Santorini Volcano (crater diameter - 1680 m; height was 1.5 km) is an active shield volcano on the Greek island of Santorini (Thira).
History of the Santorini volcano eruptions
For the ancient Cretans, Thira acted as a metropolis island: the slopes of Mount Santorini were occupied by the capital and other settlements, and at its foot there was a harbor.
Due to the eruption, which dates back to 1645-1600 BC, settlements on the island and on the Mediterranean coast were killed. So, because of the tsunami that arose (height - 18 m), the Minoan civilization of Crete was destroyed (the ash cloud spread over 1000 km). In addition, this process led to the collapse of the volcanic cone, and sea waters.
It is worth noting that the island of Thira “shaked” more than once: the largest (Minoan) earthquake is dated 1628 BC, the next (the most powerful) - 1380 BC, and the last - 1950 (now the volcano “ sleeping”, but not extinguished). The reason lies in the fact that Thira is located at the junction of the Eurasian and African plates, which is why this area is indented by volcanic relief and volcanic activity is manifested here.
What is interesting: Plato, the author of the dialogues Critias and Timaeus, described Atlantis as an island-state that disappeared from the face of the earth under mysterious circumstances. Existing versions say that: the island of Thira is Atlantis; Atlantis was destroyed by the explosion of the Santorini volcano.
Santorini for tourists
The crater of the Santorini volcano is located on the island of Nea Kameni (there are active mini-craters - sulfur compounds come to the surface from them) - everyone is taken there in small boats and on tourist boats bigger size.
Are you going to climb the crater of the volcano - you will climb a rocky lava path to a height of 130 meters; if you wish, you can walk around the crater, from here you will see a wonderful panorama of the island of Santorini and the Aegean Sea. Do not forget to provide yourself with water (there are no sources of fresh water on Nea Kameni) and comfortable shoes. In addition, it is worth taking a bathing suit with you, since a trip to the volcano is combined with a visit to healing thermal springs in Palea Kameni (another attraction of the island is the Church of St. Nicholas), where you can and should swim (prefer a dark-colored swimsuit - due to the high content of various minerals, it can be stained).
Sea excursion includes several stops:
- First stop - volcano (charitable contribution - 2.5 euros): an English-speaking guide will tell about legends and interesting facts, after which tourists will have free time to enjoy unforgettable views and create unique photographs.
- The second stop is the springs of Palea Kameni (30 minutes - 1 hour will be allocated for swimming).
- The third stop is Thirassia: there for two hours you can admire local beauties, relax on the beach, visit one of the 21 churches, as well as a Greek tavern, where visitors are treated to local delicacies.
- The final stop is Oia, where you can visit souvenir shops and admire the famous sunsets. The western part of the resort overlooks the Amoudi Bay. The eastern part of the resort also deserves attention - from there a view of the Gulf of Armenia opens.
And after a busy sightseeing day, tourists are returned back to the old port of Fira (the approximate cost of the tour is 42 euros).
Attractions of the island of Santorini
On Santorini, a volcanic island, tourists will be offered to visit the Archaeological Reserve (a visit will cost 5 euros; open from 8 am to 8 pm in June-October; non-working day - Monday), located in Akrotiri. Excavations were carried out in its vicinity and the ruins of the city of the Minoan civilization were discovered, namely, 2-3-storey houses well preserved under the ashes of the volcano, the facades of which are lined stone slabs; wall paintings that adorned the interior; Houseware; marble anthropomorphic sculptures; animal figurines; various vessels; the only golden object in the form of a statuette of a golden ibex.
In addition, the attention of tourists deserves Archaeological Museum(is a repository of finds found during the excavations of Ancient Fira and Akrotiri - funerary artifacts, red and black-figure vase paintings, vessels with geometric patterns and other things; admission costs 3 euros) and the Museum of Prehistoric Fira (the exposition allows you to admire Neolithic ceramics, a jug from Megalochori, Minoan vase from Akrotiri and other interesting items; a visit will cost 3 euros) in the city of Fira.
And travelers are happy to relax on amazing local beaches covered with both red and black sand. Pay attention to the Perivolos beach, where you can rent a straw umbrella and sun lounger, go diving or windsurfing, and also hold a wedding ceremony.
