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Volcano Tours
Our expert volcanologists and photographers offer unique travel experiences: volcano expeditions, photo tours, and relaxed walking & study tours.
Guaranteed tours
8-16 May 2021: From Stromboli to Etna - Sicila and Eolian Islands (Italy)
24 Jun - 8 Jul 2021: Colors of Iceland: Fire, Earth, Ice and Water - Iceland
30 Jul - 13 Aug 2021: Colors of Iceland: Fire, Earth, Ice and Water - Iceland
: spaces available / : guaranteed / : few spaces left / : booked out
Etna Trekking Tours
Private tours on Etna volcano: Discover Europe's largest active volcano on private, guided 1-day tours. Tours can be customized for different interests and fitness levels.
Etna volcano
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: erupting (4 out of 5)
Etna webcams / live data | Volcano videos | Books | Tours | Places to stay
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 (s), 2020 (s)
Typical eruption style:
Effusive (lava flows) and mildly explosive (strombolian) eruptions. Both summit and frequent flank eruptions, the latter seem to be occurring in clusters lasting few to a few tens of years.

Etna volcano tours:
Volcanoes of Italy - the Grand Tour (15-days study & walking tour from Vesuvius to Etna)
Etna Trekking Tour (private and group tours to Etna volcano with a mountain guide)
Etna Volcano Special (volcano expedition to see Mt. Etna volcano' eruption)
Etna Discovery (8-days hiking & study tour on Mt. Etna volcano, Italy)
From Stromboli to Etna (9-day walking & study tour to Stromboli, Lipari, Vulcano and Etna with our expert volcanologist)

Etna volcano update: Lava low has started

Fri, 19 Feb 2021, 08:21
08:21 AM | BY: T
Thermal view of the New SE crater showing the lava flows starting to descend from the cone (image: INGV Catania thermal webcam)
Thermal view of the New SE crater showing the lava flows starting to descend from the cone (image: INGV Catania thermal webcam)
Blurry image of the LAVE webcam showing the lava flow as well
Blurry image of the LAVE webcam showing the lava flow as well
Indications of a possible new paroxysm become stronger with the minute: lava flows have started to emerge from the summit vent of the New SE crater.
This is often a typical precursor to a lava fountaining episode and can be explained with new, gas-rich magma rising inside the conduits first pushing out the older degassed magma in the upper part of the conduits left from the previous episodes.
The situation is exciting!

Previous news

Fri, 19 Feb 2021, 08:08
Etna volcano update: Rising tremor - maybe new paroxysm underway?
Diffuse ash is rising from Etna's SE crater (image: INGV webcam)
Approx. 30 hours have passed since the last lava fountain episode or paroxysm at Etna, which followed after 30 hours after the preceding one. ... read all
Thu, 18 Feb 2021, 08:49
Second spectacular eruption within 48 hours lights the night sky
Lava fountains from Etna last night (image: Massimo Lo Giudice / facebook)
Less than 30 hours after Tuesday's spectacular paroxysm (lava-fountaining episode), the volcano gave again an impressive display of fire, producing another similar and very powerful eruption last night. ... read all
Thu, 18 Feb 2021, 00:45
Etna Volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory: ERUPTION AT 20210218/0000Z STRONG ASH EMISSION ON GOING. to 30000 ft (9100 m)
Satellite image of Etna volcano on 18 Feb 2021
Wed, 17 Feb 2021, 03:00
Etna Volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory: ERUPTION AT 20210216/1610Z SPORADIC ASH EMISSION STILL OCCURS to 12000 ft (3700 m)
Satellite image of Etna volcano on 17 Feb 2021
Tue, 16 Feb 2021, 21:15
Etna volcano update: Violent paroxysm with large lava fountain and lava flows
Lava fountain during Etna's paroxysm this afternoon (image: Massimo Lo Giudice / facebook)
This afternoon, Etna produced a very spectacular lava-fountaining eruptive episode, known as paroxysm. ... read all

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