Mt. Etna is Sicily's tallest point, and is one of Europe's most active volcanos. Despite the fact that it's height changes daily due to volcanic activity, in 1998 Mt. Etna was surveyed at 3,350 meters above sea level.

Mt. Etna provides a welcome diversity to the ecology of Sicily; in winter one can ski on either the northern or southern slope, and in summer the mountain stays green and cool with the moisture from the clouds.

We recommend either driving completely around the mountain, visiting the small towns that lie along it base, or taking the Ferrovia Circumetna, the train that circumnavigates the mountain.

Santa's Sleigh at the southern ski slopes of Mt. Etna. (Courtesy Gary Luke, Dec 1998)

Buried house from the lava flow of 1992 (Courtesy Gary Luke, Dec 1998)

The lunar winter landscape of Mt. Etna (Jan 1999)

A snowy Mt. Etna - in JULY! (Courtesy Roger Byers, July 24, 1999)

A close up - that cone on the right (the non-smoking one) wasn't there when we got here in October of 1998. See the picture at the very top! (Courtesy Roger Byers, July 24, 1999)

Lava stream on top of old smoky (Courtesy Roger Byers, July 24, 1999)

The GIAKMaster does the "funky chicken" dance on top of Mt. Etna. Or maybe he just has hot feet. (Courtesy Roger Byers, July 24, 1999)

Dr. Vinny had a bad case of the beans this morning...phew! (Courtesy Roger Byers, July 24, 1999)

They have BOX! and the large economy, family size too!. (Courtesy Roger Byers, July 24, 1999)

Copyright 2001GIAK Inc.