Take the ferry to beautiful Greek islands Santorini and you will 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 big island Santorini and smaller - Thirassia, and right in front of you you will see not big 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 sulfuric vents, you will be able to understand natural history and the 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 led to the formation devastating tsunami throughout the east mediterranean sea, which fell upon 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 it 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 left over from an older eruption. It formed lagoons in the north of a solitary island. Near modern city There was a Minoan settlement in Akrotiri - a bustling city with three-story buildings, narrow streets and courtyards. He was quite different from 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 column of ash high into the sky, which descended back onto settlements and farmland. This terrible but not catastrophic phase of the eruption was an early warning to the locals 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 escaping from several vents. Lava flows reached 60 meters in thickness (height about 14 double-decker buses) and swallowed up the Minoan settlement at Akrotiri, creating Bronze Age Pompeii and a sort of window into ancient civilization in the 1600s BC.
Devastating tsunami
It was at this stage, as scientists suggest, that the tsunami began to form. Waves nine meters high broke northern part 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 with Cyprus, led to a weakening of positions among the trading powers of the eastern Mediterranean.
The name Santorini (also Thira, Fira and Santorini) refers to the island and volcano of the same name, the eruption of which occurred more than 3 thousand years ago and went down in history as the largest in the northern hemisphere.
An earthquake, an explosion and the tsunami that followed led to the decline and subsequent death of the famous Minoan civilization on the island of Crete. According to some hypotheses, this event underlies the legend of the mysterious Atlantis.
The island of Thira is located in the Aegean Sea and is part of the Cyclades archipelago, which belongs to the Greek state. The location coordinates are 36°25′ north latitude and 25°26′ east longitude. Its area is more than 76 sq. km, the maximum height above sea level is 567 m.
Santorini, in fact, is a group of several islands (Thira, Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and others), which lined up in a ring around a sea depression 400 m deep. The shores of the large island of Thira from the side of the caldera consist of steep slopes reaching a height of 300 m.
External - have a gentle relief and consist of comfortable beaches with exotic black sand and are washed by warm waters Aegean Sea.
There are several ways to get to the island:
Volcano data, topology and hydrology
The island of Thira is located 200 km southeast of the Greek capital Athens and 100 km north of Crete. The name Santorini comes from the Italian word "Saint Irene", which in the Middle Ages meant the name of the patron saint of the island. It refers to a whole group of volcanoes in the middle of the Aegean Sea, which are located in an arc around the land mass.
Santorini is a relatively young volcano in geological terms. This conclusion was made by scientists after conducting studies of the soil and bottom sediments in the caldera, which date back to approximately 100-200 thousand years ago. Volcanic cones began to form after 100 thousand years, as a result of which the foot plunged into the sea.
The volcano has been active since the Pleistocene epoch. As a result of constant eruptions, its dome gradually rose to a height of 1615 m above the sea. Over many hundreds of years, the magma chamber under the base of the island was gradually filled with molten rocks.
Studies of rocks in the central part of the island prove that the explosion occurred when hot magma rising from the bowels and cold water in the reservoir in the center of the island came into contact. The volume of volcanic lava exceeded 16 cubic km, as a result of which the entire southern part the island was destroyed.
The walls of the cone of the volcano collapsed and collapsed into the sea, and the water quickly filled the resulting pit.
During the explosion, volcanic ash was thrown into the atmosphere, which covered the surface of the earth over an area of 200 thousand square kilometers. Due to the high concentration of gases, the air darkened, clouds of ash completely blocked the sunlight. Therefore, darkness fell on Egypt and the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, which lasted for several days until the ashes dissipated.
After the explosion, a caldera formed on the site of the volcano crater - deep depression into which sea waters rushed. Another consequence of his death was a giant tsunami over 18 m high. The wave hit coastal cities and destroyed settlements on the Mediterranean islands of Crete and Thira.
Santorini is an active volcano, which experts refer to as a shield type. The diameter of its crater is now 7.5-11 thousand m, the height is 365 m. The coordinates of the volcano are 36°24′16″ north latitude. and 25°23′44 E The last eruption took place in 1956.
The reason for the strong volcanic activity is the fact that given place located at the junction of the African and Eurasian plates, which contributes to the formation of a volcanic relief on the territory and is accompanied by a high risk of eruptions.
Facts from history
The famous volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini happened around 1645-1600. BC. (some scholars give the figure as 1470 BC). In the metropolis of Tyre, the capital and coastal settlements were located on the slopes of the mountains, and below there was a convenient harbor.
The first data of archaeologists about the existence of ancient settlements on Tire appeared in 1866, during the construction of the Suez Canal, the land for which began to be actively exported from the island. Then signs of human buildings were discovered. The excavations were carried out by a French geologist and volcanologist F. Fouquet, who gave them the name Akrotiri (from the Greek word Ακρωτήρι - cape) after the name of the village nearby.
