Mount Etna is preparing to celebrate summer 2024 with a (probable) brand new lava and explosion show. At the moment there is nothing definitive but the timid awakening of the “giant”, the Voragine crater, suggests that something could happen.
The Voragine
This crater – Voragine (the Chasm) – is the third, in chronological order, formed on volcano Mt Etna. It was October 1945 and, suddenly, a portion of the thousand-year-old Central Crater – already flanked by the North East Crater – collapsed, creating a hole (pit crater) which in turn began an intense eruptive activity. This new “chasm” in less than 80 years has gone from a diameter of a few meters to almost 200 m!
It is not uncommon for its very powerful eruptions to cause the eruptive material to fall back onto the site, often creating solid plugs that gradually reopen over time. In fact, the Voragine rarely erupts, but when it does… its “song” can be heard throughout Sicily! The last real eruption of the Voragine dates back to 2013, while between 2015 and 2019 there were temporary awakenings. (see Go Etna Blog HERE ).
What happens to the Voragine
After months of silence and apparent calm, a hole has opened in one of the walls of the great chasm of the Voragine from which gas is being expelled at great power. Together with the gas, shreds of lava are also expelled with a whole “boiling” that increases or decreases depending on the moment of the day.
Needless to say, in the evening this becomes a show within a show. A great view still for a “chosen” few, because the Voragine is a dangerous environment and only expert guides or volcanologists can venture onto its edges.
In case of an eruption…
In the event of an eruption, however, tourists on Etna will be able to enjoy one of the most beautiful shows ever. And accompanied by local guides they will be able to find the ideal and safest place from where to admire lava fountains. The Voragine is a crater that “knows how to make itself heard” and will certainly not disappoint expectations. The fact remains that Mt Etna is a “capricious” volcano and therefore… after so many clear signs, it is also possible that everything ends before it even begins!
Come to Catania!
If you want to enjoy Etna and its eruptions, your reference airport is of course Fontanarossa, that is Catania Airport (CTA). You can also land at Palermo Airport (PMO) and then take a bus that will take you to Etna in less than 3 hours.