ETNA VOLCANO

Mount Etna, also called  Mongibello (from the Latin word mons and the Arabian word gebel, that is mount) is the highest volcano in Europe, and one of most active of the world.  Its impressive size ( more than 3327 meters high with an average basal diameter of 40 km)  overlooks  the whole region. Its spectacular eruptions and its fiery lava flows, have always aroused the interest of scientists along with the curiosity of visitors from all over the world.
Its first eruptions occurred about 570,000 years ago, in the Ionian area, long before that  Etna– as we know it today –  was formed.
The building up of the volcanic edifice has been interrupted over the centuries by several collapses.
The current Valle del Bove, originated 9200 years ago,  is a consequence of  Etna collapsing phase that involves most of  the recent geological history of the volcanic complex. Today the summit area consists in 4 summit craters, the Central one, the West Chasm or Bocca nuova (new mouth) , the North sub-terminal crater and the Southeast sub-terminal crater apparatus.
There are several evidences of the Volcano eruptions starting from the classical period; among the most recent, we recall the 1669 eruption, which determined the formation of the Monti Rossi and reached Catania, and  the 1928 one that reached the town of Mascali.
Etna, is one of the most monitored volcanoes in the world.