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Santorini volcano history in brief |
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Historical
highlights volcanic activity
Santorini was once a skyscraping, cone-shaped volcanic island.
This massive eruption blew it up. The high walls of the volcano collapsed, creating what is called a caldera. That term defines a wide ring-shaped land mass formed by the collapsed walls of a volcano. There is a large cavity in its center.
That early ring had at least one opening that allowed the Aegean Sea to surge in and fill the cavity. This created the Santorini Caldera Bay.
One was between 1650 and 1500 BC (scientists disagree on the exact date). That eruption physically reshaped Santorini and enlarged the bay's opening to the Aegean Sea.
You can see the broken land ring and the caldera bay as they appear today. The darkish islets you see in the center of the caldera bay are small volcanoes. The largest one is named Nea Kameni Island. It rose above the water surface several centuries ago and is still active.
We know that humans were living on the island immediately before the circa 1600 BC catastrophe. They had a culture that was quite advanced for its time. For example, excavators found outstanding frescoes and a sophisticated water pipe system.
Excavators found bodies and easily transportable treasures in Pompeii in Italy. The opposite was true at the Akritiri archaeological site in Santorini. This suggests that the Santorini volcano gave off tremors and rumbling sounds far enough in advance to give the Akritiri citizens sufficient time to pack and flee to distant islands.
Most archaeologists believe that the volcanic eruption created devastating tsunamis and voluminous ash clouds that devastated distant population centers.
Some experts say these powerful natural forces helped bring to an end the great 20th to 16th century BC Minoan civilization. It was based on the island of Crete, 115 kilometers (70 miles) to the south of Santorini.
A less proved but still plausible theory is that Santorini (Thera) was the fabled Lost City of Atlantis. Some of Plato's writings lend a moderate degree of credence.
My other Santorini web pages I have two other web pages on Santorini. Click the blue buttons below to view them.
My Greek phrase guide for travelers What every visitor should know.
My Greek
cuisine guide
View my other gold, silver & bronze medal
winners in Greece
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I hope your Greece travel dreams come true - and that my Santorini volcano page helps you enjoy your vacation, tour or trip ©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications
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