New volcanic crater

Unusual scenes: Etna spits out rings of smoke

Etna: Volcanic vortex rings emerge from a newly formed crater.(Bild: The Associated Press)

Unusual scenes on the Italian island of Sicily: Etna volcano emits white rings of smoke. The so-called volcanic vortex rings come from a newly formed crater on the south-east crater. They are caused by small explosions of gas bubbles in a narrow maw above a magma chamber.

Locals have therefore given Etna (Etna in Italian) the name "Lady of the Rings".

This is by no means the first time that such figures have been seen: 300 years ago already, in 1724, such rings were first mentioned. However, the phenomenon is rather rare - and if it does occur, then not with such frequency.

(Bild: The Associated Press)

Thousands of rings have been sighted since the opening of the new vent.

The term volcanic vortex rings was coined by the English physicist William Thomson (1824-1907). Such rings have also been sighted on another well-known Italian volcano, Stromboli on the island of the same name in the Mediterranean. According to experts, they are completely harmless and are not a sign of an imminent eruption.

Mount Etna is Europe's largest active volcano. The mountain is around 3350 meters high. However, the exact height is constantly changing due to eruptions and cinder cones.

(Bild: The Associated Press)

The German volcanologist Boris Behncke - active on social networks as Etnaboris - wrote: "No volcano on Earth produces as many steam rings as Mount Etna. Now it seems to be breaking all records." The small maw opened on Tuesday. Since then, the mountain has already produced thousands of rings, according to the expert from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Catania. On X, he added: "Maybe it's because we've been getting so much bad news lately. So Etna has decided to do something simply beautiful."

The smoke signals over Mount Etna also attracted many locals and tourists to the vicinity of the mountain. Despite temperatures of around 25 degrees, it is still early season on Sicily.

In the past centuries, Etna has repeatedly erupted spectacularly. According to historical records, more than 20,000 people lost their lives in 1669, which is believed to have been the worst catastrophe. At the time, around a dozen villages were destroyed.