Santorini volcano latest eruption. Santorini, the story of the eruption that changed our world. Before the eruption of Santorini
GREECE
Santorini, 1470 BC e. what do we know?
The catastrophic eruption of the Santorini volcano in the Aegean Sea occurred in the summer of 1470 BC. e. Experts believe that it was it that caused the 4 main prehistoric events described by Plato and confirmed by the Bible.
These are the following events:
- Disappearing within one night of Atlantis.
- Parted Red Sea.
- The thickened night that allowed the sons of Israel to come out of Egypt.
- The disappearance of the Minoan culture.
According to the theory of the director of the seismological laboratory of the University of Athens, Professor George A. Galanopoulos, all these legendary events are connected by one catastrophic cause - an unusually powerful eruption of the Santorini volcano, located in the Aegean Sea, 200 kilometers southeast of Athens and 110 kilometers north of the island Crete. The proximity of these places is one of the reasons that speak of the proximity of rivals. Most likely, it was the proximity of a powerful state near Athens that required war with this state, and not with a very distant one, somewhere in the Atlantic.
Santorini (a corruption of the medieval Italian "Saint-Iren" - the patron saint of the volcanic island of Thira) is one of a group of volcanoes in the Aegean Sea that form an arc that bordered the former land mass. According to the theory of Dr. Galanopoulos, the first underground explosions of Santorin occurred in the Pleistocene era, after which the dome of the volcano grew, along with other domes located nearby, up to 1615 meters above sea level.
Obviously, this build-up occurred without much incident. But in the summer of 1470 B.C. Santorini erupted with incredible power, quite enough to grind its top - dome to dust, bring down the slopes of nearby volcanic mountains and throw it into the atmosphere over the islands mediterranean sea, especially Crete, and partly Egypt, a monstrous geyser of molten rocks. After a giant explosion, an area of 200,000 square kilometers was completely covered with volcanic ash. The concentration of gases in the atmosphere was so high that clouds of ash covered the sun. to Egypt and eastern part A darkness descended on the Mediterranean Sea that lasted several days, and possibly weeks.
The caldera (depression formed by a volcanic eruption) of Santorina was huge - three times the size of the caldera of the Krakatoa volcano. According to Plato and Dr. Galanopoulos, before the eruption, the lost colony of Atlantis was located on the island.
During the explosion of Santorini in 1470 BC. The civilization of the mythical empire of Atlantis was destroyed. Everything that could survive sank to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.
Legend and reality complement each other here. First, although Santorini initially erupted and was active enough to "grow" to a height of 1615 meters, then he probably stopped his activity for a period that was enough for civilization to arise on the top of the volcano. Secondly, the area of the summit of the volcano was approximately 80 square kilometers. This is not enough for a large civilization, but it is quite suitable for such as Athens or Sparta. They were used for comparison in those days.
The history of Atlantis - an island empire that sank within one day - is told by Plato in the introductory part of the Timaeus and in more detail in the work Critias. The story is attributed to Critias, an Athenian politician from the entourage of Socrates. Critias, in turn, heard it as a ten-year-old boy from his 90-year-old grandfather. He also heard it from his father, a friend of Solon, the founder of Athenian democracy. In general, as in the game "damaged phone". Until the news reached Plato, it could be greatly distorted.
It seems that Solon was a progressive and free thinker. He relied on "illegal agreements" when it came to individual freedom. For this he was exiled for 10 years in Egypt. There, from the priests of Sais, one of the ancient cities in the Nile Delta, he learned the history of an island empire that was larger than Libya and Western Asia taken together and located behind the Pillars of Hercules (Strait of Gibraltar). 9000 years ago, this empire disappeared under water in one day.
Santorini is an island with a rich history. Researchers claim that people have inhabited this island since Neolithic times. Around 3200 BC Cretans lived on the island. Their influence became apparent during the excavations of Akrotiri - they found a village with an identical architecture of houses that they dug up in the Minoan palace in Crete.
At that time, due to its shape, the island was called Stronghyle or Strongili, which means "round" in Greek. But 1500 B.C. everything has changed. Peaceful life ancient world was broken by a monstrous explosion of a volcano, which was located in the very center of the island. As a result, most of the island sank, forming the famous caldera (the largest in the world). The island is no longer round, and small islands that have formed around the perimeter are now called Santorini, Aspronisi and Thirassia.
In 1956 the excavations of Akrotiri began. A team of archaeologists led by Spyros Marinatos unearthed a well-preserved city that was completely buried under volcanic ash. The tidal wave from the eruption was so huge that it reached Crete (70 nautical miles, just a minute). Many scientists believe that the explosion caused the collapse of the Minoan civilization. And someone seriously thinks that it was there, in the unique caldera of Santorini, that Atlantis sank.
