Mount Etna

　

　

Sicily's greatest natural attraction is also its highest mountain. To the ancient Greeks, Mount Etna was the realm of Vulcan, god of fire, and the home of the one-eyed monster known as the Cyclops. At approximately 3350 meters, it is Europe's highest active volcano. The size of the summit changes with each eruption, and over the centuries a few lava flows have reached the coast. Over 1200 square meters of Etna's surface is covered with solidified lava. Etna offers skiing in the Winter months and breathtaking hikes in the woods during the Summer. There are also a number of smaller peaks on the slopes of Etna, and some interesting caverns. Since Etna is a strato volcano, with relatively cool lava temperatures and numerous openings (vents), nobody ever knows precisely where on its vast surface the next eruption will be.

July 30,2001-For a two weeks, Europe's highest and most active volcano has been sending out huge clouds of smoke and black ash and rivers of lava, leading the government to declare a state of emergency in the area. 

　

Two lava flows are working their way down the volcano's southern side, one of which emerged from a new fissure that cracked open on Wednesday at a height of 7,000 feet.

  意大利西西里岛上的埃特纳素有“欧洲最高的活火山”之称，海拔3340米,每隔几年便会大规模喷发一次。

　

　埃特纳火山于60万年前形成，高约3000米，是欧洲最高的活火山。当它爆发时，喷射出来的熔岩就像无数漂亮的烟花在上空展现。壮观的景象引来了无数人的惊叹。

　　然而，埃特纳的喷发期却是难以预测的。这对世世代代在附近居住的人们构成了生命和财产的威胁。距埃特纳12英里的尼科洛西镇就曾被火山爆发和随之引起的地震毁坏过两次。但是，这里的人们热爱这片土地，坦然面对危险，他们早已作好了冒险的准备。

　　人们世代靠利用肥沃的火山土种植庄稼。如今，他们又得益于旅游业。他们认为，埃特纳火山展示了生命的迹象。

　　当地居民：不要忘了，它(埃特纳火山)也为尼科洛西镇的人们提供了工作机会，平安和危险时期并寸，但我们始终热爱它。