| Msgr. Patrick S. Brennan |
|
At almost 11,000 ft Mount Etna is the highest point in Sicily. The top of Etna remains snow-covered most of the year. It is still an active volcano. The greatest disaster occurred in 1669, when the flow of lava devastated Catania. The worst eruptions in modern times occurred in 1910, 1917, and 1923. A 2001 eruption swept away the ski lifts and the funicular platform. The lower slopes of Etna are extremely fertile; orange, mandarin, lemon, and olive trees flourish as well as vines which produce great wine. The barren zone occurs at 6,900 ft—thus, the pictures below.
