Mount Etna is a stratovolcano located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. At over 10,000 feet tall with a circumference of 93 miles, it is both the largest active volcano in Europe and has the longest record of activity in the world. Throughout history, Etna's eruptions have caused significant damage to nearby cities like Catania through lava flows, earthquakes, and ash falls. However, the volcanic soil from eruptions has also made the surrounding land extremely fertile for agriculture. Today, Etna continues to erupt periodically while also attracting many tourists interested in its unique geology.

1. Impact of Life on Sicily –Yesterday andToday
Alex Resch
ITA 154
5/6/14

2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
N3YoHGpITI

3.  Series of “stratovolcanoes” – cone like
volcano which is built up through magma
hardening as a result of eruptions
 Located along the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy
 10,900 feet high
 Eruption radius of 600 miles
 Base circumference is 93 miles

4.  Two central craters in
Mount Etna
 1. “Bocca Nuovo” –
northern crater
 2. “Voragine”- southeast
crater that was recently
formed during an eruption
 Valle del Bove- largest
feature in Etna, horseshoe
shaped caldera located on
the eastern slope
 Fissions and vents which
pose the greatest threat to
inhabitants today

5.  Longest record of activity in the world
 122 B.C. – Roman records make note of black
clouds from a large eruption blocking the sun
causing damage to Catania
 Catania also suffered from eruptions in 45
A.D., 1169, and 1669
 1669- Eruption causes an earthquake which
killed 1500 people in Nicoli and despite a
damage control attempt, damages Catania,
taking out half of the town

6.  1928- village named Mascali was taken out entirely as a result of a fissure
opening up on the bottom of the mountain
 1960- agricultural land surrounding Etna was corrupted by ash and lava
 “OperationVolcano Buster”- locals in Zafferana built dams to contain
lava and when almost full, the U.S. Marines flew in huge blocks of
concrete in order to contain the lava
 Despite this effort, many homes, farms, fields, orchards, and vineyards
were destroyed
 November 2013 – did not endanger any houses and no evacuation was
necessary

7.  Despite being the cause of much
destruction among Sicily, Mount
Etna is considered a blessing
 Mount Etna’s eruptions have
provided the population with a
mineral-rich soil with vital
nutrients essential to prolific
farming
 Attracts tourism
 One of the only volcanos in the
world which emit smoke rings
from time to time
 Was featured in StarWars:
Revenge of the Sith in order to
depict the fictional planet
“Mustafar”