After the explosion, the Dorians settled the island and named it Thera, in honor of their king.
Christianity came to the island only in the 3rd century AD. An important monument of that period is the small elegant church of Panagia. In the same period, the Crusaders changed the name of the island to Santorini, building a small chapel of Agia Irene.
In the 18th century, the island began to actively develop. The industry began to grow. Santorini processed tomatoes, produced wine and textiles. At this time, life on the island flowed peacefully, apart from the occupation by German troops during the Second World War. All this time, the volcano continued to erupt and created the small islands of Pelea and Nea Kameni.
Tourism began to develop actively in Santorini in the late 1970s. Every year, 1.5 million tourists come here to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the island and the famous sunsets.
Locals still call the island Thira, so don't be surprised if you see this name on ferry schedules. Just remember that Thira = Santorini.
More about the volcano
It is known that the volcano on Santorini exploded more than once. After such explosions, magma filled the caldera and a new explosion occurred.
A caldera is a large crater formed after the explosion of a volcano.
Each time the caldera deepened. After one of these explosions, magma slowly filled the old caldera, and the round island of Stronghyle turned out. Ultimately, the center of the island once again collapsed, forming the modern Santorini caldera, which is again slowly filled with cooling magma.
IN this moment The area of the caldera in Santorini is about 48 sq. km, and the depth is from 300 to 600 meters. The water depth in the caldera is from 150 to 350 meters.
Those. in fact, Santorini is the volcano, perhaps the largest in the world and still active.
Santorini Volcano is a legendary volcano on the island of Santorini (Thira) in the Aegean Sea. The eruption of the Santorini volcano, which happened three and a half thousand years ago, is considered the largest volcanic event on Earth in history.
As a result of a monstrous eruption, the crater of the volcano collapsed, and a huge caldera was formed, which was instantly filled with the waters of the Aegean Sea. The explosion of the Santorini volcano led to the death of the Aegean civilization, settlements on the islands of Crete and the Mediterranean coast. According to some scientists, the state that died as a result of the explosion is the legendary Atlantis.
Santorini is a group of several islands that make up the Cyclades archipelago. Among them are the island of Thira, Palea Kameni, Thirassia, Nea Kameni and Aspro. They are built in the form of a ring, in the nutria of which there is a deep (up to 400 meters) volcanic caldera. The inner coast of the largest island - Thira - is a steep slopes, the height of which reaches three hundred meters. Whereas the outer edge is gentle comfortable beaches with black lava sand washed by the waves of the Aegean Sea.
Tourists love Santorini for its interesting story and a wonderful vacation possible in a picturesque romantic town on the island. Many hotels provide visitors with cozy rooms and houses for accommodation. The excellent service and infrastructure of modern Thira is in stark contrast to its ancient predecessor. The archaeological reserve, where excavations are still ongoing, is one of the most popular places in Santorini.
In addition, everyone can take a yacht trip to the islets of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, located in the center of the caldera. These islands are nothing but the result of the activity of the legendary Santorini volcano. Before the eyes - alien landscapes, under the feet - quite hot earth, and through its thickness in places trickles of hydrogen sulfide make their way. The volcano is sleeping, but not extinguished. Its last activity was observed in 1950. And at any moment Santorini can wake up again.
Volcano Santorini - PHOTO
Hello friends! Today - our review of the excursion to the Santorini volcano, to the terrible black islands in the caldera. Frankly, we were not going there, but the price of 26 euros bribed - a cheap opportunity to get to the Nea Kameni volcano, the one that everyone photographs from the main island.
Excursions to the Santorini volcano: what options and prices
We did not plan to buy excursions. However, in one of the tourist offices where we took tickets for the ferry, we saw an advertising booklet with interesting excursions on the Santorini volcano:
- option 1: excursion only to the volcano for 18 euros per person;
- option 2: excursion to the volcano and hot springs for 20 euros, from 11 or 14 hours for 3 hours;
- option 3: excursion to the volcano, hot springs and the island of Thirassia for 26 euros, from 10:45 to 16:15;
- option 4: excursion to the volcano and hot springs, watching the sunset on a ship with a glass of local wine - 35 euros, from 15:30 until dark.
We liked these options both in terms of price and content. Tours start from the Old Port of Thira, get to the port on your own.
You can book the same or a similar tour at any travel agency on the island.
