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Santorini, the island that sits on top of an active volcano

2023-04-27 17:17:27Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Santorini, the island that sits on top of an active volcano
Santorini

Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands of Greece and the entire Mediterranean. But the lunar landscapes, the black and red beaches, the pebbles are the result of the area's violent volcanic history.

Santorini is of course famous for its stunning crescent-shaped caldera, half of which is submerged in water – making it the only sunken caldera in the world. It was created by one of the largest explosions known about 3,600 years ago. The eruption was so powerful that it destroyed the ancient Santorini city of Akrotiri and dealt a fatal blow to the seafaring Minoan civilization that was settled on the island at the time, writes CNN.

Santorini, the island that sits on top of an active volcano

Today, Santorini – also known as Thira – is Greece's most romantic playground with luxury villas and resorts offering indulgent escapes and dreamy settings for lavish weddings and photoshoots. The island's steep volcanic cliffs, perched some 1,000 meters above sea level, create an impressive geological canvas with whitewashed houses balanced on the edge. No wonder it's one of the most photographed places on the planet.

Every evening, the island stops for Santorini's world-famous sunsets. The blue and white domed village of Oia fills up as the golden hour approaches. As the sun begins to set behind the caldera rocks, the sky transforms into a vibrant display of reds, oranges and pinks. Thousands gasp as the last rays disappear into the sea.

Few realize that beneath the hypnotic kaleidoscope of colors lies an active volcano.

Santorini is part of the Helen Volcanic Arc, one of the most important volcanic fields in Europe, which has seen over 100 eruptions over the past 400,000 years. The Eastern Mediterranean's most active and potentially dangerous underwater volcano, Kolumbo, is five miles northeast of Santorini and part of the same volcanic system.

Santorini, the island that sits on top of an active volcano

Submerged in the Aegean Sea, Columbus has been quiet for almost 400 years – but he is not asleep. The last time it erupted, in 1650, it killed 70 people and caused a tsunami. Strong earthquakes and aftershocks were recorded, along with toxic gas and plumes of smoke.

Scientists know that the Columbus explosion could cause a tragedy. Some of the world's largest oceanographic expeditions have visited it and monitoring has increased in the last 20 years. One of the largest US research vessels, the deep drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution traveled to Santorini for its first Mediterranean mission between December 2022 and February 2023.

The results – initial reports are expected later this year – should help scientists not only predict future eruptions, but also reveal the behavior of other active volcanoes around the world that pose a threat to the millions who live in their vicinity. Connections between earthquakes and volcanoes are also being studied.

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