What is some interesting information about the volcano Mount Etna in Sicily? How was it formed, what is its significance to local people, and is...

Sicily's Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanos in
the world and is in a constant state of activity. It is the largest mountain south of
the Alps, though it's size has been in a fluctuating state due to its many eruptions.
The first known activity began about 500,000 years ago when eruptions took place beneath
the sea. It is believed that eruptions caused a tsunami about 6000 B.C., and this
catastrophe may have caused the abandonment of Atlit Yam, an ancient neolithic village
in Israel, which is now below sea level.

Various eruptions
and lava flows have destroyed many villages over the centuries, the most recent being in
1928 when the town of Mascali was nearly completely wiped away; Mascali was later
rebuilt. An eruption in 1971 caused damage to the Etna Obsrvatory and threatened
villages on its eastern slope. Mount Etna provides fertile soil for agriculture,
including vineyards and orchards. The town of Zafferana is major tourist stop for Mount
Etna visitors, and the area produces fruit, mushrooms, honey and chestnuts, celebrated
in a fall festival each year.