The houses were completely filled volcanic ash which contributed to their good preservation. No human remains were found, which suggested that the locals managed to swim away before the volcanic eruption began.
In 1967, the excavations were continued by the Greek archaeologist S. Marinatos, as a result of which 3-story buildings and complex drainage and sewage systems were discovered, as well as furniture, pottery and frescoes. All found artifacts were transferred to the Museum of Prehistoric Thera.
The catastrophe and explosion on Santorini, according to scientists, caused the main events of that time, which were described in the Bible and in the books of the philosopher-historian Plato.
For instance:
- the disappearance of the state of Atlantis;
- the death of the Minoan civilization;
- a decrease in the water level in the Red Sea, which served as the basis for the biblical legend of the "parting waters" into which the sons of Israel entered, trying to escape from the troops pursuing them Egyptian pharaoh;
- the onset of darkness on the territory of the coastal states of the Mediterranean Sea - "darkness in Egypt" lasted about 3 days.
The famous Minoan civilization existed on the island of Crete in the 2nd millennium BC. Fertile soil and small harbors along the coast contributed to the prosperity of the human settlements that appeared here. Its inhabitants were seafarers and traded. The Minoan fleet sailed between Sicily, Greece, Egypt, Phoenicia and the states of Asia Minor.
Artisans in Crete produced the most beautiful ceramics and were engaged in stone carving, builders and architects erected chic palaces, which artists painted with beautiful frescoes. The discovery of Minoan cities by archaeologists took place only in 1900, but the legends and myths about King Minos, about a rich country and the Palace of Knossos are told in Homer's Iliad.
Search for the remains ancient civilization began the English journalist and amateur archaeologist Arthur Evans, starting in 1900 to excavate the island. Their result was the discovery of a huge palace with beautiful paintings, ceramics, jewelry and ancient texts.
After the volcanic eruption, all highly developed cities in this region of the Mediterranean fell into decay, most of the fertile land and buildings were covered with volcanic ash or went under water due to the tsunami.
However, this event left intact a large number of fragments of the Minoan culture, which allowed modern archaeologists to get an idea of the life, religion and occupations of the people of that time.
Don't miss the most popular article of the rubric:
Climbing the volcanoes of Santorini
The archipelago of the Santorini Islands is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni volcanoes are located on its territory, which appeared as a result of large eruptions in the period 1707-1712 and 1866-1870. They are full-fledged volcanic islands, and their peaks are popular with hikers.
Santorini volcano - the path to it is not difficult, but not easy either. The last eruption occurred in 1956, when the island of Nea Kameni appeared. The height of both volcanoes is only about 150 m, so even children can climb them. Santorini is a volcano that is characterized by increased seismic activity even now. This is expressed in the constant emissions of hot gases from cracks and craters (fumaroles) and the presence of active hydrothermal sources.
Climate and precipitation
Climate and weather in Santorini can be divided into 2 seasons:
- very hot and dry in the summer months (April-November) and arid - within + 20 ... + 36 ° С;
- cold and rainy from the beginning of November to the end of March - rains and clouds usually last for several days, and snow is very rare.
The best time for tourism is the second half of spring and the beginning of autumn, although most travelers come here in the summer.
Flora and fauna
Santorini is a volcano that erupted quite frequently. This was the reason for the low saturation of the flora - in the 21st century, only about 240 of its species were recorded on the island. The vegetation consists of shrubs, ferns and seed plant species.
Due to the fact that the soil is suitable for growing grapes, the locals have founded many vineyards, where for several centuries they have been successfully harvesting a bountiful harvest.
Most of the wildlife also died as a result of increased volcanic activity. So animal world on the island is represented mainly by migratory birds. The symbol of Santorini is the domestic donkey, which for a long time served as the only way to get around the rocky terrain of the island.
Sights of Santorini
Now there are 13 settlements on the island, in which about 15 thousand people live. During the summer months, the population rises sharply due to visiting tourists, and all the beaches are packed with vacationers. They come here to admire the beautiful sunsets, lie on the black healing sand, explore the ancient ruins, visit local restaurants and taste some of the best Greek wines.
The capital of Santorini - the city of Fira (Thira) is located on the caldera side of the island on a cliff 260 m high above the sea, about 1.5 thousand inhabitants live in it. There are many souvenir shops in the city, where jewelry is also presented.
Other settlements of the island:
The island attracts tourists with its beautiful landscapes, romance and beaches. All settlements consist of snow-white houses with azure-blue windows that look very attractive and elegant.
