Thousands of smoke rings spotted above Mount Etna: what is it and is it safe for tourists

The highest and most active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna in Sicily, has started to release rings of smoke into the sky. The unusual phenomenon confused netizens, but locals are not panicking, as they know that these rings are not dangerous to them.

The volcano, whose height reaches more than 3,300 meters, erupted more than once last year, so it is the focus of scientific attention. According to Fox News, citing a volcanologist at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, this time Etna is breaking all records.

Unusually-shaped smoke began to be seen over the mountain last week. The Gigantic rings were simply floating over the volcano, slowly dissolving in the air under the influence of the wind. At night, they were illuminated.

"Etna is breaking all previous records. Late in the evening of April 2, 2024, a small vent opened up, from which trickles of hot gas were escaping. The next morning, it became apparent that these trickles were forming a significant number of vapor rings, and this activity continues to this day, having already released hundreds, if not thousands, of these pretty rings," the expert wrote.

Etna has formed "volcanic vortex rings," as scientists call them, due to the rapid release of gas and vapor from the newly formed crater.

It is believed that only the Sicilian volcano can produce smoke rings in such impressive numbers. This is due to its location, the climate in Sicily, and other factors. A similar phenomenon in other places quickly dissipates due to strong winds.

Is it safe for tourists

Uninformed travelers may think that smoke rings are a signal of a possible eruption, but volcanologists are not in a hurry to make conclusions. Currently, Sicily is receiving tourists as usual, and the picturesque phenomenon has not even affected the airport.

Moreover, the locals jokingly called Etna "The Lord of the Rings," and scientists joke that the volcano wanted to please the world with something beautiful amid the terrible news coming from different parts of the world recently.

Thousands of such rings are not dangerous to humans, so there is no question of evacuating the area around the volcano. Tourists and other observers only joke that Etna looks like an "experienced smoker".

How often does Etna erupt

Etna is located at the junction of two tectonic plates: African and Eurasian. The former is in continuous motion, which directly affects the volcano's activity. Sometimes Etna erupts several times a year, and sometimes for a month.

It happens that lava demolishes crops and houses on its way, but most often local residents suffer from ash. On average, one of the villages near the mouth suffers serious damage once every 150 years.

The last eruption, which was the focus of media attention, occurred at the end of 2023. The airport was closed and traffic was restricted.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!