MOUNT ETNA VOLCANO BLOWS INCREDIBLE SMOKE RING INTO THE SKY

Geological structures of great interest are volcanoes. They are essentially vents through which flowing lava from the Earth's warmer interior can escape. But Mount Etna, which is situated in Sicily, is not your typical volcano. Since 1500 BCE, people have observed and documented Mount Etna's eruptions, which are known as a stratovolcano due to its sharp cone-shaped crater. The mountain is especially well-known for its almost legendary-looking, smoky vortex rings, which it has been releasing at a rapid pace lately.

In general, Mount Etna is very active. It's possible that the Latin and Greek words for "to burn" or perhaps the Phoenician word for "furnace" are where the name Etna first appeared. The speciality of Mount Etna is vortex rings. They are produced when hot gases, vapours, and smoke rise to the surface from the hotter volcanic rock beneath vents. A vortex is a high-speed swirl created by differences in speed as the gaseous material is ejected. After that, the gaseous ring drifts away and eventually fades.

The New York Times reports that Mount Etna produced more rings in April 2024 than any other volcano in history. This unprecedented pace does not imply that a major explosion is imminent, though. The hyperactivity is a fascinating aspect of nature for the time being. Despite not being in Sicily at the moment, you can still view the video above. The captivating smoke rings that are circling the sky have been captured on camera by The Straits Times.

At the moment, the active volcano is a protected park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a distinct ecosystem of living plants and animals on its slopes. Hiking trails and picturesque viewpoints allow visitors to explore Mount Etna; they might even spot a vortex ring. A webpage run by The Smithsonian allows you to track the explosions and flows as well.