Ancient buildings and excavations
For lovers of antiquity, there are several options for inspection:
Architectural buildings
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Cruises and boat trips
Tourists are offered several interesting tours:
- cruise on a boat or yacht along the caldera - the price depends on the level of comfort and the availability of a buffet, duration and is 50-200 €;
- inspection of colorful beaches from the sea - the boat runs along the eastern and south coast Santorini;
- excursion along the crater active volcano– carried out on a boat that berths at the old port of Fira, in order to continue later walking tour within 20-30 minutes to the top, where you can admire the desert landscape and bizarre stone formations.
Winery visits and tastings
locals boast some of the oldest vineyards in the world. Some old vineyards planted as early as 1200 BC continue to produce with the ancient method. There are 10 wineries on the island, any of which you can visit and try local drinks.
The most interesting of them:
Taste of Santorini
You can try local cuisine and delicacies in a local tavern or restaurant:
- pickled capers harvested from the steep peaks of the caldera, which are prepared for the famous Greek salad with the addition of tomatoes; in dried form, they are used to make soups, sauces and vegetable stews;
- dried yellow fava peas - grown here and used to make mashed potatoes, served with lemon sauce with olive oil and chopped onions;
- Tomatokeftedes - meatballs or "poor man's food" - are made from fleshy large tomatoes, which are crushed together with the skin, mixed with spices, rolled into balls, rolled in flour and deep-fried.
Sunsets in Santorini
One of the famous and practically free attractions of the island is wonderful bright sunsets, which all tourists and visitors gather on the embankment to look at. If you want to enjoy this performance and at the same time have a bite to eat in a local cafe, then you need to make a reservation, because. limited number of seats.
The best place to watch the sunset is the town of Oia, located on the north side of the island. The maximum experience can be obtained by standing near the lighthouse in the southwest of the island.
art galleries
Mnemossyne Gallery is located in Oia and is one of the favorite places for visitors. It is located in a cave house next to the lighthouse. Photographs of local landscapes, handicrafts (pottery and sculptures) are exhibited here.
The Art of the Loom Gallery in Caldera is housed in a Cycladic-style building built in 1866, which was originally used as a winery. It exhibits works by local artists, jewelry, ceramics and glass.
Hotels and beaches in Santorini
famous beaches Santorini with multi-colored sand:
There are about 500 hotels of various levels on the island. Accommodation provided for visitors in Santorini is quite expensive, especially hotels with a view of the caldera. More budget establishments are located on the western side of the island (Perivolos, Perissa, Kamari) - they do not have pools, but there are many beaches nearby.
Best hotels on the island of Santorini are given below:
| Name, location | Characteristic | Address and phone |
| Smaragdi | family hotel, consisting of small patios around the pool, is located near the beach of Perivalos, there are bars, taverns and restaurants nearby. Rooms are presented in 8 categories (from luxury to economy). | Perivolos, Perissa 847 03, Greece, tel. +30 2286 082701 |
| Finikia Memories, near the village of Finikia (outskirts of Oia) | The family hotel is located on a hill overlooking the caldera, all rooms have balconies, some have terraces overlooking the sea or pools; The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, mini-fridges, showers. | Finikia 847 02, tel. +30 2286 071373 |
| Akrotiri in the village of the same name | The interior of the hotel is decorated in a traditional style; prices are lower compared to other hotels (about 50 €) due to the lack of a pool and a beach; however, take the bus to the popular black sand beaches; The air-conditioned rooms have a balcony with sea views, a refrigerator and a cooker for cooking - ideal for older travelers who want to relax in silence. | Akrotiri, Thira 847 00, Greece, tel. +30 2286 081375 |
| Hotel Maria Preka, near Kamari beach | Cozy hotel, consists of classic whitewashed buildings with blue trim, standing around the pool; on the opposite side of the road there is a more expensive hotel Anassa, where you can use the pool and gym; the hotel has 23 rooms, each with air conditioning, TV, safe, refrigerator and bathroom, furnished balcony, kitchenette; breakfast is provided for 6€. | Kamari 847 00, Greece, tel. +30 2286 031266 |
| Seaside Beach Hotel, located almost on Kamari beach | The hotel-restaurant consists of 27 rooms (budget 2-bed and sea view rooms, small apartments), each with a kitchenette, refrigerator, bathroom with shower, air conditioning, TV, safe, the hotel has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, breakfast " Buffet”, the beach is equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas with a thatched roof. | Kamari 847 00, Greece, tel. +30 2286 033403 |
It is no coincidence that the island is called the most colorful and romantic place on the planet:
A popular saying among locals and tourists about the island (former volcano) Santorini says: “There are more donkeys here than people, and there are more cathedrals than houses, and wine is much more than water.”
Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg
Video about Santorini volcano
Dormant volcano in Greece Santorini:
The study of deep-sea deposits of the eastern Mediterranean Sea made it possible to restore the conditions of a grandiose volcanic catastrophe.
In the cores taken from the bottom of the Aegean Sea, two layers of volcanic sediments were found, located at levels from 80 to 170 centimeters below the upper limit of bottom sediments. Together with small particles to a height of up to 50 km. volcanic bombs of various sizes and pumice are flying. Such material from volcanic ejecta is called tephra.
The study of the extracted soil columns made it possible to reliably distinguish between the upper and lower tephra, build maps of the areal distribution of these two volcanic layers, and determine their thickness. The configuration of the area where volcanic deposits were found, and the nature of the distribution of the thickness of the two ash layers, leave no doubt that this ash was formed as a result of the eruptions of the Santorini volcano.
The greatest thickness of the lower ash layer, reaching 22 cm, was found southeast of Santorini. The ash spread up to 400 kilometers north of Santorini and up to 1,000 kilometers west, almost as far as Sicily. All the islands in the Aegean, including Crete, within a radius of 200 km from Santorini, were covered with a layer of aeolian ash several centimeters thick.
The upper horizon of volcanic sediments (upper tephra) reaches its greatest thickness also near Santorini. 130 km southeast of the volcano, its thickness exceeds two or more meters. The ash that makes up this horizon reached the shores of Africa, Asia Minor and Balkan Peninsula to be deposited there in a layer exceeding 1 mm. The maximum distance over which the ash of the upper tephra was transported was no more than 700 km. In places of its greatest accumulation, it was found that the upper tephra ash layer consists of three coarse-grained horizons and three fine-grained ones with sharp contacts between them. This indicates that the upper ash layer was formed as a result of three consecutive eruptions of Santorin, of which the first was the strongest and most abundant.
Based on this, it was concluded that Santorin twice took the form round island Strongili and twice disintegrated. The first time this happened in the late Pleistocene, 25 thousand years ago, when the lower layer of tephra was deposited on the seabed, and the second time, in the Minoan era, ca. 3400 years ago, when the top layer of tephra was deposited.
Further distribution of volcanic sediments depends primarily on the direction and speed of high-altitude winds. After analyzing the air currents in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, scientists came to the conclusion that the distribution of the lower tephra material indicates its transport by high-speed winds, which indicates a volcanic eruption in winter.
Upper tephra was deposited under conditions of lower wind speeds. This is consistent with the meteorological pattern of summer northwestern trade winds with relatively low speeds. The fact that the eruption occurred in the summer, before harvesting, is confirmed by the fact that in the jugs found during archaeological excavations in Santorini, there were almost no food supplies left.
The shape of the tephra fallout area allows us to conclude that the cloud that covered the whole of Crete, some areas of the Peloponnese and Asia Minor, was transported in the southwest direction. A meter layer of tephra of that time was found on the island of Rhodes. A cloud of volcanic gases, vapors and dust must have covered an area much larger than that on which the tephra fell.
The lower layer of tephra dates back to about 25,000 years ago. The date was determined on the basis of the age of shells of microorganisms found in the soil cores.
The upper ash horizon turned out to be much younger. Although there is a rather large scatter of numbers, it is still certain that the upper tephra was formed less than 5 thousand years ago. The formation of the upper ash horizon was caused by the Santorini eruption and is dated, quite reliably, by determining the absolute age from the carbon isotope in a piece of wood found under 30 meters of ash. Radiocarbon analysis carried out showed that this piece was separated from the tree between 1510 and 1310 BC. e. Around this time, a catastrophic volcanic eruption occurred. And then the central part of Strongile again went into the depths of the sea, forming a lagoon-caldera.
The ash from the Santorini caldera and from the upper layer of the bottom sediments of the Eastern Mediterranean are exactly the same.
The catastrophic volcanic eruptions that took place on the islands of Indonesia can give an idea of the events that took place 35 centuries ago in the Aegean Sea. In 1812, a new volcano was born on the island of Sumbawa, which received the name Tambora. For three years of its activity, it grew to a height of four kilometers, and on April 15, 1815 there was a terrible explosion that shortened the volcano from 4000 to 2851 meters. Clouds of ash covered the sky over an area with a radius of up to 500 kilometers: there was total darkness here for three days. A caldera 700 meters deep and six and a half kilometers in diameter formed at the site of the explosion.
