Monti De Fiore (1974 eruption)

The two Monti De Fiore formed during the relatively small but, in many respects, unusual January-March 1974 eruption on the west flank, which represents the sole example of an eccentric eruption during the 20th century. They lie in a densely forested area at about 1650 m elevation and rise 40 and 70 m above the surrounding terrain, respectively. The larger of the cones formed during the first phase of the eruption, with explosive activity occurring at several vents at the summit of the cone, while lava issued from several vents on the flanks and at the base of the cone. In one case, the flank of the cone bulged before lava began to issue from the lower portion of the bulge; in another, a collapse pit formed above a newly forming effusive vent. Effusive vents at the southeastern and southern base of the cone lie in small depressions. On the north side of the cone, an unusually thick lava flow extends about 350 m from its source, a shallo saucer-shaped depression in the north flank of the cone. The most peculiar feature related to extrusive activity at this cone is a steep-sided "collar" of blocky lava (mostly covered by pyroclastics produced by explosive activity that occurred at the same time) which surrounds the eastern side of the cone and in places is more than 10 m high. This lava apparently oozed through the base of the growing cone rather than flowing through a breach in the crater rim.
The second cone formed in March 1974, following 3 weeks of quiet, and shows a much simpler morphology, both of the cone and its single effusive vent. The cone is horseshoe-shaped and open to the west; the effusive vent lies on the western side of the crater.
I visited and climbed the Monti De Fiore first in May 1996 and at least ten times since then, often accompanying groups of scientists and students. The site is very spectacular and generally very quiet since it lies far away from the main tourist routes. In fact, very few tourists ever find their way to the Monti De Fiore, firstly because they cannot be reached by car (the nearest parking area is more than 4 km away, near Monte Intraleo), and secondly because there is only one single decent footpath leading there, and you have to know exactly where it is.
The photographs on this page were taken during many different visits; only the earliest of these have been previously available on this site but have been re-scanned since the former versions were of extremely poor quality (the original slides are very dark).

Images of 12 May 1996


Left: the upper of the two cones formed during the 1974 eruptive sequence, Monte De Fiore I. This cone formed between 30 January and 17 February 1974. In spite of its apparent simple structure when viewed from below, its crater is highly complex, and lava issued from numerous vents on the base of the cone. Thie view is from the WSW, from the S flank of the lower 1974 cone. Some lava erupted late during the evolution of Monte De Fiore I is visible in the foreground Center: the younger and smaller (and morphologically more simple) cone Monte De Fiore II seen from the summit of Monte di Fiore I. The cone formed during March 1974, following a 3 week period of inactivity. The crater is open to the west where a small lava flow moved downslope. Several pre-historic cones are visible in the background, the largest being Monte Minardo (left) and Monte Ruvolo (center right) Right: view into the central part of the highly complex crater of Monte De Fiore I. There are the traces of numerous vents that were alternatingly active. View is to the north. Note black scoria layer on upper crater rim, deposited during the last gasp of this eruptive center (or resulting from the later activity at Monte De Fiore II). The gray unvegetated lava flows in the background are from a 1763 eruption which occurred in the same general area


Left: Monte De Fiore I seen from its nearby companion cone, showing an effusive vent active during a late stage of the eruption at the southern (near) base of the cone. On the slope immediately above the vent a bulge can be seen, which formed as magma pushed toward the surface through the side of the cone Centert: southern part of the crater of Monte De Fiore I seen from southern summit. The beautifully regular cone in the background is Monte Nuovo, formed during an eruption in 1763 (there were two major Etna eruptions in that year). That eruption also occurred from two eruptive centers successively of which Monte Nuovo is the lower and latter. The 1763 cones and lava flows are still poorly vegetated Right: the crater of Monte di Fiore II is a rather simple horseshoe-shaped depression. The crater walls show neat stratification. Lava from this cone issued from a vent on the western side of the crater, thus preventing the building of a high rim on that side. The lava flow from Monte di Fiore II is visible in the background. Older, mostly prehistoric, cones are visible in the background (large cone at right: Monte Ruvolo; large cone at left skyline: Monte Minardo)

Images of 17 April 1997

Panoramic view of the western flank of Etna in mid-October 2002 (less than ten days before the volcano erupted violently from its southern and northeastern flanks), showing the dark cones of the Monti De Fiore and their lavas at right. The upper of the cones, Monte De Fiore I, is largely covered by Monte De Fiore II. The forest-clad cone behind them to the left is Monte Rosso, and still further to the left rises the reddish-oxidized cone of Monte Nuovo, formed in 1763. The light-colored lava field in the left foreground is of that same eruption. Dark lava flows on the flank of the main volcanic edifice, in the background, were erupted from the Bocca Nuova, whose snow-free flank is seen on the right side of the otherwise snow-covered summit area, in October-November 1999


Left: Monte De Fiore I seen from the east, showing the irregular outline of its crater rim Center: much irregularity can also be noted in this photograph, which shows the interior of the Monte De Fiore I crater as seen from its eastern rim. Person within crater indicates scale Right: the smaller and lower Monte De Fiore II seen from northern crater rim of Monte De Fiore I. Monte Ruvolo (right) and Monte Minardo lie in the background


Left: view from the northern crater rim of Monte De Fiore I onto an unusually thick lava flow erupted from a vent on the northern slope of the cone. Distant cone is Monte Maletto Center: effusive vent at the southeast base of Monte De Fiore I. Lava issued from the center of a broad, shallow depression, forming the longest flow produced by this eruption. The cones in the background are the Monti Nespole Right: same effusive vent as in previous photograph seen close-up. Dark ribbon on far side of the depression is the lava flow that issued from the vent. The lower of the two Monti Nespole are is the large cone in the background; behind it lie Monte Testa and Monte Gallo

Images of late June 1999


Left: devastation of the dense forest occupying the 1974 eruption site was not very widespread, in spite of the violent explosive activity at the Monti De Fiore, and forest regrowth has advanced right to the eastern base of the earlier of the two cones. Monte Rosso is seen in the background Center: view from the northern crater rim of Monte De Fiore I across the crater to the south, showing highest peak on the crater rim. Persons on low east (left) rim indicate scale Right: the low east rim of the Monte De Fiore I crater; persons indicate scale


Left: large depression surrounding effusive vent at southeast base of Monte De Fiore I seen from south; Monte Rossi is in the background Center: lava issued through a narrow channel from the same vent Right: looking down through the flow channel shown in previous photograph, with the Monti Nespole in the background

This photograph shows the steep outer margin of the peculiar lava "collar" surrounding the eastern base of Monte De Fiore I and forming a near-vertical scarp up to 10 m high. Monte Rosso is in the background

Images of mid-October 2002


Left: northern flank of Monte De Fiore I. Note depression formed above the effusive vent that lies immeditately to the right of the single tree Center: lava flows extending to the north of Monte De Fiore I. The unusually thick lava flow shown in one of the April 1997 photographs is seen at right, here the ogives marking the flow surface can be clearly seen due to lower sun. A later flow, seen at left, is of more "normal" thickness. The dark cone seen at extreme left is Monte Nuovo (1763 eruption); behind it lies Monte Lepre, which has a very youthful morphology, and Monte Maletto is at the right skyline Right: the Monti De Fiore seen from northwest (western base of Monte Nuovo) with the low-standing sun casting long shadows. The larger of the cones, Monte De Fiore II, is at left and its more recent companion Monte De Fiore II at right, with the upper portion of its lava field at extreme right

Images of 12 May 1996

Images of 17 April 1997

Images of late June 1999

Images of mid-October 2002

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