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Vesuvius national parks
The Vesuvius National Park covers a surface area of around 13,500 hectares,
it includes numerous villages and is one of the World Biosphere Reserves
protected by UNESCO.
According to scientific research, the volcanic component was already active
300,000 years ago, with explosive phases that began around 17,000 years ago
(a Bronze Age village, buried by an eruption like that of 79 A.D., has
recently been brought to light in Noia). The eruption of Vesuvius have been
so typical as to give rise to the term "Vesuvian phase" in order to indicate
violent reawakening caused by magma at a great depth. The mild climate and
the extremely fertile ground, despite the lava flows that have followed one
another over the centuries, have enabled the evolution of luxuriant
characteristic flora that provides a habitat for a few, but significant
animal species, with birds that stop here while migrating.
As well as the typical broom, which is the symbol of the park, we should
also point out the lichen that colonizes the lava flows because mugwort,
curry plant, valerian, pines, locust trees, birch and species of
Mediterranean scrub take root there.
The fauna includes foxes, hares, wild rabbits, dormice, weasels, stone
martens and garden dormice. The birds include hobbies, golden orioles, owls,
redstarts, black flycatchers, robins, black' caps, wrens, great tits, little
owls, spotted woodpeckers, barn owls, woodcocks, blackbirds, greenfinches
and crows.
It is possible to go on excursions in the Park and on Vesuvius, in order to
enjoy the natural environment and admire unforgettable views.
We recommend making time for a visit to the Vesuvius Observatory, the
first point for volcanological observation and study in the world and one of
the greatest structures of its kind.
It was founded in 1841, and was initially run then by one of the most
famous volcanologists ever, Giuseppe Mercalli who gave his name to the
Seismic Scale of the same name. The Observatory is halfway up to the crater
and can be visited.
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