Mount Etna in some senses helps to define Sicily. It dominates the landscape over a vast terrain. It doesn’t have that iconic volcano profile like Mount Fuji, but has currently six active volcanic craters within it and a range of other craters and vents over a substantial area.
It has frequent eruptions and flows of lava, although they are much slower moving than some other volcanos so that it is a less dangerous volcano than many. Here is an area of lava flow from 2002. The depth of the lava at this point is about 10 to 15 meters. What looks like snow stakes are, in fact, snow stakes. There is a ski resort nearby. It was destroyed by the lava flow and has been rebuilt.
As can be seen in the middle distance, lava will flow around higher terrain, leaving swaths of untouched land. Of course, the edges of the untouched land are scorched by the tremendous heat causing vegetation to die off.
There are different kinds of tubes within lava. Here’s one that was formed by a tree trunk.
Two older, dormant craters are in the distance.
The “ash” put out by a volcano consists of various sizes, weights and densities of material, ranging from dust to “lava bombs” (near right) that make quite a dent when they land.
As we descended to a lower altitude, the vegetation changed from pines to birch and broom (the Italian term meaning “rock breaker”). The birch is a species unique to the Etna area. It was nice to have a former Park Ranger as our guide for a better understanding of what we were seeing.
Donning helmets to explore a lava tube turned out to be a good idea.
The tubes were formed when a hotter stream of lava flowed through lava starting to cool.
The particular tube we explored was used to store snow over the summer and the steps were carved into the lava to make this easier in the 1770s.
Not far from Etna is a river gorge famous for rafting. Our guide had found a remote spot that offered a quiet way to enjoy the Alcantara Gorge.
The bored hole appears to be a post hole for a bridge from Ottoman times.
In winter, the gorge is full to the brim with its swift flowing river. If the day was any warmer, we would have stopped to go in the water.
Back in Taormina, taking the cable car down to the beach, Ken took advantage of the Mediterranean.
With a farewell to Taormina, we headed down the coast
To Vendicari Nature Preserve
For a walk
A chance to admire herons and flamingos and some spoonbills scurrying through the water chasing their lunch
And our own downtime on the beach.