Solfatara
Volcano Learning zone > Volcano Glossary
Solfatara literally means sulphur earth in latin and refers to an area where large amounts of sulphurous fumaroles are situated. The original Solfatara is iin Puzzuoli, near Naples, and is situated in the Campi Flegrei volcanic area.It is a shallow dormant volcanic crater which formed 4000 years ago and last had a phreatic eruption 1198.
The Campi Fegrei or Phlegraean Fields is a 8 mile whide caldera to the west of Naples which contains 24 seperate craters. 37,000 years ago an enormous eruption here is thought to have aided in the extinction of Neanderthal man and the expansion of modern humans in Asia and Europe.