Mount Etna

volcano · Sicily · active eruptions · geology

Europe's Giant. Mount Etna is one of Europe's tallest active volcanoes, standing at about 3,403 meters high. That is taller than any other active volcano on the continent!

Sits on a Fault. Etna sits right above where two massive pieces of Earth's crust meet: the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Where these giant plates push together, hot rock gets pushed up and causes eruptions.

Always Changing Height. Etna's height changes all the time because of eruptions. In 2021, one crater was 3,357 meters tall, but then a different crater grew even taller after eruptions in summer 2024.

Italy's Highest Peak. South of the Alps, Etna is the tallest mountain in all of Italy. It towers over the island of Sicily like a giant stone giant.

Never Stops Erupting. Etna is still very much alive and active, meaning it erupts regularly. Scientists watch it carefully to understand how volcanoes work.