Etna Volcano
Updated: Apr 16, 2024 22:28 GMT -
Complex stratovolcano Currently about 3329 m (changing due to eruptive activity and collapse of its crater rims)
Sicily, Italy, 37.75°N / 14.99°E
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Sicily, Italy, 37.75°N / 14.99°E
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Last update: 11 Apr 2024 (small explosion last night)
Eruption from Mt Etna volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Mt Etna on Sicily, locally called "Mongibello", is Europe's largest and most active volcano. Its frequent eruptions are often accompanied by large lava flows, but rarely pose danger to inhabited areas. Etna is one of the volcanoes with the longest historic records of eruptions, going back more than 2000 years.
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Etna volcano eruptions: Near continuously active; some major historic eruptions include 122 BC (large Plinian outbursts that created the small caldera of the "Cratere del Piano"), 1669 AD (devastating flank eruption that destroyed 15 villages and part of Catania), 1787 (Subplinian eruption and one of the most spectacular summit eruptions on record - lava fountains reportedly up to 3000 m high).
Eruptions since 1950 (f: flank / s: summit activity): 1950 (s), 1950-51(f), 1955 (s), 1956 (s), 1956 (f), 1957 (s),1960 (s), 1961 (s), 1964 (f), 1964 (s), 1966 (s), 1966-1971(s), 1968 (f), 1971(f), 1972-1973 (s), 1974 (f), 1974-1975 (s), 1975-1977 (f), 1977-1978 (s), 1978 (f), 1979(s), 1979 (f), 1980 (s), 1981 (s), 1981 (f),1982-1983 (s), 1983(f), 1984(s), 1985(s), 1985(f), 1986(s), 1986-1987 (f), 1987(s), 1988(s), 1989(s), 1989(f), 1990 (s), 1991-93(f), 1995(s), 1996(s), 1997 (s), 1998 (s), 1999 (s), 2000 (s), 2001(s), 2001 (f), 2002(s), 2002-03(f), 2004-2005 (f), 2006 (s), 2007 (s), 2008-2009 (f), 2010(s), 2011-2013(s), 2014-18, 2018(f), 2019-ongoing (s)
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Time | Mag. / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
| Apr 7, 03:10 pm (Rome) | 2.3 10 km | 4.4 km (2.7 mi) to the NE |  15 km northwest of Giarre, Catania, Sicily, Italy | Info | |
| Saturday, April 6, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 6, 08:06 am (Rome) | 2.0 3.8 km | 19 km (12 mi) to the SE | Italy: 1 km SE Viagrande (CT) 3 reports | Info | |
| Friday, April 5, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 5, 09:58 pm (Rome) | 1.9 32 km | 28 km (17 mi) to the N | Italy: 1 km NW Floresta (ME) | Info | |
| Thursday, April 4, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 4, 05:34 am (Rome) | 1.9 3.9 km | 4.5 km (2.8 mi) to the E | Italy: 7 km W Milo (CT) | Info | |
| Sunday, April 14, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 14, 07:27 pm (Rome) | 1.8 7.1 km | 18 km (11 mi) to the W | Italy: 7 km SW Bronte (CT) | Info | |
| Sunday, April 7, 2024 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 7, 09:30 am (Rome) | 1.7 6.1 km | 6.4 km (3.9 mi) to the W | Italy: 10 km SE Bronte (CT) | Info | |
Background
Mount Etna, towering above Catania, Sicily's second largest city, has one of the world's longest documented records of historical volcanism, dating back to 1500 BC. Historical lava flows cover much of the surface of this massive volcano, which makes it the highest and most voluminous in Italy. Ever since ancient times, the volcano seems to have been in near-constant activity. It is considered, after Kilauea on Hawaii, the second most active, i.e. productive volcano on earth.Two styles of eruptive activity typically occur at Etna:
(1) persistent explosive eruptions, sometimes with minor lava emissions, from one or more of the 4 prominent summit craters, the Bocca Nova, Voragine (the former Central Crater), NE Crater, and SE Crater (the latter formed in 1978).
(2) Flank eruptions, typically with higher effusion rates, are less frequent and originate from fissures that open on the volcano's flanks. Such flank eruptions, such as the spectacular recent ones in 2001 and 2002-03 commonly form cinder cones, which dot the volcano in their hundreds.
Etna Volcano Photos
Etna's paroxysm from Voragine crater on 4 Dec 2015, seen from Cesarò (Photo: Giuseppe Famiani)
Group on a narrow ledge that separates two vents on Etna volcano, Italy. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
After having reached its peak, the eruption wanes quickly, but a dense brown ash plume still rises high from the fissure vent. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
View of Etna from Alitalia flight from Trieste to Catania on 21 Apil 2012 (Photo: marcofulle)
Latest satellite images
Etna Volcano Tours
Naples, Eolian Islands, Etna (Italy)
Volcanoes of Italy - the Grand Tour
15-day study & walking tour to Italy's volcanoes from Vesuvius to Etna
15 days (14 nights) - Easy to Moderate
Price 3890 €
Price 3890 €
3-17 Oct 2025
Etna volcano (Italy)
Etna Volcano Special
volcano expedition to see Mt. Etna volcano' eruption
5 days (4 nights) - Moderate
Price 1590 €
Price 1590 €
Custom and group dates
Sicily and Eolian Islands (Italy)
From Stromboli to Etna
9-day walking & study tour to Stromboli, Lipari, Vulcano and Etna with our expert volcanologist
9 days / 8 nights - Easy to Moderate
Price 2950 €
Price 2950 €
18-26 May 2024
3-11 May 2025
12-20 Oct 2024
