Etna or Aetna, volcano, 10,958 ft (3,340 m) high, on the east coast of Sicily, S Italy. It is the highest active volcano in Europe. The shape and height of its central cone have often been changed by eruptions. There are more than 260 lesser craters on the slopes, formed by lateral eruptions. The southeastern slope is cut by a deep (2,000-4,000-ft/610-1219-m), precipitous cleft, the Valle del Bove. The first known eruption occurred in 475 B.C. and was described by Pindar and Aeschylus. Of the numerous later eruptions, often accompanied by earthquakes, those of 1169 and 1669 were the most destructive; the most recent major eruption occurred in 1992.

The wide base of Mt. Etna, c.93 mi (150 km) in circumference, is encircled by a railroad. The fertile lower slopes are densely populated agricultural areas. Up to 1,600 ft (488 m) the vegetation is subtropical, yielding citrus fruit, bananas, and figs; between 1,600 and 4,300 ft (488-1,311 m) is a temperate zone, with vineyards and various fruit trees; from there to c.7,000 ft (2,130 m) are chestnut, birch, and pine woods; above, there is a desolate waste of lava and ashes. Near the top there is snow most of the year. There is an observatory at 9,650 ft (2,941 m). A motor road from Nicolosi, NW of Catania, to the 6,170-ft (1,881-m) level was completed in 1935.

Active volcano, eastern coast of Sicily, Italy. The highest active volcano in Europe, its elevation is more than 10,000 ft (3,200 m); its base has a circumference of about 93 mi (150 km). Mount Etna has repeatedly erupted over the centuries, most violently in 1669, when the lava flow destroyed villages on the lower slope and submerged part of the town of Catania. Activity was almost continuous in the decade following 1971, and in 1983 an eruption that lasted four months prompted authorities to explode dynamite in an attempt to divert lava flows. Mount Etna also experienced violent eruptions in 2001–02, prompting the Italian government to declare a state of emergency.

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Active volcano, eastern coast of Sicily, Italy. The highest active volcano in Europe, its elevation is more than 10,000 ft (3,200 m); its base has a circumference of about 93 mi (150 km). Mount Etna has repeatedly erupted over the centuries, most violently in 1669, when the lava flow destroyed villages on the lower slope and submerged part of the town of Catania. Activity was almost continuous in the decade following 1971, and in 1983 an eruption that lasted four months prompted authorities to explode dynamite in an attempt to divert lava flows. Mount Etna also experienced violent eruptions in 2001–02, prompting the Italian government to declare a state of emergency.

Learn more about Etna, Mount with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Etna is a city in the Scott Valley area of Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 781 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Etna is located at (41.457350, -122.896875). This is in Northern California near the Oregon border. Etna is located in Scott Valley next to the CPD of Greenview and the city of Fort Jones. Etna is located at the foot of the Marble Mountain Wilderness in the Siskiyou Mountain (Cascades) Range and is an attraction for hikers, rafters, climbers and people who do all sorts of other outdoor activities. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 781 people, 329 households, and 210 families residing in the city. The population density was 989.9 people per square mile (381.7/km²). There were 362 housing units at an average density of 458.8/sq mi (176.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.48% White, 0.13% African American, 6.02% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.

There were 329 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,179, and the median income for a family was $30,461. Males had a median income of $25,972 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,737. About 13.7% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the state legislature Etna is located in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Sam Aanestad, and in the 2nd Assembly District, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa. Federally, Etna is located in California's 2nd congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +13 and is represented by Republican Wally Herger.

References

External links

• Etna at Wikitravel
• Etna at City-Data.com
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