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Mt. Etna Review

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Mt. Etna

Fodor's Review:

Mt. Etna is one of the world's major active volcanoes and is the largest and highest in Europe -- the cone of the crater rises to 10,902 feet above sea level. Plato sailed in just to catch a glimpse in 387 BC; in the 9th century AD, the oldest gelato of all was shaved off of its snowy slopes; and in the 21st century the volcano still claims annual headlines. Etna has erupted 11 times in the past 30 or so years, most spectacularly in 1971, 1983, 2001, and 2002, when in each case rivers of molten lava destroyed the two highest stations of the cable car that rises from the town of Sapienza. Although each eruption is predictably declared a "tragedy" by the media, owing to the economic losses, Etna almost never threatens human life. Travel in the proximity of the crater depends on Mt. Etna's temperament, but you can walk up and down the enormous lava dunes and wander over its moonlike surface of dead craters. The rings of vegetation change markedly as you rise, with vineyards and pine trees gradually giving way to growths of broom and lichen. Catania and Taormina are the departure points for excursions around -- but not always to the top of -- Mt. Etna. Buses leave from Catania's train station in early morning.

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