View fullsize

MT. ETNA

SICILY

IMAGE NUMBER 987

Mt Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, between the cities of Messina and Catania. It is the highest active volcano in Europe outside the Caucasus. It is currently 3,326 m (10,912 ft) high, though this varies with summit eruptions. It is the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps. Etna covers an area of 1,190 km2 (459 sq mi) with a basal circumference of 140 km (87 miles). This makes it by far the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy, being about two and a half times the height of the next largest, Mount Vesuvius.
This image captures the interface between Etna’s lava flows and the forest. The perimeter is marked by trees killed by the lava.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645XF Camera at ISO 50. Exposure of 1/8th of a second and an aperture of F18. Schneider Kreuznach 80 mm lens with leaf shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ3 100 megapixel digital back.