The climb to the crater of Vesuvio is thus nothing more than a family sunday walk. Monte Somma is in the background. Southwest part of the crater, showing 1913-1944 lava fill and 1944 pyroclastics on the crater rim. The sheeted 1913-1944 lava flows show a sharp contact against older pyroclastics with subordinate lava flows. The 1944 eruption opened a new crater somewhat south of the 1906 crater, thus leading to this beautiful exposure.
Green vegetation is visible on the high crater rim in the center.
More than 50 years after the most recent eruption, vegetation is conquering the volcano. While vast areas on its slopes are already covered in lush green, patches of vegetation are even visible within the crater. The boat chambers, scenes of human tragedy during the AD 79 eruption, are visible in the lower part of the photo. This was the shoreline until pyroclastic flows of the AD 79 eruption displaced the coast about 400 m seaward. Major building in Herculaneum severely damaged during the AD 79 eruption.