What kind of volcano is Mount Vesuvius?

Mount Vesuvius is a complex stratovolcano, according to Live Science. Stratovolcanoes produce violent eruptions due to the increase in gas pressure from the thicker lava and cooler magma than many other volcanoes. Like other stratovolcanoes, Mount Vesuvius has a proportionate mix of lava and pyroclastic forms, ash and other rocks.

The formation of Mount Vesuvius dates to the collapse of a previous stratovolcano, Somma. Other stratovolcanoes include Mount Rainier, Mount Fuji and Mount St. Helens. Stratovolcanoes often form on top of one another in domes and collapse. Mount Vesuvius is famous for its eruption and subsequent destruction of Pompeii in 79 A.D.