Q. Consider the following statements regarding famous active volcanoes:
1.Mount Vesuvius is a destructive stratovolcano near Naples that entirely buried the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum during its 79 AD eruption.
2.Mount St. Helens, located in the Cascade Range of the USA, is a shield volcano famous for its highly documented 1980 effusive basaltic eruption.
3.Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily, stands as Europe’s tallest and longest-recorded active stratovolcano.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Mount Vesuvius is a classic composite volcano located on the Gulf of Naples. Its historic eruption in 79 AD released a massive cloud of ash and pyroclastic flows, sealing Pompeii and Herculaneum in a layer of volcanic matter.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: Mount St. Helens is a stratovolcano (composite volcano), not a shield volcano, and its famous 1980 eruption was a highly explosive lateral blast caused by a massive debris avalanche, not a gentle, effusive basaltic flow.
- Statement 3 is correct: Mount Etna is a highly active stratovolcano situated on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. It is the largest active volcano in Europe, with recorded history of eruptions dating back to 1500 BC.
