Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. The mountain has been in a state of near-continuous eruption for half of a million years. Exploring the Etna geographical area reveals a history written in fire. Before the eruptions, it was covered by forests of pine trees. Located in southern Italy, Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. However, its height often changes when volcanic material accumulates during eruptions and subsequently collapses. Few volcanoes in the world have an eruption history so thoroughly documented by historical records. Etna's eruption history dates back as far as 1500 BC. Some two hundred eruptions have been recorded down through the centuries, but compared with other volcanoes, most of its eruptions have so far been fairly light in terms of death and destruction. Only about one hundred deaths have been attributed to the volcano. The mountain hasn't been entirely harmless, however. In 1928, it destroyed the town of Mascali. Over the centuries, Etna's lowest slopes have been shaped by human hands to take advantage of rich soils for growing grapes, apples and nuts. Local people have also carved out over two hundred caves in the soft rock, and use them for everything from sacred burial places to food storage. Large mammals once wandered the volcano slopes, but today, foxes, wild cats, rabbits, and mice are more common. Some of those small mammals help to sustain such big birds as golden eagles.