> I just don't understand...

Never fear, because I do understand.

The reason people tend to live on the side of an active volcano is because the soil on the slopes of the volcano is just about the most fertile soil you can get. The farmers regularly get maximum yields and ripe, juicy crops - and an awful lot more money.

Unfortunately, every upside has its downside - and the downside in this situation is the chance that you could be enveloped in several thousand tonnes of molten lava.

Chrico "Keep away from pets, children and pyroclastic flows" Rinotir