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THE ISLAND’S cover Thera with feet of pumice or engulf
her in the sea. And yet the inhabitants are
TRADEMARK, happy, and amass money year by year; The
action of this volcano must have had, in
CALDERA, the course of ages, powerful influence over
the inhabitants; for, from their position,
the towns, built on the edge of the cliff
IS THERE, ACTIVE, overlooking the basin, are as if placed in an
AND HOLDS A WORLDWIDE amphitheatre to overlook the mysterious
workings of their volcano...’’
RECORD All the above are excerpts from James
Theodore Bent’s book “The Cyclades’’,
OR PHENOMENON, BEING ‘‘Life among the insular Greeks”. Bent was
THE an Oxfordian archaeologist, historian and
explorer who dedicated his life to research
ONLY INHABITED in the Levant and Africa. After extended
tours of the Cycladic islands between 1882
CALDERA and 1884 along with his wife, Bent published
in 1885 what has become a classic account
of his discoveries in what is now one of the
IN THE WORLD. most popular tourist regions of Greece.
136 years following his detailed impressions
prove is that while almost everything
remains the same, all seems to be different!

Millions of years ago
Santorini owes its uniqueness mostly to
its volcano; one of the most important
volcanos around the world, born within
“Before landing on Santorin and mixing the sea, thus shifting greatly the geological
ourselves with its people, we must consider aspect of the entire Eastern Mediterranean,
for a brief space the particular feature of the just like it influenced the area’s human
island, namely, the volcano. The Hephaestus, life and activity. The volcano is active and
as they call it, has made of Santorin, one of was formed millions of years ago. Part
the most terrible spots in the world, and has of the Aegean Volcanic Arc –along with
had a powerful influence on its inhabitants... the volcanos of Methana, Milos and Nisyros– it is the result of the African
...All round this central basin, which is the tectonic plate sinking beneath the Eurasian plate. The big eruption that took
cone of the volcano, the island presents a place during prehistoric times is known as the “Minoan” eruption and is
frontage of precipitous volcanic cliffs, from considered one of the greatest in the history of the world.
500 to 1000 feet in height, all in strata of Since then, Santorini’s volcano has erupted several times over the course of
twisted and contorted volcanic lava, red, centuries constantly reshaping the island by forming or destroying other
green and black, giving the whole place a islets in its perimeter. Today, when locals mention the volcano they refer
hideous yet fascinating appearance... The to the little island of Nea Kameni in the middle of the circular perimeter
depth of the water in this central basin is formed by Santorini, Thirasia and Aspronisi. Besides, in Nea Kameni one
immense; the cliffs go straight down into it, can watch the steam coming out of fumaroles directly from the earth’s
so that there is no possible anchorage, and depths, whereas approximately 70 years ago the eruption of 1950 formed
the vessels have to be tethered, so to speak, its most recent grounds. Right next to it, the island of Palea Kameni was
to the shore... formed approximately 2,000 years ago by the eruption of 47 AC. Both
...The island has at various times and seasons volcanic islets can be visited and walked over until reaching the fumaroles
sprung from the submerged volcano, and of Nea Kameni or in order to swim in the thermal waters of Palea Kameni.
has been formed by multiplied eruptions. Scientists from various fields of study closely observe the volcano’s activity
The crater opened outside the circle in 1650; not only because it is active but also as they believe that Santorini’s Volcanic
Therasia broke off, when we cannot say; the Complex –including the two over-water volcanos of Palea and Nea Kameni,
land in many places has subsided. Another as well as the underwater volcano of Kolumbo– constitutes the most active
eruption may suddenly come on, and section of the Aegean Volcanic Arc.

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