2. It is 3.322 metres
Etna covers an
(10.922 ft) high,
area of 1,190 km²
though the height
(460 sq mi) with a
varies with summit
basal
eruptions.
circumference of
140 km.
3. The Mediterranean area is a convergent boundary where the Eurasian
and African plates move toward one another and collide. These two
plates form a subduction zone as the African plate dives under the
Eurasian plate. As a result of pressure, friction, and plate material
melting in the mantle, earthquakes and volcanoes are common.
4. - in the north the Aeolian
Islands’ volcanism
provocated by the melting
of continental crust of the
African plate.
- in the south Etna’s
volcanism due to the
magma that comes out
from the mantle (30 km
deepness) as the
subduction of the African
plate causes the crack of
the continental crust.
5. The current structure of Mount Etna is the effect of a long and complex
eruptive history. The growth of the mountain was occasionally interrupted
by major eruptions, leading to the collapse of the summit to form calderas.
We can divide Etna’s evolution in 4 phases:
First phase:
”pre-Etnean”
Second phase:
“Ancient Etna”
Third phase:
“Trifoglietto II”
Fourth phase:
“Mongibello”
6. Volcanic activity in the Etnean area began around 0.5 million years ago. Its
products were mainly submarine lavas and volcaniclastics of tholeiitic
composition. The famous outcrops of Acicastello and nearby locations contain
pillow lavasproduced by this early activity.
7. This phase of volcanism took place in a vast marine gulf, extending over part
of the area occupied by the present Etna. The gulf was filled by sediments
intermixed with a regional tectonic uplift. Then the suaerial eruptions began .
8. The various eruptions created a stratovolcano. Today Etna is by far
the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy and one of the most
active volcanoes in the world. It is still in an almost constant state of
activity.
9. Etna’s vegetation is one of the most various in
Sicily.
The volcanic eruptions makes fertile the territory
and changes very often the landscape.
Under 2000 mt there are vineyards,brooms and
hazelnut or oak woods.
Over about 2000 mt there are Beech and birch
woods.
In the higher altitude of the mountain there isn’t
any vegetation that can survives.
10. The Etna birch (Betula aetnensis) is
very similar to the Northern Europe
one, but during
the millennia has evolved so that
many naturalists consider it an
endemic variety of Etna.
A typical feature of the birch is the
color pinkish-white of the
cortex, that tends to epidermal
desquamation in horizontal bands. The
leaf has a bright green color, small in
size and serrated edges.
The branches are very thin
and flexible.
Also has strong detoxifying
properties and is used
against somechronic rheumatic diseas
es and against hair loss.
11. Logging and the pratice of hunting wild caused
the extinction of wolfs,wild boars,deer and roe
deer.Despite this,on the volcano,still live
porcupines,foxes, wild
cats, martens, rabbits, hares, and among the
smaller
animals,weasels, hedgehogs, dormice, dormouse.
Etna’s wildlife also includes snakes, as the viper
or the green lizard, and a big variety of
birds, for example the barn owl and the golden
eagle.
12. Since ancient times the rich volcanic soils of Mount
Etna has allowed people to live on agriculture
and livestock. Surprising and
varied agricultural landscapes are set among
forests and lava flows, forming a mosaic environment of
rare beauty. The presence of man on the volcano
for thousands of years has left a deep
imprint: monumental works of terracing,
warehouses,wineries, dot the slopes of the
"Mountain". The most common kinds of agriculture in
Etna’s territory are vineyards and orchards of olives,
hazelnuts, pistacchio and citrus, expecially oranges.