The eruption of Krakatau occurred in August 1883 in the Sunda Strait. On August 26, residents of the island of Java, located at a distance of 160 km from Krakatoa, heard a noise like thunder. At 14 o'clock. a black cloud about 27 km high rose over Krakatoa. At 17 o'clock. the first tsunami happened. Until noon on August 27, several more tsunamis arose. Explosions continued throughout the night, but the most powerful of them occurred on 27 August. Gases, vapors, debris, sand and dust rose to a height of 80 km and dispersed over an area of over 827,000 km, and the sound of explosions was heard in Australia and off the island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa.
Hot ash and debris covered many hundreds of square kilometers. The wave caused by the explosion went around the entire globe. Its speed reached 566 kilometers per hour, and the height was 35 meters.
Explosions occurred throughout the autumn of 1883, and only on February 20 of the following year did the last eruption occur. During the eruptions, at least 18 km of rocks were thrown out, of which two-thirds fell on an area with a radius of 15 km from the explosion site. The sea north of Krakatau became shallow and became unnavigable for big ships. As a result of these explosions, only the southern half of the cone was preserved, and in place of the rest of the island, a depression about 7 km in diameter was formed in the ocean.
The crater formed after the explosion of Santorin is much larger and deeper than the craters resulting from the explosion of Krakatoa. This means that the eruption of Santorini-Strongyle was even more powerful. During it, 70 cubic kilometers of rocks were thrown out, that is, three to four times more than during the Krakatoa explosion.
Before the catastrophe that formed the upper tephra, Santorin was a complex group of volcanic cones fused with each other, located mainly along its periphery. first arose large island Thira with a volcanic cone height of about 1600m. Gradually, the large island grew together with small islands located to the south.
After the disaster, a collapse caldera arose and most of the island collapsed into the water. It is possible that even before the catastrophe, the inner part of the Santorini archipelago was partly a lagoon or a flat territory formed due to the removal of volcanic products from the volcanic mountain range framing the island. This point of view is supported by an analysis of volcanic eruptions that immediately preceded the catastrophe. Geological observations indicate that the first manifestations of volcanism did not portend catastrophes. Geologists divide pumice emissions accumulated during the eruption into three layers. The lower, “pink” pumice erupted at a lower temperature. During the period of its formation, one or several vents operated in the northern part of the island. middle group layers of pumice, found in the south and east of Tyra, is characterized by pronounced irregular bedding. This indicates a series of weak to moderate explosive eruptions separated by quiet intervals. The absence of fragments of ancient lavas indicates the activity of the former vents. The release of huge masses of gas-rich magma inevitably caused the collapse of the roof of the underground reservoir. This process could have begun even during the eruptions, but it manifested itself most of all shortly after they ended.
The oldest population of Santorini, which appeared here ca. 3000 BC e., was pre-Greek. The presence of the influence of Minoan Crete was established during excavations at Akrotiri, when a whole village of two or three-story houses decorated with frescoes that resemble wall paintings of Minoan palaces was dug out from under a 40-meter layer of volcanic ash.
During excavations in the harbor of Akrotiri, a city destroyed by an earthquake was discovered. According to scientists, its area was one and a half square kilometers. Nearby, under a layer of ash, a residential building, vessels from the Minoan period, fragments of a loom and large cinder blocks were discovered. Frescoes were discovered under a multi-meter layer of ash. They depicted plants, birds, the landscape of the island before the eruption, gracefully stepping antelopes, a leaning palm tree, boys boxing in special gloves, a procession of women with sacred gifts, and an ape-like creature painted blue. Found on Tyre, the city is not inferior in size and splendor to Knossos in the center of Crete. The Santorini volcanic massif was surprisingly well suited to create an impregnable military fortress there, therefore it was most expedient to keep a navy in Tire in case of an enemy attack and in order to extend its power to the remote territories of the Mediterranean.
Akrotiri turned out to be empty, it was possible to find out that the evacuation of people took place long before the eruption - on the walls of abandoned houses, before they were covered with ashes, grass had time to grow. The explosion of the volcano destroyed the northern part of the city, covered the southern part with a multi-meter layer of ash, and some quarters went under water, to the bottom of the lagoon. Their remains were found at a depth of 20 meters.
F. Fouquet once discovered that despite the enormous force of the eruption and the proximity of the caldera, the Minoan buildings on the island of Tyra were preserved under a layer of tephra in relatively good condition. On this basis, he concluded that the eruption was not preceded by any strong earthquakes, and that it began with a sudden powerful ejection of ash and pumice that covered the Minoan settlements. Therefore, by the time of the collapse of the island, part of the settlements around the future caldera had already been buried by a thick layer of tephra.
