So I did a new embark on a new Large Region with 1,100 years of history (I forgot to set the limit higher, and unfortunately never got out of the Age of Myth as I had planned to).
Found a nice thickly forested area with a volcano that was mapped as 3x3 20+ cliffs. Having turned periodic erosion off I was as happy as a dwarf in a brewery after hours!
Taking advantage of the amazingly advantageous terrain (and the fact that the volcano is the highest point on the mountain and with lava that reaches the top to boot) I built a small bridge over a small chasm and then proceeded to flood said chasm and the surrounding lands with lava. Then I decided that just covering 1/6th of the lower lands in lava wasn't good enough, so I instructed my miners to begin a network of small tunnels to spread even more lava across the lower areas of the map! Lastly (in terms of lava flooding), I created an overhang of obsidian and alunite to protect my bridge (and the land around the mouth of it) from a torrent of lava I decided I will release from the topmost areas of the volcano.
I have to say that although I've had many nice embarks in the past this embark is quite easily the best one I've taken yet. Granted it's rather peaceful and lacking of foes currently (and creatures to slaughter), but it has the most advantageous terrain for a lava-loving fiend such as myself. Armok will be pleased to know that I plan to make a tower of Obsidian (or Alunite, depending on whether I want it to be white or gray) jetting forth from the next highest point on the mountain, which lies not too far from the mouth of the volcano, and trump both the height and destructiveness of the volcano. In other words, I'll probably create a lava spraying device to fend off flying creatures. Or rather, fend off anything that's stupid enough to still be alive.