Mount Etna

July 7, 2024

Recently, Italy's Mount Etna and the smaller Stromboli volcano spewed hot ash and lava, raising alert levels on the Mediterranean island of Sicily.

About Mount Etna:

  • It is Europe’s most active volcano and one of the largest in the world.
  • Its recorded volcanic activity dates back to 1500 B.C.
  • Location: It is on the eastern coast of Sicily.
  • It is the highest Mediterranean island mountain and the most active stratovolcano in the world. 
  • It is about 3,326 metres high and is the highest peak in Italy South of the Alps.

What is a stratovolcano?

  • It is also called a composite volcano.
  • This volcanic landform is characterized by a conical shape formed by layers of volcanic material deposited during successive volcanic eruptions.
  • These volcanoes tend to slope gently at the base but rise quickly near the summit to form tall mountain peaks.
  • They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.