Surface features of the 1983 lava flow near Rifugio Sapienza.
These photos were taken on 24 May 1998 in the central portion of the 1983 lava flow, about 300 m west of Rifugio Sapienza, at an elevation of about 1900 m on Etna's south flank. Pahoehoe lava is relatively rare at Etna, but there are a few extensive pahoehoe areas in historic and prehistoric flows. The lava flow of March-August 1983 is mostly aa lava but has some zones with pahoehoe. The left photo shows a curly structure on the margin of a small pahoehoe lobe while classical ropy pahoehoe lava is visible in the photo at right. Curl at left is about 0.3 m in diameter while the ropy flow in right photo is about 1.5 m wide.