Mount Etna: find out about Europe's most active volcano
Huge lava fountains and plumes of ash have been sent high into the night sky, after Mount Etna erupted again on Monday evening.That's not so unusual as the volcano is Europe's most active - but it has seen more eruptions recently, with frequent and powerful explosions.But where exactly is Mount Etna located and why is it so active?Keep reading to find out.
Where is Mount Etna?
Mount Etna is a volcano on Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island - which is located off the coast of Italy. The volcano can be found on the eastern coast of the island, and it's so big it can be seen from just about every part of the island.The ancient Sicilian port city of Catania sits at the foot of Mount Etna.
How active is Mount Etna?
Mount Etna has a history of frequent eruptions, with its activity documented for nearly 3,000 years.It's considered one of the world's most active volcanoes, with eruptions taking place several times a year - and sometimes even within a month.According to Unesco, who recognised the volcano as a World Heritage Site in 2013, the eruptive history of the volcano can be traced back 500,000 years.
How big is Mount Etna?
Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world.It stands at around 3,400 metres tall and has a base that measures just under 100 miles.
When was Mount Etna's biggest eruption?
The largest recorded historical eruption of Mount Etna occurred in 1669.The volcano started rumbling on 11 March, which was followed by a number of big eruptions over the following weeks - which took place for around four months.It's thought that around fourteen villages and towns were destroyed by the lava flows or by earthquakes that took place around the eruption.Around 20,000 people lost their lives and thousands more were made homeless.
What type of volcano is Mount Etna?
There are two main types of volcano - composite and shield.Mount Etna is an example of a composite volcano, which is also known as a strato-volcano.Composite volcanoes are the most common type of volcano. They can have violent eruptions and can grow bigger as layers of thick lava and ash harden on top of each other.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
27 minutes ago
- The National
Historic schoolhouse in Scotland's Unesco Flow Country for sale for £120k
Found in the northeastern tip of Scotland, the home is now part of the Caithness village of Altnabreac, whose name derives from Allt nam Breac or 'stream of the trout' in Gaelic. The village sits within the Flow County, which was awarded World Heritage status by Unesco in 2024 for its 9000-year-old blanket bog landscape. Home to a distinctive mix of bird species, the Flow Country is considered a key example of a blanket bog in the world. READ MORE: Plans submitted to remove 34 turbines from Highland wind farm Altnabreac's schoolhouse closed in 1986 and has been used as a private home ever since. The two-floor residence is built from stone, with a red brick extension that sits under a slate roof. It features two bedrooms, a family room, kitchen, bathroom, storage space, a rear hall and a versatile former schoolroom, and is located within 0.62 acres of grounds that benefit from stores including a generator. The village is served by Altnabreac railway station on the Far North Line which reopened in April. Altnabreac Station first opened in 1874 and the reason for the station's construction is a mystery with it then being around 10 miles from the nearest road. Caithness more broadly is known for its long, sandy beaches and steep cliffs, and is well-loved by birdwatchers and hikers alike. READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: Highlanders are rallying against Scotland's energy land grab The property is located just 23 miles south of Thurso, mainland Britain's northernmost town. A few miles east of Thurso is the Castle of Mey, the former royal residence of The Queen Mother and is open to visitors.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- The Sun
Even MORE tourist hotspot flights cancelled after gargantuan volcanic eruption that spewed ash & sparked tsunami fear
DOZENS more flights to tourist hotspots have been cancelled after a massive ash cloud exploded from a volcano in Indonesia. Mount Lweotobi Laki-laki was seen spewing plumes of ash more than 11km into the sky on Tuesday - sparking fears of an impending tsunami. 