Editing Vulcano

{{Short description|Active volcanic island off the northern coast of Sicily, Italy}}
{{Other uses|Vulcano (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox islands
| name                              = Vulcano
| native_name                       = Isola di Vulcano
| native_name_lang                  = it
| image_name                        = Aerial image of Vulcano (view from the east).jpg
| image_caption                     = Aerial view of Vulcano from the east
| map_image = Aeolian Islands map.png
| map_caption = Vulcano and the Aeolian Islands
| pushpin_map                       =
| pushpin_label                     =
| pushpin_label_position            =
| pushpin_map_alt                   =
| pushpin_relief                    =
| pushpin_map_caption               =
| coordinates                       = {{Coord|38.399434|N|14.963955|E|format=dms|region:IT-ME_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| location                          = [[Tyrrhenian Sea]]
| grid_reference                    = <!-- UK only -->
| archipelago                       = [[Aeolian Islands]]
| area_km2                          = 21
| length_km                         = 8
| width_km                          = 4
| country                           = [[Italy]]
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Regions of Italy|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Sicily]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[Provinces of Italy|Province]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Metropolitan City of Messina]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2   = [[List of municipalities of Italy|Commune]]
| country_admin_divisions_2         = [[Lipari]]
| population                        = 450 (2019)
| population_as_of                  =
}}

'''Vulcano''' ({{langx|scn|Vurcanu}}) or '''Vulcan''' is a small [[volcanic island]]  belonging to Italy in the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]], about {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Sicily]] and located at the southernmost end of the seven [[Aeolian Islands]].<ref>[https://www.smartertravel.com/hidden-italian-islands-to-visit/ Vulcano, Sicily] 8 Hidden Italian Islands Where You Can Escape the Crowds. Retrieved 24 July 2019.</ref> The island is known for its volcanic activity and contains several [[volcanic caldera]]s, including one of the four [[active volcano]]es in Italy that are not [[submarine volcano|submarine]].  The English word "volcano", and its equivalent in several European languages, derives from the name of this island, which derives from the Roman belief that the tiny island was the chimney of  [[Vulcan (mythology)|Vulcan]], the [[Roman god]] of fire. In November 2021, 150 people were evacuated from the island's harbour area due to increased volcanic activity and gases; an amber alert had been issued in October 2021 after several significant changes in the volcano's parameters.<ref name=tondo>{{Cite news |title=Italian island of Vulcano orders partial evacuation after increased activity |last=Tondo |first=Lorenzo |work=The Observer |date=21 November 2021 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/21/volcanic-italian-island-evacuation-increased-activity-vulcano}}</ref>

==Geography==
Vulcano is located approximately {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} north of Sicily and is approximately {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=on}} wide.  The island is {{convert|21|km2|0|abbr=on}} in area and rises to {{convert|501|m|0|abbr=on}} [[above mean sea level|above sea level]].  The island is separated by a {{convert|750|m|0|abbr=on}}-wide strait from [[Lipari]] to the north and is administratively part of the Commune of Lipari.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

As of 2019, Vulcano had a population of 450 residents, a decrease from a population of 953 in 2011. The majority of the population resides in Vulcano Porto on the north side of the island, with secondary population centres at Vulcano Piano and Vulcanello.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Vulcano-island-Italy|title=Vulcano (island, Italy) - Encyclopedia Britannica|website=Britannica|access-date=21 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lipari.biz/EN/00000421/Vulcano-Island.htm|title=Vulcano Island |website=Lipari.biz|access-date=21 October 2024}}</ref>

==Geology==
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Vulcano
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| elevation_m = 501
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m = 501
| prominence_ref =
| location = [[Aeolian Islands]], [[Italy]]
| range =
| coordinates =
| topo =
| type = [[Complex volcano|Complex]] [[stratovolcano]]es
| age =
| last_eruption = 1888 to 1890
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route =
}}
[[File:Fumarola, Vulcano, Sicilia, Italia, 2015.gif|thumb|Alternating views of fumaroles]]
Volcanic activity in the region is largely the result of [[Plate tectonics|tectonic activity]],  the northward-moving [[African Plate]] meeting the [[Eurasian Plate]].{{cn|date=February 2025}}

