Solfatara, Dormant volcano in Pozzuoli, Italy
Solfatara is a dormant crater in the Campania region that belongs to the Phlegraean Fields volcanic group. The oval basin hosts active fumaroles releasing sulfur vapors into the air, while the ground is covered with yellowish deposits.
Romans called this site Sulpha Terra because of its sulfuric properties. In ancient times, it was seen as Forum Vulcani, the entrance to the world of the fire god.
The crater sits at the heart of a volcanic system that has brought sulfur compounds to the surface for centuries. Visitors see steam rising from cracks in the ground and can notice the characteristic smell of the mineral.
Access follows a path along the crater rim, where uneven terrain requires sturdy footwear. Geological instruments monitor activity in real time because the site sits within an active system.
The crater hosts microorganisms that survive at high temperatures and inspire scientific research into adaptation to extreme conditions. One of them is Sulfolobus solfataricus, which thrives in hot springs within the caldera.
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