Wednesday 30th June 2021

LC: To describe key physical features of a European country focusing on volcanoes and how these impact on human activity.

What can you remember about volcanoes?

(Look back at Autumn 2 in your topic books and on Seesaw.)

Italy is a volcanically active country. It has the only active volcanoes in mainland Europe. 

Can you remember their names and where they are found?

Mount Etna, Mount Stromboli and Mount Vesuvius are types of stratovolcanoes. This means the volcano is built up of alternate layers of lava and ash. 

We know that volcanoes are extremely dangerous so why do people choose to settle and live near them?

- They provide really fertile soil which is great for farming and crops.

- Ash ejected from volcanoes acts as a good fertiliser for the soil. 

- It can provide new habitats for animals, plants and insects.

- They can create geothermal energy in areas where magma lies close to the surface of the earth. 

Geothermal energy is heat within the earth and is a renewable source of energy. It can be used to heat buildings and generate electricity.

How has Naples, where Mount Vesuvius can be found, benefitted from volcanic activity?

Naples is able to produce many crops and foods because of volcanic activity in the area. They can produce citrus fruits, olives, grapes, apricots, figs, cherries and plums.

Their biggest export (which means sending goods to another country for sale) are tomatoes. 

Did you know that Italy is one of the world's leading producers of tomatoes?

Italy distributes most of its tomatoes to over half of Europe! 

Next time you go to the supermarket and pick up some tomatoes, just think that they may have travelled to you all the way from Italy!

Your Task

In your own words explain the following:

1. Explain the physical features of a volcano that benefit human

   activity in Italy.

2. Explain how farming is helped in Italy by volcanic activity.

3. Explain what could happen to farming in Italy if the volcanoes

   became extinct. 

This can be recorded in your topic books.