Robert Michener, age 12, of Hutchinson, Kan., for his question:

WHERE IS VESUVIUS?

Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the mainland of Europe. It is also probably the most famous volcano in the world. It rises on the Bay of Naples, about seven miles southeast of the city of Naples in Italy.

All through the years there have been destructive eruptions. About 18,000 persons were said to have died in the eruption of 1631. There were other eruptions in 1794, 1822, 1855, 1872, 1880, 1895, 1906 and 1929.

The most recent eruption occurred in March 1944,~which destroyed the village of San Sebastiano. People had to rush to escape the flow of lava and the falling of volcanic dust.

Many people still live on the lower slopes of the mountain and in the plains at its foot, in spite of Vesuvius' history of disastrous eruptions. The soil is extremely fertile and the area is famous for its lush vineyards of fine wine grapes.