Etna Volcano

Mount Etna is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily. The name comes from the Greek Aitne, the word aimhou meaning "I burned". Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, its highest elevation being about 10,900 feet (3,320 meters). Like other active volcanoes, it varies in height, ascending from deposition during eruptions and descending from the periodic collapse of the crater rim. In 1865, the volcano's summit was about 170 feet (52 meters) higher than it was in the early 21st century. Etna covers an area of about 600 square miles (1,600 square kilometers), and its base has a circumference of about 93 miles (150 miles). kilometer).

The geological features of the Etna ridge indicate that it has been active since the end of the Neogene Period (i.e., for the past 2.6 million years). This volcano has more than one center of activity. Several sub-cones have been formed on the lateral fissures extending from the center and down the sides. The mountain's current structure is the result of the activity of at least two major eruption centers.

The Greeks created legends about volcanoes and thought that it was the workshop of the gods Hephaestus and Cyclops or that underneath the volcano was where the giant monster Typhon was lying, making the Earth tremble every time it turned. The ancient poet Hesiod told of Etna eruptions in his writings, and the Greeks Pindar and Aeschylus also mentioned a famous eruption in 475 BC.

Between 1669 and 1900, 26 different eruptions were reported. The 1852 eruption flattened large wooden stands and nearly destroyed the town of Zafferana. During the 20th century, there were eruptions in 1908, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1923, 1928, 1942, 1947, 1949, 1950, 5151, and 1971. The 1928 eruption destroyed the railroad around the foot. mountains and buried the village of Mascali. The 1971 eruption threatened several villages with its lava flow and destroyed several orchards and vineyards. Etna volcano was active almost continuously for a decade after 1971, and in 1983 a four-month eruption prompted authorities to use dynamite in an attempt to redirect the lava flow. The last major eruptions of the 20th century occurred in 1986 and 1999.

In the early 21st century, a major eruption began in July 2001 and lasted several weeks. Other important volcanic activities in the early 21st century include the Strombilian eruptions 2002, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. ; see also volcanoes: Six types of eruptions.)

The mountain has three ecological zones with typical vegetation of each region. The lowest region, which slopes gradually up to about 3,000 feet (915 metres), is fertile and rich with vineyards, olive groves, citrus plantations and orchards. Some densely populated settlements, especially the city of Catania, are found on the lower slopes. At the top, the mountain grows steeper and is covered with forests of chestnut, oak, pine and birch. At an elevation of more than 6,500 feet (1,980 meters), the mountain is covered with ash, sand, and fragments of lava and slag; There are a few scattered plants, such as Astragalus aetnensis (local name: spino santo), which often form shrubs nearly 1 yard (about 0.9 meters) high, while some alpine trees persist right up to the ground. even on the top.

To visit the volcano Etna, visitors should choose a day or half day excursion from Catania or Taormina. Many local tour operators offer an all-inclusive package with transport, equipment, guides, and four-wheelers to hike up the crater. Of course you can also drive there, but you won't be supervised, so be careful to have the right shoes and equipment. Check the weather conditions before going because in bad weather, visitors will not be allowed to go up the mountain. Please note that if you are not accompanied by a guide, you will have to stop at the first stop (after the cable car). To reach the crater, the climb to the second level must be done in a guided minibus. A sightseeing trip on the crater, overlooking the landscape of Sicily will be an unforgettable experience for every visitor.