Inside Etna
Italy is home to Europe’s tallest active volcano, but what lies beneath the rock?
Words by Ailsa Harvey
On the east coast of Sicily lies an impressive 3,326-metre active volcano called Mount Etna. This volatile mountain has a reputation for spouting out scalding liquid rock on a regular basis. But even after decades of observation, Etna’s actions can’t be accurately predicted or controlled.
The first known eruption was recorded in 475 BCE, and it has sporadically been launching lava and ash onto the Italian island for thousands of years since. It’s impossible to prevent Earth’s natural movements that lead to these eruptions, but we have learned much about Etna’s geology, which has helped the local population avoid disaster.