The symbol of Sicily is a fire-breathing giant: Mount Etna (Italian: Etna). At around 3,323 metres above sea level, it is the highest active volcano in Europe, but also one of the highest in the world. Mount Etna sits on the eastern side of the island of Sicily and has four summit craters. Etna probably originated around 100,000 years ago. Its present form was shaped by eruptions around 3,000 years ago. Its name comes from the Indo-European language and means ‘burning’: this is fitting, as it is still an extremely active volcano today, with smaller eruptions occurring time and again. Nevertheless, the volcano is easily accessible and can be climbed by cable car, train or on foot. This also makes Etna one of the most extensively researched volcanoes in the world. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 2013.
Website: https://www.italia.it/en/sicily/catania/monte-etna
Photo: The world-famous volcano, which was already mentioned in ancient scripts. Credits: Unsplash/Samir Kharrat