7 7 7 Authorities raised the highest red alert and residents have been urged to avoid activities within a 7km radius around the crater. Multiple airlines have since delayed or cancelled flights to and from Bali, the popular holiday destination west of Flores. These include Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia. Bali's Gusti Ngurah rai International Airport showed that almost 40 flights have been cancelled due to the explosion. A number of domestic AirAsia flights heading to Flores have also been axed. Japan's Meteorological Agency is investigating whether the eruption - with a 16,000-metre plume of ash - could spark a tsunami. The organisation said: "The possibility of a tsunami hitting Japan is currently under investigation. "If this eruption were to cause a tsunami to reach Japan, it is expected to arrive as early as 10pm in the Okinawa Prefecture area." They added: "The expected maximum height of the tsunami is unknown." Terrifying footage taken from a residential area nearby showed the moment a gargantuan plume of and orange and grey smoke erupted from the volcano. Shocking moment 1,000ft fiery lava jet erupts in 6-hour volcano frenzy as scientists warn of wind spreading toxic gas The humongous mushroom cloud towered over horrified locals who watched on as dark smoke spewed into the air. Visual observations taken earlier this week saw a significant increase in volcanic activity from Mount Lewotobi. The country's volcanology agency said it had raised the volcano's alert to its highest and most dangerous level. It also warned of potential lava flows if it rains. Volcano Observation Post Officer Yohanes Kolli Sorywutun confirmed the eruption in a statement. He said: "There was an eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 17:35 WITA." He added that there was an "observed ash column height of 10,000m above the peak (11,584 m above sea level)". Authorities in Indonesia said: "The public and tourists are advised not to carry out activities within a radius of 7km and the southwest-northeast sector 8 km from the eruption center." They also advised all those nearby to "remain calm and follow the directions of the local government". "People around disaster-prone areas should be aware of the potential for lava floods if heavy rain occurs," authorities also warned. 7 7 7 They provided instructions to the public if they encountered raining ash. "Residents affected by ash rain are advised to use masks or nose and mouth covers," officials said. In November last year, 10 people died after Mount Lewotobi spewed a fiery column of lava. Hot ashes hit several villages, burning down houses including a convent of Catholic nuns. Indonesia sits on the "Pacific Ring of Fire", an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates. In April 2024, a remote volcano in Indonesia erupted and sent a tower of ash more than five kilometres into the sky. Thousands were evacuated and an international airport was closed after Mount Ruang erupted several times. Within the same month, the 725-metre-tall volcano had already erupted more than half a dozen times, forcing more than 6,000 people to flee their homes.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Lamine Yamal, 17, pictured on holiday with stunning influencer, 29, but pair ‘won't put label on close relationship'
WONDERKID Lamine Yamal has been pictured enjoying a holiday with a stunning influencer - who is TWELVE YEARS older than him. The Barcelona star, 17, is taking a well-deserved break after a stellar season for club and country which has landed him among the front-runners for the Ballon d'Or. 7 7 7 7 7 However, Yamal is still making headlines, only now it is for his company off the pitch rather than his skills on it. Yamal was known to have headed to Italy for the summer break. And his holiday snaps went viral this week amid speculation he was with social media personality Fati Vazquez, 29. Instagram posts from the pair days apart indicated they were holidaying in the same place. After the links emerged, Fati, who turns 30 this year, revealed she had received sickening death threats. While Spanish gossip influencer Javi De Hoyos insisted Yamal had told him the relationship was not romantic. Now, photos have been published by Spanish magazine Lecturas showing Yamal and Fati together on the beautiful island of Pantelleria, located in the south of Sicily. In one snap, Yamal can be seen riding a jet ski, with Fati clinging onto him on the back. While another shows Yamal, wearing his life jacket, and Fati sharing a joke on the seafront. Fati, originally from Galicia in northwest Spain, is a flight attendance graduate who now has more than 440,000 followers on Instagram and more than 320,000 on TikTok. I sold Lamine Yamal trading card for life changing amount - my wife doesn't think it's a silly hobby now 7 7 Addressing the horrible messages she received on her Instagram page, she said: "It's sad to see people who have such darkness inside that they wish death on someone they don't even know. "What others project, speaks more about them than me. "I choose to live with the purpose of continuing to grow and surrounding myself with light. "To those who wish me ill, I wish them healing, because nobody who is well in themselves wishes the destruction of another." In his post on the matter, De Hoyos added: "Lamine would not have gone alone to this holiday place but with other Barca team-mates. "Fati probably does have something with another Barca person or is a friend of another team-mate."
