Etna in the Haze Etna is Europe’s largest volcano and is relatively recent having emerged only 2 million years ago. It has erupted frequently in known history, two of the most devastating being in 1381 and 1669 when the lava reached Catania. In the 1920’s an eruption destroyed the villages of Cerro and Mascali, and in the last two decades there have been eight eruptions.

On the Eastern slope is a huge chasm created by an ancient explosion and know as the Valle del Bove. This is where most of the recent lava flows end up. The shape of Etna is constantly changing, in 1865 the summit was 3315m high, in 1932 3263m and today its 3342m. Etna is constantly venting gas, steam and ash, tons of it which coats everything.