Island of Stromboli

Province: Messina

Municipality: Lípari

Area: 12.6sq.km/4.9sq.mi

Altitude: 924m/3,032

Population: 650

Communications

Shipping links with Milazzo, Naples and Lipari; hydrofoils to Milazzo.

Location and importance

Stromboli, the Isola di Fuoco (Island of Fire) in the extreme northeast of the Aeolian Islands is famous for the fact that it has the only still active volcano on the archipelago - the mountain known as the "Torch of the Sea" which, since time immemorial, has acted as a giant lighthouse to guide sailors at night. The peak of the mountain is the Serra Vancura (924m/3,032ft), while the eruptions actually occur at a height of about 700m/2,300ft. The latest large eruptions were in 1930 and 1971. Every fifteen minutes glowing masses of lava shoot up into the sky and then either fall back into the crater or flow down the Sciara del Fuoco on the northwest slopes and into the sea. As there are no houses here there is no risk to the population.

Vegetation

In stark contrast to the black wall of the Sciara del Fuoco the eastern side of the island is covered in lush vegetation; on the higher ground there is macchia, and lower down palm trees, groves of citrus fruits, other fruit-trees and Malvasier grapes.