Etna: the volcano and the park

A volcano “active”

Etna (o Mongibello) is a volcano located in Sicily and it is the highest active volcano in the entire Eurasian land. His assiduous eruptions have altered, more or less deeply, the landscape.

The UNESCO Committee has entered Mount Etna on the list of World Heritage Sites 21 June 2013.

Etna is located on the east coast of Sicily, and it is part of the city of Catania Subway. It occupies an area of 1265 km², It has a diameter of more than 40 km and a perimeter of nearly 135 km.

Etna is a volcano "shield" and its elevation changes because of its eruption that cause the lowering or raising. The area is prone to earthquakes because of the volcano's spasms.

Featuring different environments, its surface hosts cityscapes, dense forests and desolate areas subject to snowmaking.

Urbanized on the southern and eastern shore, wild and arid on the west side where predominates are the "skiing" while on the north side to predominate are the woods.

The characteristics of the area make it ideal for agricultural production, thanks to the volcanic debris that make prolific. The area inhabited and cultivated extends up to 1.000 metri s.l.m.

The provincial road, purely consists of switchbacks, It allows you to drive up to 2.000 meters above sea level up to the Etna cable car that goes to other 20 km.

The areas from which excursions to the top of the volcano can be reached from the south and north side, which host the two Etna ski resorts.

From the southern side you can see the gulf of Catania and the valley of Simeto while the northern side you can admire Taormina and the Calabrian coast.

The park

The Etna Park is a natural area protected by the Region of Sicily and established in 1987.

The first proposals for the park's creation were born in the 60s to the need to protect nature from mass tourism, born after the car distribution.

The establishment of the park was the subject of long debates in the popular and political until the 80.
The Region of Sicily established three regional parks with the law of May 1981. but the construction of the park began only 17 March 1987.

The hit of the Park is to protect the forests and ensure the preservation and growth of floral and faunal species and regulate tourism activities within the territory, not denying welfare to local populations.