There are three volcanic centres on the island:
* At the southern end of the island are old [[stratovolcano]] cones, Monte Aria ({{convert|501|m|abbr=on}}), Monte Saraceno ({{convert|481|m|abbr=on}}), and Monte Luccia ({{convert|188|m|abbr=on}}), which have partially collapsed into the Il Piano [[Caldera]].{{cn|date=February 2025}}
* The most recently active centre is the Gran Cratere at the top of the Fossa cone, the cone having grown in the Lentia Caldera in the middle of the island, and has had at least nine major eruptions in the last 6,000 years.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
* At the north of the island is the islet, Vulcanello ({{convert|123|m|abbr=on}}), connected to Vulcano by an isthmus that may be flooded in bad weather. It emerged from the sea during an eruption in 183 BCE, as a separate islet. Occasional eruptions from its three cones with both pyroclastic flow deposits and lavas occurred from then until 1550, with the last eruption creating a narrow isthmus connecting it to Vulcano.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Vulcano has been quiet since the eruption of the Fossa cone on 2 August 1888 to 22 March 1890,<ref name=tondo/> which deposited about {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}} of [[Pyroclastic rock|pyroclastic]] material on the summit. The style of eruption seen on the Fossa cone is called a [[Vulcanian eruption]], being the explosive emission of pyroclastic fragments of viscous [[magma]]s caused by the high viscosity preventing gases from escaping easily. This eruption of Vulcano was carefully documented at the time by [[Giuseppe Mercalli]]. Mercalli described the eruptions as "...explosions sounding like a cannon at irregular intervals..." As a result, vulcanian eruptions are based on his description. A typical vulcanian eruption can hurl blocks of solid material several hundreds of metres from the vent. Mercalli reported that blocks from the 1888–1890 eruption fell into the sea between Vulcano and neighboring [[Lipari]], and several that had fallen on the island of Vulcano were photographed by him or his assistants.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Volcanic gas emissions from this volcano are measured by a multicomponent gas analyzer system, which detects degassing of rising magmas before an eruption, improving [[prediction of volcanic activity]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Chemical mapping of a fumarolic field: La Fossa Crater, Vulcano Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy) |doi=10.1029/2005GL023207 |bibcode=2005GeoRL..3213309A |volume=32 |issue= 13|pages=L13309 |journal=Geophysical Research Letters|last1 = Aiuppa|first1 = A.|last2= Federico|first2= C.|last3= Giudice|first3= G.|last4= Gurrieri|first4= S.|year=2005 |doi-access= }}</ref>

A survey on local groundwater from 1995 to 1997 found temperatures of 49–75&nbsp;°C, [[sodium sulfate]] [[chloride|-chloride]] chemical composition, and near neutral [[pH]] in the water wells closest to the slopes of the volcanic cone. This is mainly due to condensation onto the slopes of the volcanic cone and water-rock interaction buffering.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Boschetti|first1=Tiziano|last2=Cortecci|first2=Gianni|last3=Bolognesi|first3=Luca|date=2003|title=Chemical and isotopic compositions of the shallow groundwater system of Vulcano Island, Aeolian Archipelago, Italy: an update|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232180563|journal=GeoActa|volume=2|pages=1–34}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cortecci|first1=Gianni|last2=Dinelli|first2=Enrico|last3=Bolognesi|first3=Luca|last4=Boschetti|first4=Tiziano|last5=Ferrara|first5=Giorgio|date=2001|title=Chemical and isotopic compositions of water and dissolved sulfate from shallow wells on Vulcano Island, Aeolian Archipelago, Italy|journal=Geothermics|volume=30|issue=1|pages=69–91|doi=10.1016/s0375-6505(00)00037-7}}</ref>
[[File:Isola vulcano.jpg|thumb|center|x240px|View from the island of Lipari of the northern profile of Vulcano on which the low Fossa cone is visible (center), the green islet in the foreground is Vulcanello and the isthmus connecting Vulcanello to Vulcano is barely visible]]

==Microbiology==
Since Vulcano island has volcanic activity, it is a place where [[thermophiles]] and [[hyperthermophiles]] are found. The hyperthermophilic [[archaea]]n ''[[Pyrococcus furiosus]]'' was described for the first time when it was isolated from sediments of this island.<ref>{{cite journal|first=G|last =Fiala & Stetter, K. O. |year=1986|title= Pyrococcus furiosus sp. nov. represents a novel genus of marine heterotrophic archaebacteria growing optimally at 100°C|journal= Archives of Microbiology|volume= 145|pages= 56–61}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Aerial image of the La Fossa crater (Vulcano).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Fossa cone]]
[[File:Aeolian Islands (17).jpg|thumb|The Gran Cratere]]
=== Classical period ===
The [[Ancient Greeks]] named this island ''Therasía'' (Θηρασία) and ''Thérmessa'' (Θέρμεσσα, source of heat). The island appeared in their [[Greek mythology|myths]] as the private foundry of the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian god]] [[Hephaestus]], the patron of [[blacksmith]]s. Their myths noted two more of his foundries, at [[Mount Etna|Etna]] and [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Olympus]]. [[Strabo]] also mentions Thermessa as ''sacred place of Hephaestus'' (ἱερὰ Ἡφαίστου), but it is not certain whether this was a third name for the island, or merely an [[adjective]].<ref>Strabo Geographica 1.2.10</ref>

Similarly, the [[Roman people|Romans]] believed that Vulcano was the chimney of their god [[Vulcan (mythology)|Vulcan's]] workshop and, therefore, named the island after him. According to the Roman myths, the island had grown due to his periodic clearing of cinders and ashes from his forge. They also explained earthquakes that either preceded or accompanied the explosions of ash as being due to Vulcan making weapons for their god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] for his armies to wage war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/PopCulture/mythology.html |title=CVO Menu – Volcanoes in Historical and Popular Culture |publisher=Vulcan.wr.usgs.gov |access-date=2013-08-26}}</ref>

