Mount Etna, Active stratovolcano in Sicily, Italy
Etna is a stratovolcano on the eastern coast of Sicily, reaching 3357 meters (11014 feet) above sea level. Its shape shifts regularly with successive eruptions that form new craters along the summit and flanks.
Records of an eruption date back to 1500 BCE, when explosive activity drove people from the eastern coast inland. Repeated eruptions over the centuries shaped settlement patterns and the economic development of the surrounding region.
Farming communities work the slopes in small plots, growing grapes, fruit trees, and pistachio groves on terraces that follow the contours of the mountain. Families sell their produce at roadside stands and village markets, linking daily life to the rhythm of eruptions and ash deposits that enrich the soil.
A cable car system from Rifugio Sapienza carries visitors to higher elevations, while the northern slopes open for skiing in winter. Weather shifts and volcanic activity can close access to certain areas on short notice, so checking local updates before heading up helps avoid surprises.
The summit height fluctuates from year to year, with 2021 seeing an increase of roughly 30 meters (98 feet) as erupted material piled up. These recurring height changes turn every official measurement into a temporary snapshot.
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