At sunset, Etna is casting an imposing shadow over the Ionian Sea to the east. Sometimes even the shadow of the gas plume issuing from the summit craters can be distinguished. This view was taken under particularly favorable meteorological conditions on the evening of 11 February 1998; the top of the shadow lies on the southern tip of Calabria.

Summit craters seen from the "Piano del Lago", a gently sloping area near Montagnola, some 4 km south of the summit; 11 February 1998. A rare phenomenon is visible in this image (it shows much better on the enlarged version): a smoke ring has been emitted by SE Crater (the feature at right) and is being blown to the southwest (left) as it is gradually growing in diameter.

Another shot of the same smoke ring which in the meantime has grown larger and has travelled further southwest. On 10-11 February, SE Crater produced tens of smoke rings, a phenomenon not seen on any other occasion during 23 summit visits between 14 June 1997 and 15 June 1998.