Santorini

Unique is one of the most misused words in the English language but Santorini truly is unique. Until about 1500 BC it appears to have been a thriving commercial centre, probably an outpost of the nearby Minoan civilisation from nearby Crete. Unfortunately for the inhabitants the island was also a thriving centre of volcanic activity. One day the volcano didn't simply erupt, it exploded, taking a large part of the island with it.

It's hard to say exactly but this was certainly the biggest natural explosion ever witnessed by the Human Race. This was Krakatoa with bells and whistles on!

The explosion has been blamed for many things. For example some of the biblical plagues in Egypt and the legend of Atlantis. This may or may not be true. It is certain though that the resulting tsunami caused major devastation in Crete and hastened the end of the Minoans.

What was left behind was a few fragments of the original island surrounding a deep sea that formed when the caldera was flooded as the sea rushed in. Santorini itself is the main island (named by the Venetians as Santa Irini but later corrupted). There are also the smaller islands of Thirassia and Aspronissi remaining from the original island.

Two new volcanic islands have formed as well. Palea Kameni was first about 2000 years ago. Nea Kameni came along about 1500 years later although it is now larger than its older sister. The last eruption was in 1950.

Santorini itself is much like any southern Greek island but at the edge of the caldera there are immensely steep cliffs with amazingly clear strata in the rocks. Part way up you can clearly see the layer of pumice and ash that was deposited after the main eruption.