How Mountains are Measured

The word mountain means different things to different people. By general agreement, geographers, and geologists define a mountainous area as one that lies at least 2,000 feet above its surroundings and its region consists of 2 or more zones of climate and plant life. They are also peak points, literally high places, offering beautiful visions from new, usually unattainable heights.

Mount Aetna is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world. Etna covers an area of some 600 square miles (1,600 square km), and its base has a circumference of about 93 miles (150 km). At 11,122 ft. or 3,390 meters on the eastern coast of Sicily offers a colorful picture with its snow-covered peaks, the orchards, vineyards and orange groves at its base and forests on its slopes. The region surrounding Aetna is the most populated area in Sicily.

The cities of Catania where “The Godfather” was filmed and Acireale and 63 smaller villages are nearby providing a rich travel experience. The first recorded eruption of Aetna occurred around 700 BCE. There have been more than 90 eruptions since then, some extremely violent. About 20,000 people were killed in an earthquake that followed a 1669 eruption. Several towns were destroyed in 1950 and 1951 eruptions. Violent eruptions in the 1960’s ripped a hole in the mountain’s east side.

Acireale is in the north-east of the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna, on the coast facing the Ionian Sea. It is home to numerous churches, including the Neo-Gothic St. Pietro’s Basilica and the 17th century Acireale Cathedral.

Mount Etna erupted just this month on June 2, 2025, sending ash and lava into the air and prompting tourists to flee the area. Although the eruption was significant, officials reported that it posed no danger to nearby towns or visitors.

Recommended Tours

Tours of Ariceale and surrounding communities

Tours of Catania

In 1971, 1975 and 1979 there were also eruptions. In more recent eruption news, Mount Aetna is spewing lava and ash and has been since February 16th of 2021. Below is footage detailing the most recent eruption, The craters of Aetna belch smoke and lava after the violent eruption. Its name is purportedly “I Burn” in the Greek language it is also the Phoenician word for chimney or furnace.

Greek myths and stories about Mount Aetna

The Greeks created legends about the volcano, saying that it was the workshop of Hephaestus and the Cyclops and beneath it the giant Typhon resides, making the Earth shake when he moves about. The ancient poet Hesiod mentioned Etna’s eruptions, and the Greeks Pindar and Aeschylus referred to a famous eruption of 475 BCE. Another of Etna’s better-known ancient eruptions was that of 396 BCE which is credited with keeping the Carthaginian army from reaching Catania.