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8-16 May 2021: From Stromboli to Etna - Sicila and Eolian Islands (Italy)
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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: New lava fountaining eruption underway, 5th in a row now

Mon, 22 Feb 2021, 21:42
21:42 PM | BY: T
Intense strombolian activity at the eastern vent of the New SE crater
Intense strombolian activity at the eastern vent of the New SE crater
Current tremor signal (image: INGV Catania)
Current tremor signal (image: INGV Catania)
Yet another phase of lava fountaining, or paroxysms, is almost certainly about to start now. Volcanic tremor has started to rise sharply from low to now already high levels, and strombolian activity at the eastern vent of the New SE crater is becoming more and more intense and near-continuous.
The 5th paroxysm in a row and within a single week comes after a slightly longer interval, approx. 48 hours, than the very regular roughly 35 hours intervals between each of the previous four events.
Given that the last one was very intense compared to the first three, it might not be surprising. Maybe the time to recharge or reproduce the right conditions deeper below for a new gas-rich batch of fresh magma to start rising just took a bit longer.

Previous news

Sun, 21 Feb 2021, 17:08
Etna volcano update: Powerful lava fountains rise up to 1000 m at Europe's most active volcano
View of the eruption at night with its impressive umbrella cloud (image: Massiimo Lo Giudice / facebook)
Last night's eruptive episode of tall lava fountains, known as paroxysm, turned out to be one of the most impressive and powerful in recent years. Not only did it produce higher fire fountains than usually, but also it lasted longer than most other paroxysms. ... read all
Sat, 20 Feb 2021, 22:57
Etna volcano update: 4th lava fountaining eruption within 5 days comes at remarkable same interval since previous
Lava fountain from Etna's New SE crater during the paroxysm on 20-21 Feb 2021 (image: thermal webcam INGV Catania)
The 4th paroxysm within little more than 4 days is occurring at the time of this update! Starting in the evening of 20 Feb 2021, the explosive activity at the New SE crater gradually increased and developed into sustained lava fountains now approx. 300 m tall, and still rising. ... read all
Sat, 20 Feb 2021, 21:15
Etna Volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory: ERUPTION AT 20210220/2050Z EXPLOSIVE ACTIVITY WITH ASH EMISSION to 20000 ft (6100 m)
Satellite image of Etna volcano on 20 Feb 2021
Sat, 20 Feb 2021, 20:14
Etna volcano update: Rising tremor - likely new paroxysm underway!
Strombolian explosion at Etna's New SE crater this evening (image: LAVE webcam)
As the same time interval (approx. 35 hours) as between the past 3 lava fountaining episodes or paroxysms has now passed since the last eruption yesterday morning, it is now a guessing game whether Etna is now heading to produce the 4th in a new series. ... read all
Fri, 19 Feb 2021, 10:19
Etna volcano update: Eruption ends
The New SE crater after the end of the lava fountains (image: thermal INGV webcam)
After little more than an hour with impressive fire fountains, the eruption quickly ceased and is now over. The lava flows to the south and east continue to descend, but may no longer be alimented. read all

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