<p><strong>Streams of lava light up <a id="j5o4" title="Mount Etna" href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/forces/v_5.html">Mount Etna</a> during a two-hour eruption on Tuesday night—the peak of the <a id="mstw" title="Italian" href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/italy-guide/">Italian</a> <a id="o5.i" title="volcano" href="http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/volcano-profile.html">volcano</a>'s fiery week (<a id="kalf" title="Mount Etna map" href="http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine#s=h&c=37.74968155572217, 14.995120838284482&z=10">Mount Etna map</a>). </strong></p><p>Towering nearly 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) over the island of Sicily, Europe's tallest and most active volcano began trembling Tuesday afternoon, seismologists told the OurAmazingPlanet news site. Wednesday and Thursday saw flames and ash flung hundreds of yards into the sky, closing down area airports.</p>
Etna Aflame
Streams of lava light up Mount Etna during a two-hour eruption on Tuesday night—the peak of the Italian volcano's fiery week (Mount Etna map).
Towering nearly 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) over the island of Sicily, Europe's tallest and most active volcano began trembling Tuesday afternoon, seismologists told the OurAmazingPlanet news site. Wednesday and Thursday saw flames and ash flung hundreds of yards into the sky, closing down area airports.
Pictures: Mount Etna Erupts Overnight
See this week's explosive nighttime spectacle from Europe's most active volcano—plus classic pictures from years, and centuries, gone by.