In 1939, archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos, following excavations of a Minoan villa at Amnisos on the north coast of Crete, concluded that the Minoan civilization had been destroyed by an eruption on the nearby volcanic island of Santorini. Layers of ash and volcanic pumice were found in Amnisos, Marinatos suggested that the walls of the villa collapsed from the impact of a huge tidal wave caused by a volcanic eruption. The fact that the eruption of Thera occurred during the Bronze Age was beyond doubt: ceramics of the Minoan period had already been discovered in the debris of volcanic origin. In 1967, under a thick layer of volcanic ash and tephra, streets lined with Minoan houses opened up. In some houses, beautiful colored frescoes and untouched ceramics were found. In the late 1980s, it became apparent that the eruption occurred about 150 years before the destruction of Knossos and the great Minoan palaces.
According to archaeological data, all the Cretan palaces of the Minoan era in the northern and eastern shores the islands were destroyed simultaneously at the end of the 15th century. BC. The coastal settlements of Crete were suddenly abandoned, the population taking refuge in impregnable mountain shelters in the center of the island. After this event, some palaces were subsequently reoccupied, but only partially; others were abandoned forever. During the excavations of the palaces of Crete, archaeologists found pieces of pumice, as well as caked pieces of other volcanic rocks mixed with sulfur.
Until recently, the hypothesis that the destruction of all cities and large settlements on Crete was caused by tsunamis, earthquakes and air shock waves generated by the explosion of Santorini enjoyed fairly wide support. This was one of the main reasons that undermined the power of the state to such an extent that it became an easy prey for its neighbors.
At present, the hypothesis is being refuted with the same enthusiasm with which it was previously supported. Opponents argue that a single natural disaster could not lead to the disappearance of an entire civilization.
Volcanic emissions cover the island to a height of 30-35 meters. And in some places reach hundreds of meters. The wind scattered tens of millions of tons of ash and pumice throughout the Aegean Sea and even carried it to North Africa, Asia Minor and Macedonia. Anafi Psara, Kos, Milos, Naxos and other islands of the Cyclades were covered with a layer of ash more than a dozen centimeters thick. The same layer of ash fell on Crete, in its central and eastern parts, the most densely populated areas of the island. This is quite enough to seriously damage fruit trees, destroy crops and grasses on pastures and, thereby, cause mass death of livestock. Under the threat of starvation, the surviving population of Crete was forced to leave the fertile valleys of the central and eastern parts of the island and go to the regions of western Crete.
During the eruption of the Laki volcano in Iceland in 1783. volcanic ash that covered the entire country caused mass starvation of herbivores. A mixture of volcanic gases and ash formed a bluish smog that enveloped Iceland, causing great damage to grain and fodder crops and resulting in starvation and starvation. The consequence of all this was the death of half the cows, three-quarters of the sheep and horses, and the population of Iceland was reduced by a fifth.
During the eruption of Mount Katmai in Alaska in June 1912. pyroclasts that fell in the vicinity of the city of Kodiak, 160 km southeast of the eruption, formed a layer 25 cm thick and completely drowned out small vegetation. All streams and wells here were covered with ashes. The cattle had to be taken out, and it was possible to return it only after 2 years, when the pastures revived.
An explosion in Santorini caused a powerful tremor. But if at the epicenter the magnitude of the earthquake exceeded 10 points, in Crete it decreased to 8 points. However, great damage to Crete was caused not only by the tsunami and volcanic ash, but also by the blast wave that came to the island after the earthquake that followed the explosion of Strongile.
During the eruption of Krakatoa, the roar of the explosion was heard on an area equal to 1/13 the globe. Air shock waves shattered glass in houses 150 km away, and in some cases houses were damaged at a distance of 800 km from Krakatau. This means that in the Cyclades and Crete, located 100-150 km from Santorin, the blast wave should have caused significant damage. It is possible that the destructive effect of the air wave was even greater than that of earthquakes. Disasters also hit neighboring lands. First of all, this applies to Egypt.
The Minoan eruption was not the last page in the history of Santorini. The volcano was silent for 1200 years.
In 197 B.C. e. in the lagoon of Santorini appeared a small island formed by lava. The Roman philosopher and naturalist Seneca, in his work “Questions of Natural Science”, speaking of the forces that form the face of the planet, included among them the “pressure of air”, which “can sweep the earth over a large area, erect new mountains, create among the sea never hitherto seen islands. And Santorin cited as an example: “Who will doubt that Teru, Therazia and this new island that appeared in the Aegean Sea before our eyes, gave birth to air?
