Excursions for school
Project for the school: Excursions
The Alpine Guides of Etna South Group propose among their various activities a project for school, directed towards school children of every class and age. The aim of this is to offer to young people an adequate formative opportunity through collaboration with the educational institution and the families. The mountain is a natural laboratory in which to bring to life, through an integrated programme, the communal aims of human growth and knowledgable, harmonious and constructive relationships with the environment.
Aims of the activities
- KNOWLEDGE of the relations that exist through the direct observation of the area, through geological and biological realities and human activities, as well as the continual growing influence of man on the environment. From the renewed and urgent necessity to assume rational and farsighted attitudes in the programming of protective interventions and prevention of geological risks.
- UNDERSTANDING of the general atmospheres and the problematic multidisciplines connected to the natural and earth sciences. Of the importance of a correct and intelligent management of natural resources. Of direct and mediated information, critical and discriminating of observations, facts, hypotheses and theories.
Technical index of itineraries
Pietra Cannone Monte Fontane Path
The environmental characteristics of the site: lava flows from the 1950/51 eruption, 1971 and 1979 which threatened the inhabitants of Fornazzo and Milo. View of the entire Valle del Bove and craters of the summit. Dykes (Non ho la minima idea che cosa significa!), historic lava flows and casts of trees.
Duration:
3 hours
Height gain/loss: :
150 mt
Maximum altitude:
1.200 mt above sea level
Monte Nero degli Zappini Path
Environmental characteristics and peculiarities of the site: lava fields and eruptive displays from various eras, tree essences and endemic plants. A grotto used for the conservation of snow and casts of trees.
Duration:
3 hours
Height gain/loss: :
150 mt
Maximum altitude:
1.800 mt above sea level
Monti Sartorius Path
Environmental characteristics of the area: large eruptive displays at Bottoniera (1865 eruption) within the largest beech wood on the whole volcano. Effusive holes and reo-genetic cavities beanti inside the craters. Volcanic bombs of notable sizes and projected pyroclastic material.
Duration:
3 hours
Height gain/loss: :
120 mt
Maximum altitude:
1.770 mt above sea level
Monte Zoccolaro Path
Environmental characteristics of the site: an itinerary of great interest on the eastern edge of the caldera belt of the Valle del Bove. View on the dykes and the big necks of the western face. The remains of eruptive displays preceding the actual like the Trifoglietto and the Calanna. The strips of vegetation are noteworthy.
Duration:
3.30 hours
Height gain/loss: :
250 mt
Maximum altitude:
1.739 mt above sea level
Grotta Lunga
Environmental characteristics of the site: a rolls of lava flow originating in the lavas of the 1792 eruption. Easily accessible thanks to the open spaces. Remelting stalactites, rolls of laval and levels of flow. The cave is inhabited by small examples of Chiroptera bats.
Duration:
1 hours
Height gain/loss: :
500 mt
Altitude at the entrance:
900 mt s.l.m.
Back of the donkey
Environmental characteristics of the site: a high-level mountain itinerary which allows the observation, from an excellent viewpoint, of the craters of the summit which originated in the 2002/2003 eruption. An internal view of the Valle del Bove and the ancient eruptive centres. Dry fractures and displacement of slopes which happened during the violent eruptive events of 2001 and 2003. The strips of vegetation are noteworthy and in particular the volcanic desert.
Duration:
4 hours
Height gain/loss: :
200 mt
Maximum altitude:
2.000 mt above sea level
Eruptive display of 2001
Environmental characteristics: eruptive fractures, flows, lava channels and little cones of scoria. Presence of ‘amphibole’ in the erupted lava. Reo-genetic cavities in the fractures. The lavas from the 2003 eruption which are still warm are visible. The area of theatrical eruption shows the enormous damage done to tourism outlets and ski lifts.
Duration:
3.30 hours
Height gain/loss: :
220 mt
Maximum altitude:
2.100 mt above sea level