Etna as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Etna was at last added to the list of the world heritage sites by UNESCO. The great work done by the Etna Park with the cooperation of many institutions, including the Friends of the Earth, will bring the enhancement of one of the most important symbols of Sicily we all must be proud of.

Following is a description of the new World Heritage site in UNESCO website:

“Mount Etna is an iconic site encompassing 19,237 uninhabited hectares on the highest part of Mount Etna, on the eastern coast of Sicily. Mount Etna is the highest Mediterranean island mountain and the most active stratovolcano in the world. The eruptive history of the volcano can be traced back 500,000 years and at least 2,700 years of this activity has been documented. The almost continuous eruptive activity of Mount Etna continues to influence volcanology, geophysics and other Earth science disciplines. The volcano also supports important terrestrial ecosystems including endemic flora and fauna and its activity makes it a natural laboratory for the study of ecological and biological processes. The diverse and accessible range of volcanic features such as summit craters, cinder cones, lava flows and the Valle de Bove depression have made the site a prime destination for research and education.”