Herculaneum) and 20,000 (Pompeii) residents. But now Vesuvius hosts a large city which sprawls up its flanks: Naples (Napoli). It contains 1.2 million people. If Vesuvius repeats the 79 AD performance, the loss of life and property will be staggering.

Mount Etna: Unlike Vesuvius, no large city straddles its slopes, but there are still many towns and communities in the area. Catania, population 350,000 is a short distance south-southeast of the volcano.

Etna in action:

[petuniasevan]

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Weeee-ooo! Wouldn't want to live anywhere near that!

Great pic! Thanks!

[xJones]

Well somebody's got to stick a plug in it, think of the pollution. :)

[trussell]

Another picture saved. Thank you petuniasevan.