Mount Etna: What do you know about Europe's most active volcano?

Huge lava fountains and plumes of ash have been sent high into the night sky, after Mount Etna erupted again on Monday evening.

That's not so unusual as the volcano is Europe's most active - but it has seen more eruptions recently, with frequent and powerful explosions.

But where exactly is Mount Etna located and why is it so active?

Keep reading to find out.

Where is Mount Etna?

Mount Etna is a volcano on Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island - which is located off the coast of Italy.

The volcano can be found on the eastern coast of the island, and it's so big it can be seen from just about every part of the island.

The ancient Sicilian port city of Catania sits at the foot of Mount Etna.

How active is Mount Etna?

Mount Etna has a history of frequent eruptions, with its activity documented for nearly 3,000 years.

It's considered one of the world's most active volcanoes, with eruptions taking place several times a year - and sometimes even within a month.

According to Unesco, who recognised the volcano as a World Heritage Site in 2013, the eruptive history of the volcano can be traced back 500,000 years.

How big is Mount Etna?

Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

It stands at around 3,400 metres tall and has a base that measures just under 100 miles.

When was Mount Etna's biggest eruption?

The largest recorded historical eruption of Mount Etna occurred in 1669.

The volcano started rumbling on 11 March, which was followed by a number of big eruptions over the following weeks - which took place for around four months.

It's thought that around fourteen villages and towns were destroyed by the lava flows or by earthquakes that took place around the eruption.

Around 20,000 people lost their lives and thousands more were made homeless.

What type of volcano is Mount Etna?

There are two main types of volcano - composite and shield.

Mount Etna is an example of a composite volcano, which is also known as a strato-volcano.

Composite volcanoes are the most common type of volcano.

They can have violent eruptions and can grow bigger as layers of thick lava and ash harden on top of each other.