Mount Etna, located in Sicily - Italy is Europe's tallest active volcano. It has an elliptical base (38 x 47 km) and a maximum elevation of about 3350 m. Like many other dangerous volcanoes such as Mount St Helens and Mount Vesuvius, Etna is a stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano.
This types of volcanos are characterized by a steep profile and periodic explosive eruptions and quiet eruptions, while there are some with collapsed craters called calderas. Mount Etna has been created by the Earth's active tectonic plate system – the African plate is moving below the Eurasian plate. The first eruptions at Etna occurred 500,000 years ago.
Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, it has erupted many times during recorded history and is still very active. The best time to visit Etna is during a lava-producing eruption, and such spectacles attract hundreds of thousands of tourists. Unfortunately these events can’t be planned far in advance and require some travel flexibility. But they can last a long time: One lava flow in the Bove Valley began in December 1991 and continued until the spring of 1993. The most recent volcanic eruption was in February 2013.
There are towns and villages surrounding the mountain, including Catania. In the past, the Italian authorities have used explosives, concrete dams, and ditches to divert lava flows away from these settlements. A relaxing way to get a big picture view of the park is a three-hour trip on the Circumetnea train, which leaves from Borgo metro station in Catania and circles the mountain. Jeep tours to the mountain’s northern side can be booked from Catania.
14 June, 2013
A.I.
