600 athletes from 21 different nations took part in the "XII Etna Supermarathon" (www.verticaletna.it). The goal: to reach the summit of Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna, starting from the shores of the Ionian Sea. The event, organized by the Etna Trail ASD association, saw the participation of the Etna Observatory ofIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV-OE). INGV-OE researchers illustrated to participants and spectators the geological and volcanological features encountered along the Supermarathon route. The GeoEtnaTrail initiative is part of the INGV's scientific outreach efforts aimed at communicating geophysics and the scientific and technological research related to volcano monitoring and surveillance. For the occasion, a poster was created using augmented reality technology and distributed to all athletes. It depicts the historical eruptions, volcanic bodies, and geological structures on the 1:50.000 scale "Geological Map of Etna Volcano," to increase awareness of the area and prevent natural hazards. The wonders of Mount Etna, which was designated a World Heritage Site in 2013, were also illustrated.
Photos - Geological map of the Etna Volcano in 1:50.000 scale, the historical eruptions, the volcanic bodies and the geological structures