Dwarfed by its enormous neighbor, the twin-peaked Monti Rossi formed during the 1669 eruption, Monte Fusaro lies in the left part of this photograph, bearing an electricity pole, vineyards and fruit gardens. Although it has a broad crater, the cone rises only 20 m above its northeast (near) side. Photo taken on 22 April 2000, view is to southeast

Mamma Etna's countless children
Monte Fusaro
S flank, 15.008995° E, 37.626672° N
summit elevation: 902 m (E rim of crater)

The "nearest neighbor" of the Monti Rossi to the north is a small cone, half buried by more recent lavas, named Monte Fusaro. This unconspicuous cone rises about 60 m above its southeastern base but only 20 m above its northwest base; it is truncated by a 250 m-diameter crater about 20 m deep. Much of the outer slopes of the cone are covered with vineyards and fruit gardens. Monte Fusaro is prehistoric but may be one of the younger of the prehistoric cones in the area, judging from its relatively youthful morphology. It is one of the least interesting of the many cones in the area, but from its summit (eastern crater rim) a fine panoramic view can be obtained of the Monti Rossi (1669 eruption) about 0.8 km to the southeast.
I have visited Monte Fusaro three times since 1989, most recently in May 2001. The photos on this page were taken in September 1999 and April 2000.

Crater of Monte Fusaro seen from its east rim, looking west, 8 September 1999. The diameter of the crater is about 250 m

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Copyright © Boris Behncke, "Italy's Volcanoes: The Cradle of Volcanology"