Mighty Mount Etna stands tall above the Sicilian town of Catania. (Photo When you hear the word 'eruption', it brings thoughts of chaos and catastrophe. And given just how powerful a volcanic eruption can be, well, that makes sense. But eruptions are also relatively normal in some places. Even 'healthy'—a way to release pressure that builds underground in these areas.
One such volcano is Mount Etna, found on the Italian island of Sicily. Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. It has been active since at least 1500 BCE, erupting over 200 times since then. Including this one in 2018.
Though there have been deadly, violent eruptions in Etna's past, they are rarely disastrous. Instead, they are a spectacular reminder of the power and beauty of the volcano that has become a symbol of Sicily. And we got another one of these reminders starting this past Sunday, January 17. And it was all captured on video!
Beautiful mountain
It's hard to call this eruption anything but beautiful. What a picture! (Getty Embed)
Another name for Mount Etna is Montebello, or 'beautiful mountain' in Italian. And watching this video, it's easy to understand why. Despite its massive size, there's something strangely peaceful about watching this stratovolcano erupt. It's like watching a pot of chili quietly bubble away on the stove ... wait, why are we hungry all of a sudden? Is it lunch time yet?
While we wait to eat our next meal, let's watch Etna churn and boil in the dark Italian night. Volcanoes are amazing!
😮 l not know all this!