Mount Etna began to form 80 million years ago, with underwater activity taking place between Acicastello and Acitrezza. Activities in the Sicilian area date back to a half a million years ago. The northeast crater of the volcano formed in 1911, the southeast crater in 1971. Four eruptive mouths can be found at the summit, with the newest mouth forming in 1968.
Three distinct zones make up Mount Etna, each providing its own distinct environment. The lower zone, which stands at 4,000 feet, has plant life including citrus trees, vineyards, olive groves and almond and fig trees. The second zone, which stands at 6,900 feet from the ground, contains chestnut and pine trees. The third zone, or the summit, is filled with old lava formations and volcanic ash, and has little plant life.
During the Roman times, Mount Etna was known as "Aetna," which derives from the Greek word "aitho" which means "to burn." Gibel Utlamat, or "mountain of fire," was the name given by the Arabs to Mount Etna. This name was later changed to Mons Gibel before becoming known as Mongibello to the Sicilian locals. According to mythology, the God Zeus fashioned his lighting bolts from within the volcano.
Mount Etna has remained highly active since its first recorded eruption in 475 B.C. The eruptions come from either the summit or the flanks on the sides of the mountain; as of 2006, 209 eruptions had been reported. Mount Etna has been erupting for the past 400 years, making it the most active volcano in the world. On April 8th, 2010, an ash eruption took place from the lower east flank of the southeast crater, causing it to expand from 10 meters to 50 meters.
On March 8th, 1669, Mount Etna began to rumble and, over the course of the next few days, a massive eruption took place. The eruption killed 20,000 people, leaving thousands more homeless, before it stopped. In November of 1928, another massive eruption took place that destroyed large parts of Mascali, a town located on the eastern flank of the volcano. These are the two largest and deadliest eruptions in the history of Mount Etna.
