Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe, rising above Sicily in Italy. Its summit elevation changes after eruptions, but it stands roughly 3,300 metres above sea level and dominates the eastern part of the island.
Etna is a complex stratovolcano with several summit craters and extensive flanks marked by lava flows. Its frequent eruptions can produce lava fountains, ash plumes and lava flows, while its long record of activity makes it one of the world’s best-studied volcanoes.
Etna is often compared with Vesuvius, another Italian volcano, but the two have different settings and histories. Vesuvius overlooks the Bay of Naples, whereas Etna occupies a much larger area of eastern Sicily. UNESCO added Mount Etna to its World Heritage List in 2013 because of its geological importance and ongoing scientific value.