The Romans used the island mainly for raw materials, harvesting timber, and mining [[alum]] and [[sulfur]]. These were the principal activities on the island until the end of the nineteenth century.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

===Medieval===
The first ascent of the volcanic cone is documented for the 13th century. The Dominican friar [[Burchard of Mount Sion]], in his pilgrimage report to the [[Holy Land]], tells of his return journey via Sicily, which probably took place in 1284. On Vulcano he had climbed the summit "crawling on his hands and feet".<ref>Mehr, Christian: Vor Petrarca: Die Bergbesteigung eines Mönchs auf Vulcano. Archiv für Kulturgeschichte 101 (2019), pp. 317-346.</ref> His ascent can be considered authentic, as he reports in detail on his observations of the landscape and nature, for example describing the fumaroles or the diameter of the crater.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

The island of Vulcano as well as the Aeolian Islands are already known to [[Isidor of Seville]], the Gallic bishop [[Arculf]], who dictated his journey to the Holy Land to the Irishman [[Adomnan]] (before 680), or [[Bartholomew Anglicus]]. They are an integral part of medieval knowledge of the geography of the Mediterranean, but none of them wrote about Vulcano on their own initiative.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Vulcano is also mentioned in the pilgrimage report (ca. 1350) by [[Ludolf von Sudheim]], who, however, claims that he did not dare to climb it. Unlike Burchard of Mount Sion, Ludolf expected to find the entrance to hell at the crater. The Provençal knight [[Antoine de La Sale]] tells of an excursion to the island in 1406. His text is a didactic textbook for his pupil John of Calabria, the son of Duke Rene I of Anjou.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

===Modern period===
After [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] rule [[Expedition of the Thousand|collapsed in 1860]], the Scottish industrialist and philanthropist [[James Croesus Stevenson|James Stevenson]] bought the northern part of the island. He then built a [[villa]], reopened the local mines, and planted [[vineyard]]s for making [[Malmsey|Malmsey wine]]. Stevenson lived on Vulcano until the last major eruption on the island, in 1888. This eruption lasted the better part of two years, by which time Stevenson had sold all of his property to the local populace. He never returned to the island. His villa is still intact.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/vulcano_(Enciclopedia-Italiana)/|title=Vulcano |website=Enciclopedia Treccani|access-date=21 October 2024}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite book|author=David L. Le Maitre|title=Eruptions that Shook the World|year=2013|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=220}}</ref>

==Significance in pop culture==

An asteroid is named after this island, [[4464 Vulcano]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/1996/MPC_19960305.pdf |title=M.P.C. 26762 del 5 marzo 1996|website=www.minorplanetcenter.net|access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref>

The American attorney and writer, Richard Paul Roe, asserts that the play ''[[The Tempest]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]] is set on the island of Vulcano, rather than the more authoritative interpretation that the setting was based on reports about Bermuda in the Americas because of the hurricane.<ref>{{cite book | author=Richard Paul Roe | year=2011 | title=The Shakespeare Guide to Italy: Retracing the Bard's Unknown Travels | pages=265–296 | publisher=HarperCollins | isbn=978-0-06-207427-0}}</ref>

In ''[[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'': ''[[Battle Tendency]]'', Joseph Joestar accidentally imbues Ripple energy into Vulcano, causing the volcano to erupt and launch his foe Kars into outer space.<ref>{{cite book |last=Araki |first=Hirohiko |author-link=Hirohiko Araki |year=2016 |orig-year=2014 |title=JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 2—Battle Tendency |volume=4 |chapter=Chapter 66: Kars the Ultimate Being Is Born Part 2 |translator-last=Galloway |translator-first=Evan |location=San Francisco |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |pages=324–343 |isbn=978-1421578859 }}</ref>

In the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Concerning Flight", the island is mentioned by a holographic Leonardo Da Vinci.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==See also==
* [[Fumarole mineral]]
* [[List of volcanoes in Italy]]
* [[List of islands of Italy]]
* [[Vulcano (Sicily)]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{cite journal | author=Ezio Giunta, dir. | title=Vulcano | journal=Estateolie 2005 the Essential Guide (English Version of Tourist Guidebook)| year=2005 | pages=80–87}}
* {{cite gvp
 | vn = 211050
 | name = Vulcano
 | access-date = 2008-12-18 }}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=1}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031210050426/http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/europe_west_asia/vulcano.html Photos and explanatory captions]

{{Portalbar|Geography|Islands|Italy}}
{{Aeolian Islands}}
{{Magna Graecia}}
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[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Italy]]
[[Category:Calderas of Italy]]
[[Category:VEI-4 volcanoes]]
[[Category:Aeolian Islands]]
[[Category:Vulcanian eruptions]]