In its boot conformation, Italy is characterized by a remarkable landscape variety. Between green plains, coasts, terraces and mountain peaks emerge here and there mouths of fire. As fascinating as they are dangerous and fearful volcanoes are present in the central southern area. But how much do we actually know about their lives? Let's try to find out more closely between shapes, eruptions and curiosities.
What are?
Before talking about the volcanoes in Italy, we need to clarify. So let's try to explain what they are. In simple words it could be said that it is natural openings of the earth's crust from which the magma until it reaches the surface. Volcanoes often have a conical shape resulting vaguely similar to a mountain but with substantial differences. The first that comes to mind is that they are equipped with crater. A sort of "mouth" from which lava, ash, lapilli, gas, slag and steam emerge. If there is a "mouth" then it means that there is a "stomach" somewhere. Is already, volcanoes have their "stomach" which, just like our body, is not immediately visible. It is in fact well hidden inside the earth's crust and corresponds to the magma chamber, an intermediate space in which the magma makes its ascent towards the surface.
However, not all volcanoes can be described in such a simplistic way. This is especially true for the Campi Flegrei which have 19 craters partly covered by Lake Averno and spread over an area of 64 square km. Without a central body, the magma does not come out from one preferential route but from several subsidence lines of the earth's crust. Volcanologists in fact speak of "fields" whose activity is closely connected to that of Vesuvius.
In central southern Italy
When we think of the volcanoes present in our territory, two names immediately come to mind. Vesuvius and Etna. Both are tourist excursion destinations up to a certain altitude as they are considered active. The last eruption of the Vesuvio took place in 1944 but the best known, in historical terms, was certainly that of 79 AD which involved the destruction of Pompeii ed Herculaneum. Many people and animals were petrified by the lava. For theEtna instead we only talk about the last 24th December when the volcano made itself felt with ashes, lapilli and earthquakes.
Yet there are many more. Concentrated in the central southern area are well ten volcanoes believed to be still awake. Starting from Lazio we meet the Alban Hills which follow in Campania i Campi Flegrei, Then Vesuvio e Ischia. Moving south: Stromboli, Lipari, Vulcano, Etna, Pantelleria and Ferdinandea Island. If some names are better known to us than others, the explanation is immediately given. Among the volcanoes mentioned are certainly Etna and Stromboli those that they manifest a more frequent activity. Their eruptions are in fact continuous and separated only by short periods of rest which on average last a few months or at most a few years. So how do you determine if a volcano is active or not? The dividing line is given by a rather long time span. We talk about well 10000 thousand years which period within which volcanoes have manifested an eruption even if they are currently experiencing a phase of rest. On the other hand, those volcanoes whose last activity dates back to over 10000 years ago are defined as extinct.
Volcanic varieties and curiosities
We have already understood that not all volcanoes are the same. They can be single and resemble a mountain with a crater or they can form a grouping as in the case of Campi Flegrei and Colli Albani. But there is more, volcanoes may even be invisible because they are hidden under the surface of the water. This is especially true for the maritime volcanoes present in the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the Canale di Sicilia. Among them is theFerdinandea Island emerged in 1831, in front of the city of Sciacca, due to the accumulation of lava products and the like. As it suddenly appeared, the island disappeared just as quickly. In fact, it only took a few months because the sea destroyed it. Today it is completely below the water level and continues its activity mainly through the production of gas that diffuse in columns of tens of meters in diameter. Its name is due to Sovereign of the Kingdom of the two Sicilies even if the claims of other European powers were not lacking in that period. This is why it is also known as Graham for the British e Giulia for the French.