Etna
Location: 37.734° N, 15.004° E
Elevation: 3.350 m
Mount Etna, towering above Catania,
Sicily's second largest city, has one of the
world's longest documented records of
historical volcanism, dating back to 1500
BC. Historical lava flows of basaltic
composition cover much of the surface of
this massive volcano, whose edifice is the
highest and most voluminous in Italy. The
Mongibello stratovolcano, truncated by
several small calderas, was constructed
during the late Pleistocene and Holocene
over an older shield volcano. The most
prominent morphological feature of Etna is
the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km horseshoe-
shaped caldera open to the east. Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur at Etna.
Persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or
more of the three prominent summit craters, the Central Crater, NE Crater, and SE Crater (the
latter formed in 1978). Flank vents, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequently active
and originate from fissures that open progressively downward from near the summit (usually
accompanied by strombolian eruptions at the upper end). Cinder cones are commonly
constructed over the vents of lower-flank lava flows. Lava flows extend to the foot of the volcano
on all sides and have reached the sea over a broad area on the SE flank. (Global Volcanism
Program)
HOME
Taormina, May 2000
Location: 37.734° N, 15.004° E
Elevation: 3.350 m
Mount Etna, towering above Catania,
Sicily's second largest city, has one of the
world's longest documented records of
historical volcanism, dating back to 1500
BC. Historical lava flows of basaltic
composition cover much of the surface of
this massive volcano, whose edifice is the
highest and most voluminous in Italy. The
Mongibello stratovolcano, truncated by
several small calderas, was constructed
during the late Pleistocene and Holocene
over an older shield volcano. The most
prominent morphological feature of Etna is
the Valle del Bove, a 5 x 10 km horseshoe-
shaped caldera open to the east. Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur at Etna.
Persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, take place from one or
more of the three prominent summit craters, the Central Crater, NE Crater, and SE Crater (the
latter formed in 1978). Flank vents, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequently active
and originate from fissures that open progressively downward from near the summit (usually
accompanied by strombolian eruptions at the upper end). Cinder cones are commonly
constructed over the vents of lower-flank lava flows. Lava flows extend to the foot of the volcano
on all sides and have reached the sea over a broad area on the SE flank. (Global Volcanism
Program)
HOME
Taormina, May 2000