This eruption was one of the grandest of all the known eruptions of
Etna. During its outflow more than 2,000,000,000 cubic feet of molten
lava was spread out over a space of three square miles. There have been
several eruptions since its date, but none of marked prominence, though
the mountain is rarely quiescent for any lengthened period.
THE LIPARI VOLCANOES
South-eastward of Ischia, between Calabria and Sicily, the Lipari
Islands arrest attention for the volcanic phenomena they present. On
one of these is Mount Vulcano, or Volcano, from which all this class of
mountains is named. At present the best known of the Lipari volcanoes
is Stromboli, which consists of a single mountain, having a very obtuse
conical form. It has on one side of it several small craters, of which
only one is at present in a state of activity.
The total height of the mountain is about 2000 feet, and the principal
crater is situated at about two-thirds of the height. Stromboli is one
of the most active volcanoes in the world. It is mentioned as being in
a state of activity by several writers before the Christian era, and the
commencement of its operations extends into the past beyond the limits
of tradition. Since history began its action has never wholly ceased,
although it may have varied in intensity from time to time.
It has been observed that the violence of its eruptive force has a
certain dependence on the weather--being always most intense when the
barometer is lowest.
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