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Splendid view of snow-covered Etna from the island of Lipari, about 100 km to the north, in April 1995

Aerial views of Etna, around 1983 These spectacular photos are from the collection of Carmelo Sturiale (+1988), who worked as a volcanologist at the University of Catania since the late-1950's. They were taken during an overflight of Etna, probably between 1981 and 1983 (possibly at the beginning of the 1983 eruption) and show details of the morphology of the volcano, such as the summit area, the Valle del Bove, and the summit cone complex (which has changed considerably since the photos were taken). The photos were kindly made available by Giovanni Sturiale. Click on the thumbnails to see much larger versions of the photos.
	Left: The upper 1000 m of Etna seen from east-southeast, with the southwestern rim of Valle del Bove in the left foreground. Click here to see an annotated large version of the photo: MSC=Main summit cone; NE=NE Crater; SE=SE Crater; M=Montagnola; C=Cisternazza (a pit crater formed in 1792); SG=Serra Giannicola. Right: Looking east along the southern crest of the Valle del Bove (named "Schiena dell'Asino" which means "donkey's back"). The conspicuous cone in the foreground is Montagnola, a cone formed during a flank eruption in 1763.
	Left: Summit cone complex seen from north-northeast. Click here to see an annotated large version of the photo: NE=NE Crater; V=Voragine; BN=Bocca Nuova; SE=SE Crater; M=Montagnola. Right: Main summit cone and SE Crater seen from the east-southeast, with grayish ash being emitted from Bocca Nuova. The annotated large version of the photo shows the names of the features visible in the photo: '71=1971 "Observatory cone"; SE=SE Crater (note that at that time it was simply a large pit); '64=remainder of the 1964 cone complex in the summit crater; BN=Bocca Nuova; V=Voragine; NE=NE Crater.

Contrary to common belief, Etna is not a simple shield or strato volcano. Its shape and structure are extremely asymmetric and complex, and a classification of the mountain on a morphological basis is nearly impossible. The reason for this complexity is that Etna did not grow as one single large cone, but as a succession of volcanic edifices most of which suffered partial collapse at least once during their lifetimes, and whose centers shifted from one place to another.

Several calderas can still be discerned morphologically, the most impressive being the huge Valle del Bove (Valley of the oxen) on the eastern side of the volcano whose latest collapse episodes occurred only a few thousand years ago. Etna's morphology is further complicated by the presence of areas with more frequent eruptive activity, like the Northeast Rift which forms a distinct ridge dotted with eruptive cones and cut by numerous gaping fissures. Hundreds of minor pyroclastic cones are scattered all over the flanks of the mountain, some of which appear to be small volcanoes on their own, with edifice heights of several hundred meters, while many others are much smaller, with heights of only a few tens of meters. These were produced by flank eruptions, the most dangerous, and probably the best documented, type of activity at Etna in recent times.

At the summit of the volcano stands a complex of large cones which actually host the four summit craters. This peculiar family of craters, which are somehow connected but show a surprising degree of independence from each other, is a relatively recent feature. One hundred years ago, until 1911, there was one single large cone at the summit of Etna, that was truncated by the 500 m-diameter Central Crater. Two new craters, the Northeast and Southeast Craters, formed in 1911 and 1971, respectively, and have since built their own cones which rival the old central summit cone in size and height. In recent years the Southeast Crater has been particularly active and its growing cone now forms a prominent landmark at the summit of Etna. Viewed from south and southeast it actually seems higher than the central summit cone, but this is an effect of perspective; actually the summit of the Southeast Crater cone is still about 20 m lower than the highest point of the volcano.

	Left: Etna seen from the northwest. This view, taken from near the village of Maletto, shows the snow-clad edifice of the youngest structural unit of Etna, Mongibello. The cone visible at left is Monte Maletto, one of about 250 flank eruptive centers on the volcano. Right: Etna from SSW and the 1669 eruption. Outcrop in the southwestern part of the 1669 lava flow, near the town of Misterbianco. The flow was erupted from a large flank cone, Monti Rossi, which is visible in the far right; this cone lies about 15 km from Etna's summit (visible in the left center). The major cone visible immediately to the right of the snow-covered summit area is Montagnola, a crater formed in 1763.
	Left: Flank cones near Nicolosi. The southern and southeastern flanks are dotted with cinder cones produced by flank eruptions, some of which occurred during historic times. This view is from the summit of Monti Rossi (the main 1669 cinder cone), on the northwestern margin of Nicolosi, and shows five cones. The cone visible in the upper left center (it has three peaks) is Monte Arso, formed in the 15th century. Right: Montagnola, a cone formed in 1763. The second of two flank eruptions in 1763 occurred on the upper southern rim of the Valle del Bove and built a large cinder cone named Montagnola. This eruption produced an unusually thick lava flow-field which can be seen as a ridge extending from the Montagnola crater to the right margin of the photo.
	Views of Montagnola from near the main summit cone. The views were taken from the summit of the "Observatory Cone" formed in 1971, lookking south. Left: The view during summer (September 1989). Right: Same view taken during the winter (April 1990). Note black lava flows extending from the foreground to near the base of Montagnola; most of these were erupted in 1971, but the right photo shows a very dark lava flow at left which is from the September 1989 eruptions of SE Crater.

This section includes two further pages where specific aspects of the Etnean morphology are discussed in more detail:

• The Valle del Bove, a huge collapse depression on Etna's eastern flank. Here you will learn about the various hypotheses proposed to explain the origin of the Valle del Bove, including fascinating new findings.
• The cones and craters of Etna. This will get you acquainted with the recent eruptive centers of Etna, on the flanks (where there are hundreds of pyroclastic cones) and the summit craters, which have an eventful history.

On this page there are many photographs depicting various morphological elements of Etna, such as lava flow features, and furthermore you will get a more graphical idea of what, until now, you have only seen in maps or in text descriptions. This chapter is the base of what will eventuarlly develop into "the Virtual Etna", which will allow you to click on any point on an Etna map to see photos and detailed maps of the chosen area.

Etna dominates the skyline of the city of Catania (in the foreground) in this photo taken from a ship off the Ionian coast in June 1997