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Like
a small forested island surrounded by the two main lobes of the
1832 lava flow, Monte Egitto lies in an area that is rarely visited
even by people well acquainted with Etna. Its unconspicuous cone
is not visible from most excursion routes, due also to its relatively
small size. Two larger cones, Monte Lepre (formed around A.D.
600) and Monte Nunziata (formed during the 1832 eruption) are
visible in the upper left and lower right portions of this photograph,
taken in late October 1999 from the upper WSW flank of Etna's
main edifice. Distance from the viewing point to Monte Egitto
is about 5 km. This is virtually the only photograph I have of
Monte Egitto thus far |
Mamma
Etna's countless children
Monte Egitto
W flank, 14.928442° E, 37.765749° N
Summit elevation: 1612 m (NE rim of crater)
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Remote
and poorly known Monte Egitto is something like the northern beacon of
the field of pyroclastic cones on Etna's west flank. This relatively small
cone of unknown age lies far away from the common hiking trails and rises
only about 40 m above its eastern base and 70 m above its western base.
To the south, east and north it is surrounded by the lava field of the
1832 Monte Nunziata eruption, and it can be reached only via the Forest
Service road from Monte Lepre or by a strenuous hike across the 1832 lavas,
coming from Monte Nunziata.
The remote location of this cone is the reason why I have never gotten
any closer than 1.5 km to Monte Egitto, and my only photograph of it was
taken from still farther away (see above).
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to Monte Scavo
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to the Etna flank cone index |