ITS25 CAE – Visit of Etna

Students had an educational and geographical excursion to the Mount Etna.  We learned that it is the highest volcano in Europe with 3357 m above sea level. We learned about the parts of the volcano, its history and activity in the past , which had a great impact on people living in the area. Volcano and earthquake destroyed the city Nicolosi and Zafferanaand villages in the past. The last big eruption was in 1992.  
We walked in the Crater Silveri where we could observe different colours of lava rocks and the guide explained us the origin of the rocks. Some of the big rocks are called lava bombs. Because of the fog we couldn’t see the mount. But with the short open sky, we could see 400 small craters around the mount and also difference in landscape in northern and southern part of the mount. Etna was covered with snow.

Italian students prepared a presentation and some questions as games: What are the main reasons for Etna's volcanicactivity? 

Mount Etna is associated with Hephaestus, the god of fire, metal and volcanoes. According to legend, Hephaestus lived beneath Mount Etna, where he forged the weapons of the gods. He was renowned for his metalworking skills, and used the volcano's heat to power his forges. One of the most famous stories tells how, after being cast off Mount Olympus by his mother, Hera, Hephaestus settled beneath Mount Etna. There, he made weapons and armor for the gods, and it was said that the volcano's smoke and eruptions came from the fires of his forges.

Typhon defied the gods of Olympus to gain dominion over heaven and earth. After a violent battle, he was defeated by Zeus, who captured him and imprisoned him beneath Mount Etna. The volcanic eruptions were said to be due to the movements of Typhon, imprisoned beneath the mountain, struggling in his imprisonment.

Pupils learned a lot during this excursion in very bad conditions with weather. They asked a lot of questions and italianstudents were ready to answer them all after their explanations. The life experience was hundred times better than learning in the classroom. It was an incredible moment where they thought that they were on March planet