Mount Etna - UNESCO World Heritage site
On June, 21st 2013, the World Heritage Committee added the “Mount Etna” natural site to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
As of today, the enlisted area almost completely overlaps the Zona A (“Core Zone”, the section subject to the most stringent restrictions on use) of the Park.
Such prestigious recognition was awarded according to Criterion VIII (outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history).
Here is the explanatory statement for the enlisting: “Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active and iconic volcanoes, and an outstanding example of ongoing geological processes and volcanic landforms. The stratovolcano is characterized by almost continuous eruptive activity from its summit craters and fairly frequent lava flow eruptions from craters and fissures on its flanks. This exceptional volcanic activity has been documented by humans for at least 2,700 years – making it one of the world's longest documented records of historical volcanism. The diverse and accessible assemblage of volcanic features such as summit craters, cinder cones, lava flows, lava caves and the Valle del Bove depression have made Mount Etna a prime destination for research and education. Today Mount Etna is one of the best-studied and monitored volcanoes in the world, and continues to influence volcanology, geophysics and other earth science disciplines. Mount Etna’s notoriety, scientific importance, and cultural and educational value are of global significance.”
