In 1845, Charles Dickens wrote of the Vesuvian region that "the mountain is the genius of the scene." As the most prominent peak of the Campanian volcanic arc, Vesuvius is, in part, responsible for much of the distinctive personality of the Bay of Naples. Status as a fashionable resort began when wealthy first century Romans visited the bay's thermal baths engineered to utilize underground hot springs. The striking natural beauty of the coastline is a product of volcanic geology. The region's famous fertility results from its mineral and nutrient-laden volcanic soil. Dickens called Vesuvius "the doom and destiny of all this beautiful country."