There are excursions to the Santorini volcano that start from the New Port of Atina and include a transfer from collection points and back to them. We didn't specify where the rally points are, but we think there should be quite a few. So, excursions to the Santorini volcano with a transfer:
- option 5: excursion to the volcano, hot springs and the island of Thirassia for 35 euros, from 10:30 to 17:30;
- option 6: the same, only at the end of the tour they go not to the New Port, but to the port of Oia, meeting the sunset in Oia and traveling to collection points - 38 euros; from 10:30, ending - after sunset.
We chose between 2, 3 and 4 options and settled on the third for 26 euros per person. And here's how it looked 🙂
Everyone to start! That is, to the port
Places that we should visit during the excursion to the Santorini volcano, on the map:
So, first you need to get to the Old Port of Fira. This can be done in three ways: on foot along several hundred steps, on a funicular, on a donkey. We chose the first option and did not fail: beautiful views open up along the way. And, of course, there are many donkeys and mules ready to take tourists in any direction. “Only five euros to the Old Port!” - offer drivers on every corner. But why do we need them, we're going down!
Donkeys on the steps huddle against one wall, tourists - against the other 🙂
The funicular to the Old Port of Santorini is always in demand. But we at Uehali.com think it's boring!
And here is the Nea Kameni volcano, which we will now swim to!
After almost half an hour of descent - going down the stairs is not as easy as one might think - we are in the Old Port. There are a lot of people, they all came to go on an excursion to the volcano.
The humblest port we've ever seen.
At the office, we were told where we would need to go to show the voucher (excursions to Santorini are fully paid in advance). The guide groups tourists and from half past ten begins to seat on the arriving ships. Well, it starts, hurray!
I love such excursions, where people from all over the world gather. And everyone speaks/understands English 🙂
We are on Nea Kameni. This is tin
Nea Kameni Island is the main attraction of the Santorini Volcano Excursion. Since we are using the word "volcano", we need to give some explanation. Many millennia ago, this place was a single island with a tall active volcano. And one day there was an eruption of unprecedented power. Lava soared up tens of kilometers, in fact, the entire volcano exploded from the inside. The mountain completely collapsed, and not only on the surface of the earth, but “with the root” - in its place a foundation pit was formed several hundred meters deep, and it was flooded by the sea. This is how the famous Caldera appeared.
If you look at the map, you will notice that the island of Santorini and the islands closest to it form a circle - once there was land with a large mountain in their place.
So in a strict sense, all these islands are part of the same volcano. And in the everyday sense, a volcano sticking out in the middle of the Nea Kameni caldera, an uninhabited, lifeless and completely black island, is called. That's what we came to.
The stop at Nea Kameni lasted about two hours.
There are paths on the island; You can walk with a guide or on your own.
We first walked on our own, and then joined the group to listen to the guide's story.
You know, we were really scared. No, we were not afraid of the eruption on our arrival. We were afraid to imagine how wild that prehistoric spectacle was, for which there were no witnesses ...
In some places, light smoke with the smell of hydrogen sulfide comes out from under the surface.
Even such sparse, withered and dirty-gray vegetation causes bewilderment: how did this even appear here?
We smiled there just for the photo.
Still, no, this place is not romantic - Santorini ...
Dirty bathing suit, relaxing in Palea Kameni, mooring at Oia
We are back on the ship and sail to the hot springs to the neighboring island - Palea Kameni. It is also uninhabited (the church does not count), there is no vegetation. The guide on the ship broadcasts into a mouthpiece that you need to swim in hot springs in dark swimsuits: there will be, they say, indelible color stains.
We confirm halfway: the spots really appeared, and on the green fabric. But then they washed off in the most usual way 🙂 However, we do not recommend experimenting on white swimsuits.
And how (and for whom?) did they build a church there?
The yellower the water, the higher its temperature.
The next stop is the island of Thirasia. Time to the island - about two hours. The guide says that you can climb the stairs to the village, but we do not need it. And no one, in my opinion, did not go.
And here is another inhabited island - Thirassia. Here sightseeing ships make a stop for lunch.
Guests are already waiting on Thirassia: at the pier there are a dozen cafes, all of them have seafood of varying degrees of appetizing in their windows.
Lunch is not included in the tour, only delivery to the cafe is included. Thank you, uncle, but we have lunch to go!
The island has some kind of beaches, but swimming and sunbathing are inconvenient. In short, if not for this nice photo, one could consider that a stop for show.
This is the end of our excursion to the Santorini volcano! Then the ship goes to the port of Oia, where you can disembark if you want to walk around one of the most beautiful villages in all. We did just that.
From the sea, Oya looks impregnable and harsh.
