
The paroxysm is over, though lapilli are still falling on the Schiena dell'Asino crest, which forms the south rim of the Valle del Bove on the southeast flank of Mount Etna volcano in Sicily. For 45 minutes, between about 06.05 and 06.50 h local time (= GMT +2) on 29 August 2011, the New Southeast Crater at the summit of Etna has been producing The Greatest Show On Earth - a so-called paroxysmal eruptive episode, brief but violent and incredibly spectacular. This has been the 12th such episode since January 2011, when Etna entered into its latest, and ongoing, phase of activity; this may also have been the most beautiful of all, because it occurred right at dawn - starting shortly before sunrise and ending with the scene bathed in the light of the still low sun. The New Southeast Crater, the source of this paroxysm, reappears from the clouds of ash, gas, and dust. The shape of its cone is heavily altered, barely recognizable. On its southern (left) and northern (right) sides, the cone has grown further, possibly by many meters. In between, the whole side of the cone has disappeared and been replaced by a deep, broad gash. This is where a new eruptive fissure with several vents opened at the height of the paroxysm, at 06.21 h, giving rise to a beautiful row of lava fountains down to the very base of the cone. The fall of small volcanic rock fragments - so-called lapilli - is continuing, but will soon end, and calm will reign again. A small group of people - photographers <b>...</b>
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