> > 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

And why do people live in flood plains? Even the ancient Egyptians figured out that it was best to farm the flood plain and build the house on the high ground. Maybe they were smarter than us.

Can you believe that people will build fine homes on low sandy barrier islands in Hurricane Alley. They do. In a matter of weeks we will be watching them on the news as they tumble into the surf in hurricane whatshername.

People also build houses of wood in a forest where they are sitting ducks for forest fires.
"Oh, look! This is a good shady place to build a house. Those rocks have been hanging off the mountain for centuries. They won't slide."
Howard