But the closer, the friendlier 🙂
Advice to dear readers: if, by the will of fate, you find yourself in the port of Oia, do not spare 5 euros for a donkey, your legs and heart will tell you later “Thank you very much, owner!”. The ascent to the top is steep and consists of more than 300 steps. When we saw red-faced, panting people at the very top, we felt sorry for them.
Excursions to Santorini are not excursions to Pattaya, where you are picked up at the hotel and taken back to the hotel. Here you take care of your transfer yourself 🙂
In our next article, a selection awaits you, where we sailed at the end of the excursion. Stay with us, friends!
Take a ferry to the beautiful Greek islands of Santorini and see a truly unique landscape created by the cataclysm of the late Bronze Age. To the north and south, your ship will leave the brilliant blue waters of the Aegean and enter a natural harbor surrounded by majestic cliffs. The ferry will pass between the larger island of Santorini and the smaller one, Thirassia, and right in front of you you will see a small island in the center of the natural harbor - Nea Kameni. It looks like a hillock surrounded by mountains.
Being on Nea Kameni, among hot springs and sulphurous vents, you will be able to understand the natural history and formation of this island. Harbors, rocks, elegant white houses with blue roofs - they are all part of a huge volcano.
Did you know that in the middle of the second millennium BC, the islands of Santorini literally exploded? It was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history. Over the past 800 years, only the Tambora volcano in Indonesia has erupted with such force. He is responsible for the global "year without summer" in 1816.
The eruption resulted in a devastating tsunami across the eastern Mediterranean that hit the Minoans living in Crete. At that time, the Minoans were one of the most advanced civilizations in the world.
How could a caldera appear
Volcano Santorini is a caldera. This is a type of volcano that erupts with such force that its central part collapses, forming a huge crater. The appearance of this crater is of most interest to the scientist Paraskevi Nomikou and his colleagues. Scientists have published maps of the seabed high resolution and supplemented them with seismic evidence. They say that the rock of the seabed is made from the caldera. This allows us to make assumptions about how the volcano collapsed, filled with water and, possibly, caused a tsunami.
Before the eruption, the modern caldera did not exist. Instead, there was a much smaller caldera, which remained from more ancient eruption. It formed lagoons in the north of a solitary island. Not far from the modern city of Akrotiri, there was a Minoan settlement - a bustling city with three-story buildings, narrow streets and courtyards. It was quite different from the palace complexes found in Crete. Prehistoric Akrotiri may have been home to hundreds or thousands of people, and was probably an important trading port for the eastern Mediterranean.
A warning to the Minoans
The first eruption sent a huge plume of ash high into the sky, which descended back onto settlements and farmland. This terrible but not catastrophic stage of the eruption was an early warning for local residents and forced them to leave the island. Archaeologists have not been able to find any bodies, suggesting that the inhabitants probably fled.
As the volcano continued to throw ash into the air, it accumulated on the island. Imagine a heavy downpour of ash and dust that won't stop. But when the ash column reached its maximum height, it entered the stratosphere and began drifting east. Ash from this eruption has been found in Turkey, the Aegean islands and Crete.
lava flows
The next stage of the eruption was pyroclastic flows - hot landslides of volcanic material that move faster than Formula 1 cars. They blocked the strait to the northwest and isolated the caldera from the Mediterranean.
The strength of the eruption continued to grow, and pyroclastic flows were already breaking out of several vents. The lava flows were up to 60 meters thick (about 14 double-deckers high) and engulfed the Minoan settlement at Akrotiri, creating a Bronze Age Pompeii and a sort of window into the ancient civilization of the 1600s BC.
Devastating tsunami
It was at this stage, as scientists suggest, that the tsunami began to form. Nine meters high waves tore apart the northern part of Crete (which is 120 km away from the volcano), leaving devastation and debris in its wake. The tsunami may have reached western Turkey and even Israel.
Shaping the modern picture
Eventually, the sea calmed down, the eruption ended, and the modern caldera began to form. Seashore erosion and a catastrophic landslide opened up the northwest strait, and water from the surrounding Mediterranean filled the caldera within days. Further landslides formed the southwestern straits. It took several thousand more years to complete the formation of modern geography, as the active Nea Kameni volcano continued to gradually erupt above sea level.
How did the eruption affect the civilization of the Minoans
Although this eruption was catastrophic, terrifying, and possibly life-changing for a large number of people, the Minoans themselves did not die out. Although there were no more settlements on Santorini, the found pottery confirms that civilization in Crete existed for several generations. But for a society built on maritime trade, the loss of the port of Santorini, which had direct links to Cyprus, led to a weakening position among the trading powers of the eastern Mediterranean.