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Mount Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily, is not only the highest active volcano in Europe at 10,810 feet (3,295 meters), but is one of the most active in the world.

Historical observations of Etna’s eruptions go back as far as 3,500 years, with geological observations reaching back hundreds of thousands of years.

While recent eruptions have rarely caused serious damage to the farms or villages in the shadow of the volcano, locals remain alert to any activity.

In this photo taken on November 16, 2013, Mt. Etna spews lava during an eruption as seen from Acireale, near the Sicilian town of Catania.

A group of men sit casually in a field, while in the background, smoke rises from the erupting Mount Etna. Sicily, Italy, between 1880 and 1890.

Italian Sentry Watching Lava Stream near Mascali.

Villagers look at fiery lava coming down the slopes of Mt. Etna in 1971.

Mount Etna spews out fresh lava on July 26, 2001 in the latest and most spectacular phase of an eruption, leading the government to declare a state of emergency in the area.

A firefighter sprays water over a lava stream advancing on the Rifugio Sapienza tourist station on the slopes of Mt. Etna, on July 31, 2001.

An excavator is used to attempt to divert a stream of lava erupting from Mount Etna after it reached a parking lot near the Sapienza Rifugio, at Nicolosi, Sicily, on July 26, 2001.

A cable car ticket office is slowly destroyed by lava from Mount Etna on July 26, 2001.

A building, destroyed and partially covered by lava, now solidified, below Mount Etna.

The same building from a different angle.

People take pictures of the smoke rising over the city of Taormina during an eruption of the Mount Etna on December 4, 2015.

Charles Riviere catches a piece of lava, on the slope of Mount Etna, on July 25, 2001.

Mt. Etna spews lava as smoke billows during an eruption as seen from Acireale, near the Sicilian town of Catania, Italy, on November 16, 2013.

A villager watches a lava flow from Mount Etna as it moves gradually through a settlement in the Sicily countryside.

An eruption of Mount Etna photographed on July 30, 2011.

A view of Etna erupting, seen from orbit, aboard the International Space Station on October 30, 2002.

A wider view of Etna erupting, seen from orbit, aboard the International Space Station on October 30, 2002.

An eruption of Etna on January 13, 2011.

Lava spews from a crater on January 6, 2012.

In this photo taken on February 28, 2017 Mount Etna spews lava during an eruption, near the Sicilian town of Catania.

A tourist stands in front of Italy's Mount Etna as it spews lava during an eruption on February 28, 2017.

A cloud of ash and steam rises above Mount Etna during its second eruption in a week, near Catania, Italy, on December 4, 2015.

Lava spews from a crater of the Etna on July 30, 2011 in Catania.