Interesting Facts

Life on Earth could be at threat from a catastrophic "supervolcano". (Two massive piles of rock, the size of continents, are crashing together as they shift at the bottom of Earth's mantle, 1,800 miles (2,900km) beneath the Pacific Ocean. Seismologists believe is due to erupt in between 100 and 200 million years' time.  Phew!)

The name "volcano" has its origin from the name of Vulcan , a god of fire in Roman mythology. (So Trekkies were here before.  xx)

An online shop, nammi.is, is selling 160-gram (five-and-a-half ounce) jars of ash from the Eyjafjpoll volcano. (The ash costs €23.80 ($29.90), but the good news is all the proceeds are going to a charity that supports Iceland's search and rescue services.)

Before the recent eruptions, the last time the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier exploded was between 1821 and 1823. (It also erupted in 920 and 1612. Of course back then there were no airports to shut.)

There are about 1,510 'active' volcanoes in the world. (Over half of them are in a belt around the Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire. Reminds me of a Johnny Cash song.)

Italy has three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli. (Stromboli is off the north coast of Sicily, Etna is on the east coast of Sicily, and Vesuvius is east of Naples. I need to know these things as I'm there at the moment.)

Mt. Vesuvius, in Italy, last erupted in 1944, destroying a number of neighbouring villages. (Most famous for having destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii, it looks as if it's not quite finished with us.)