In 46 a.d. e. another volcanic island was born. At 60 a new eruption merged the islands together. Palia Kameni was the first island to form after the Minoan eruption.
Masudi reported that in 535. in the Nile Delta there was a strong earthquake, the earth sank, and the sea rushed to the land. At the same time, there was a significant change in the coast of Crete, the islands surrounding it and the underwater relief of the Aegean Sea.
In 726, another eruption at the bottom of the lagoon increased the area, and then the volcano subsided. Several explosions scattered volcanic material for several kilometers around. The viscous magma that later filled the crater appeared as a black tongue of lava on the northeast coast of Palea Cameri. The chronicler Theophanes recorded the eruption of 726: “In the summer of this very year, from the depths of the sea between the islands of Tyra and Thirassia, heat began to bubble from the fiery furnace. It bubbled for several days, and increased all the time, and soon became a pillar of fire, and smoke became like fire, and from the thickness of this continuous fiery curtain huge pumice stones flew throughout Asia and the island of Lesbos and Abydos and to all parts of Macedonia, which was beyond the sea.
In 1452, he woke up again, increasing the area. The destruction of Palia Kameni probably happened between 1457 and 1458. The last time this volcano showed its activity in 1508, completing the formation of the island of Palea Kameni.
Underwater eruptions that lasted three years, from 1570 to 1573, about two and a half kilometers northeast of Palea Kameni, gave rise to the island of Micra Kameni.
On September 14, 1650, a powerful eruption of an underwater volcano began on the northeastern side of the island of Thira. It was accompanied by earthquakes that did not stop day or night.
An unusually strong volcanic process took place in the center of the ring in 1707; it did not stop for five years. In 1707, two volcanic cones appeared, named Aspronisi and Macronesi. Then, within five years, they united and Nea Kameni arose. The eruptions from 1701 to 1711 were very interesting from a geological point of view, because it was one of those rare cases when a volcano could be observed appearing in the sea. On May 21, 1711, three days after the massive eruption, the appearance of a white island could be observed. It continued to grow, and after a few days, the people of Santorini discovered black lava, pumice, and marine life still living on it. The island grew slowly, reaching a width of 600 meters and a height of up to 80 meters. On the 5th of June a fire was seen, after which a new black island appeared in the north. On September 12th, the black island became so big that it merged with the white one. Nea Kameni was 910 meters long in the south, 1650 in the west and 1440 in the east. The height of the island reached 106 meters.
The Jesuit Gori observed the 1707-1711 eruptions from Skaros Castle. "And now, between this little island and Great Stoney, on May 23rd, 1707, in the middle of the day, the New Island, of which I will now speak, first appeared on the surface of the earth. Be that as it may, the fishermen discovered the island early in the morning, but unable to understand what it was, some mistook it for a sunken ship, shipwrecked and drifting on the sea.As soon as the fishermen realized that it was a new island, they were frightened and quickly rushed to the shore, spreading rumors throughout the island, which with They readily believed, since all the inhabitants knew, and some even saw, what happened in 1650.
1712 "At this time, the White Island, which seemed higher than Lesser Kameneni, and could be seen from the first floor of Skaros Castle, now began to sink and sink so that it was already difficult to see it from the second floor."
Volcanic activity in the lagoon resumed in 1866, when eruptions began in the Volcano Bay on the banks of Nea Kameni. The area of Nea Kameni almost quadrupled as a result of the 1866-1870 eruption. In 1925-1926 and in 1928, a new underwater eruption further increased the area of Nea Kameni; the eruption of 1939-1941 contributed to the growth of the island. In 1945, the volcano created the new Daphne Island. This island grew rapidly and connected Mikra-Kameni and Nea-Kameni. The last eruption in Santorini, which occurred in 1950-1956, in Once again increased the size of Nea-Stone.
The strongest (Minoan) eruption of Santorini was not known either in the classical era or in the Middle Ages. Only the study of the geological structure of the island of Thira, begun at the end of the 19th century, and oceanological research in the Eastern Mediterranean made it possible to establish this grandiose geological phenomenon.
The eruptions of Santorini, which took place in the Middle Ages, were described in detail by the abbot Pegu in 1842. He was the first explorer to understand that the space between the islands of Thira, Thirasia and Aspronisi from the Santorini group is a giant caldera flooded by the sea, formed as a result of the collapse of a once-existing single volcanic island.
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 medieval Italian "Saint-Irene" - 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 into the atmosphere over the islands of the 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. A darkness descended on Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean 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 combined and located beyond the Pillars of Hercules (Strait of Gibraltar). 9000 years ago, this empire disappeared under water in one day.
