Santorini volcano

candid tips

Volcano
history in brief

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Origin

Santorini was once a skyscraping, cone-shaped volcanic island. 

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21,000 BC eruption

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.

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Caldera Bay

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.

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Subsequent powerful eruptions

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.

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The satellite photo above

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.

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Click

Brief history - Page two

for more Santorini volcano pointers

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Santorini - Home Page

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