Mount Etna

I stand tall and proud on a sunny island in the middle of a sparkling blue sea. From my peak, I can see colorful towns, green fields, and boats sailing on the water. Most days, I am quiet and calm, with a crown of snow on my head even when the sun is warm. But deep inside, I have a warm, fiery heart. Sometimes my belly rumbles, a low grumble that shakes the ground just a little. When that happens, I might breathe out a few gentle puffs of white smoke, like a sleepy giant waking from a nap. People from all over the world come to see me. They walk on my stony sides and look down into my craters. They know I am very old and very powerful. I am the great Mount Etna.

My story began a very, very long time ago, about 500,000 years in the past. I was born when two giant pieces of the Earth, called plates, pushed against each other deep under the sea. Over thousands of years, I grew bigger and bigger, rising out of the water to become the mountain I am today. Long ago, people like the ancient Greeks and Romans looked up at me with wonder. They told stories that a god named Hephaestus had his workshop deep inside my fiery center, using my heat to make amazing things. I have had many growing spurts over the years, which people call eruptions. One of my biggest started on March 11th, 1669. For months, I sent glowing rivers of hot lava slowly down my slopes. The lava changed the shape of the land around me and even made the island a little bit bigger when it reached the sea.

Today, my fiery heart still rumbles, but I also give many gifts to the people who live near me. The old lava from my past has broken down and made the soil around my base very rich and healthy. This special soil is perfect for growing delicious foods. Farmers grow sweet grapes for juice, bright yellow lemons, and tasty olives on my slopes. I am also a classroom for curious scientists. They visit me with special tools to listen to my rumbles and study my smoke. They say I help them understand how our amazing planet works. On June 21st, 2013, I received a very special honor. I was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means I am a treasure for the whole world to protect. I love watching people explore my paths. I hope I can remind everyone of the Earth’s amazing power and beauty for a long, long time.