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Mount Etna is an active volcano on the island of Sicily
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The Mountain of Mountains
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1 - This mountain is on the island of Sicily in southern Italy. The cities of Catania, Taormina and Messina are nearby. Its peak is always covered in snow and often hidden by clouds. People in Sicily call it "Mongibello". This means "mountain of mountains". 2 - However, it is better known as Mount Etna. It is a volcano that erupts again and again, striking fear into the hearts of the people who live nearby. It is 3,323 m high, making it the highest volcano in Europe. 3 - Mount Etna is a very active volcano. There are many traces of its eruptions around the mountain. The oldest known account of an eruption dates back to 693 BC. The worst disaster occurred in 1669. At the time, large parts of the city of Catania were destroyed. The city is 30 kilometers from Mount Etna's summit. 4 - When a volcano erupts, liquid, red-hot material rises from deep inside the Earth to the surface. As long as it is inside the Earth, we call it magma. Once it reaches the surface, it is called lava. A volcanic eruption is accompanied by huge explosions that hurl rocks weighing tons high into the air. Millions of tons of ash also rain down. Trees and plants are buried, and houses are destroyed. 5 - The glowing lava flows down the slopes, causing fires and widespread destruction. During an eruption, people try to divert the lava flow away from human settlements. But this does not always work. Eventually, the lava flow stops. The lava cools, leaving behind black, porous rocks mixed with plenty of ash. This soil is very fertile. Before long, new life begins to grow in the lava fields. 6 - That is why people keep trying to make use of the fertile soil and live near an active volcano. There are many fruit trees and lemon trees in the countryside around Mount Etna. 7 - But the fear of the volcano is always there. The old cathedral in the city of Catania was completely destroyed in 1669. It has long since been rebuilt. But an old painting in the church still recalls the terrifying days when large parts of the city fell victim to an eruption of Mount Etna.
Buildings near a volcanic eruption are often completely destroyed
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The lava cools into dirty-gray chunks
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The slopes of Mount Etna are covered with scree and solidified lava
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New life begins to sprout just a short time after the lava has cooled
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The soil near a volcano is very fertile
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Catania Cathedral was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1669
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A painting in the cathedral commemorates the devastating eruption of Mount Etna in 1669
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