Which mountain is the highest active volcano in Europe?

Mount Etna is generally described as Europe’s highest active volcano, rising to more than 3,300 metres on Sicily.

Its exact summit elevation changes because eruptions repeatedly build and destroy volcanic cones. Etna is located on Sicily’s east coast near Catania and has been active for hundreds of thousands of years.

The volcano’s frequent eruptions have produced lava flows, ash and new summit craters. Its fertile lower slopes also support agriculture because volcanic soils can be rich in minerals. In 2013, Mount Etna was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli are also Italian volcanoes, but neither is as tall as Etna. Mount Teide is higher in elevation, yet its activity is not generally classified in the same way; Etna is the standard answer for Europe’s highest active volcano.