Santorini Volcano

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‘Santorini’

Santorini is a gigantic sea-flooded caldera and one of the world’s great natural wonders. The site of the greatest volcanic eruption in human history (1650 BC), Santorini is regarded by many as the basis of the legend of Atlantis, some of the events in Exodus, and the various flood myths of the Eastern Mediterranean (such as the Noah story) which may have been inspired by the giant tsunamis generated in that catastrophic event. At the very least, the cataclysm played a major role in the rapid decline of the ancient Minoan civilization. The ferry to Santorini enters the vast caldera where towering dark volcanic walls soar from the sea in a vast semicircle some 12 km across, the summits encrusted with what looks like gleaming white snow - the whitewashed cliff-top towns of Oia and Fira. Oia is amazing, a blindingly white cubist fantasy village spilling over the edge of the caldera wall high above the sea. The more touristy Fira has the Museum of Prehistoric Thera which displays artefacts and colorful wall paintings excavated from the nearby site of Akrotiri, the “Aegean Pompeii.” Near the center of the caldera are the desolate volcanic isles of Nea Kameni (“New Burnt Island”), which first emerged from the sea in the 16th century, and Palea Kameni (“Old Burnt Island”), which emerged in 197 BC. Nea Kameni’s cinder cones most recently erupted in 1950 and there are a few hissing fumaroles to remind you that the story of Atlantis may not be over.

5 / 5 Review by expert member Mike Lyvers

‘Santorini’

This area is renowned for it’s historic volcanic activity, memorably the destruction of the Minoan empire and the burial of one of it’s cities. Some people (mostly people who live there) believe that Santorini was the fabled sunken island of Atlantis. The shape of the area and it’s islands has been constantly shaped by volcanic activity, this island being severed from that and new islands being created. Not only that, it’s beautiful to visit. Tourists can visit the steaming lava islands of Santorini Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni off the coast of Santorini and take a dip in the hot springs.

4 / 5 Review by expert member Hamish Holl