Mon site |
Mount ETNA |
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Catania It is the tallest active volcano on the European continent, currently 3,329 m high, though this varies with summit eruptions.
(by Paulina)
Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanos in the world . The fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, . Due to its history of recent activity and nearby population, Mount Etna has been designated a Decade Volcano by the United Nations. In June 2013, it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Numerous villages and small towns lie around or on cones of past flank eruptions. Since the year 1600, at least 60 flank eruptions have occurred; nearly half of them have happened since the start of the 20th century. Recently Etna has had four flank eruptions ( in 2001, 2002–2003, 2004–2005, and 2008-2009. ).
The strongest explosion took place in 1669, destroyed Catania .
Hope nothing happens during our trip !
There are four major myths associated with Mount Etna.
In the first, Zeus subdued the monster Typhon, after a long fight, by hurling Mount Etna on top of him. In a variant of this myth, Gaia produced another monster called Enceladus to avenge Typhon, and either Zeus bound him under Etna, or Athena threw the whole island of Sicily on top of him.
The second myth is that Etna is the smithy of the gods, where Hephaistos or Vulcan forged weapons for the gods, assisted by the Cyclopes. This is where Odysseus is said to have met Polyphemus, and Aeneas passed by.
The third myth is that the Cattle of the Sun grazed on the slopes of Mount Etna. Killing and eating some of these brought destruction upon Odisseus’s men. It is said that the town of Taormina is associated with this myth, since the name may come from “tauros” – bull and nearby is a valley suitable for grazing, called the Valley of the Ox.
The fourth myth is that Persephone liked to gather flowers on the lower slopes of Etna and to dance with the nymphs on the plain of Enna. When Hades abducted her, he opened a crevice in Mount Etna as an entrance to the Underworld.
(by Paulina)
Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanos in the world . The fertile volcanic soils support extensive agriculture, . Due to its history of recent activity and nearby population, Mount Etna has been designated a Decade Volcano by the United Nations. In June 2013, it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Numerous villages and small towns lie around or on cones of past flank eruptions. Since the year 1600, at least 60 flank eruptions have occurred; nearly half of them have happened since the start of the 20th century. Recently Etna has had four flank eruptions ( in 2001, 2002–2003, 2004–2005, and 2008-2009. ).
The strongest explosion took place in 1669, destroyed Catania .
Hope nothing happens during our trip !
There are four major myths associated with Mount Etna.
In the first, Zeus subdued the monster Typhon, after a long fight, by hurling Mount Etna on top of him. In a variant of this myth, Gaia produced another monster called Enceladus to avenge Typhon, and either Zeus bound him under Etna, or Athena threw the whole island of Sicily on top of him.
The second myth is that Etna is the smithy of the gods, where Hephaistos or Vulcan forged weapons for the gods, assisted by the Cyclopes. This is where Odysseus is said to have met Polyphemus, and Aeneas passed by.
The third myth is that the Cattle of the Sun grazed on the slopes of Mount Etna. Killing and eating some of these brought destruction upon Odisseus’s men. It is said that the town of Taormina is associated with this myth, since the name may come from “tauros” – bull and nearby is a valley suitable for grazing, called the Valley of the Ox.
The fourth myth is that Persephone liked to gather flowers on the lower slopes of Etna and to dance with the nymphs on the plain of Enna. When Hades abducted her, he opened a crevice in Mount Etna as an entrance to the Underworld.