Santorini volcano eruption. Eruption of Santorini: the death of Atlantis and the Minoan civilization. Climbing the volcanoes of Santorini

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, explosion and subsequent tsunami 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 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, maximum height above sea level – 567 m.

Santorini, in fact, is a group of several islands (Thira, Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and others), which are built in the form of a ring around a sea depression 400 m deep. The shores of the large island of Thira on the caldera side 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 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 in southeast direction from the capital of Greece Athens and 100 km north of the island Crete. The name Santorini comes from the Italian word "Saint Irene", which in the Middle Ages meant the name of the island's patron saint. 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 soil and bottom sediments in the caldera, which date back approximately 100-200 thousand years ago. Volcanic cones began to form after 100 thousand years, as a result of which the base sank into the sea.

The volcano has been active since the Pleistocene era. As a result of constant eruptions, its dome gradually grew to a height of 1615 m above the sea. Over many hundreds of years, the magma chamber beneath the island's base gradually filled with molten rock.

Studies of rocks in the central part of the island prove that the explosion occurred when hot magma rising from the depths came into contact with cold water in a reservoir in the center of the island. The volume of volcanic lava exceeded 16 cubic km, as a result of which the entire southern part of the island was destroyed.

The walls of the volcano cone collapsed and collapsed into the sea, and water quickly filled the resulting pit.

The explosion released volcanic ash into the atmosphere, which covered the surface of the earth over an area of 200 thousand sq. km. Due to the high concentration of gases, the air darkened, clouds of ash completely blocked the sunlight. Therefore, darkness fell over Egypt and the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, which lasted for several days until the ashes cleared.

After the explosion, a caldera formed on the site of the volcano’s crater - a deep depression into which sea waters poured in. Another consequence of his death was a gigantic tsunami more than 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 classify as a shield volcano. The diameter of its crater is now 7.5-11 thousand m, height 365 m. The coordinates of the volcano are 36°24′16″ N. and 25°23′44 E. Last eruption happened in 1956

The reason for the strong volcanic activity is the fact that this place is located at the junction of the African and Eurasian plates, which contributes to the formation of volcanic relief in the area and is accompanied by a high risk of eruptions.

Facts from history

The famous volcanic eruption on the island of Santorini occurred around 1645-1600. BC. (some scholars put the figure at 1470 BC). In the metropolis of Tire, the capital and coastal settlements were located on the slopes of the mountains, and there was a convenient harbor below.

The first data from archaeologists about the existence of ancient settlements on Tire appeared in 1866, during the construction of the Suez Canal, for which land began to be actively removed from the island. Then signs of human buildings were discovered. The excavations were carried out by geologist and volcanologist from France 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 covered with volcanic ash, which contributed to their good preservation. No human remains were found, suggesting that local residents managed to swim away before the volcanic eruption began.

In 1967, excavations were continued by the Greek archaeologist S. Marinatos, resulting in the discovery of 3-story buildings and complex drainage and sewerage systems, as well as furniture, pottery and frescoes. All found artifacts were transferred to the Museum of Prehistoric Thera.

The disaster 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 example:

disappearance of the state of Atlantis;
the death of the Minoan civilization;
the decline in water levels in the Red Sea, which served as the basis for the biblical legend of the “parting of the waters” into which the children of Israel entered, trying to escape from the pursuing troops Egyptian pharaoh;
the onset of darkness in the territory of coastal states Mediterranean Sea– “darkness in Egypt” lasted about 3 days.

The famous Minoan civilization existed on the island of Crete in the 2nd millennium BC. The fertile soil and small harbors along the coast contributed to the prosperity of the human settlements that appeared here. Its inhabitants were seafarers and carried on trade. The Minoan fleet sailed between Sicily, Greece, Egypt, Phenicia and the states of Asia Minor.

Craftsmen in Crete produced beautiful ceramics and stone carving, builders and architects erected luxurious palaces, which artists painted with beautiful frescoes. The discovery of Minoan cities by archaeologists occurred only in 1900, but legends and myths about King Minos, about rich country and the Palace of Knossos are told in Homer's Iliad.

Search for remains ancient civilization began by the English journalist and amateur archaeologist Arthur Evans, who began excavations on the island in 1900. 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 fertile land and buildings were covered with volcanic ash or went under water due to the tsunami.

However, this event left a large number of fragments of Minoan culture intact, allowing modern archaeologists to gain insight into the life, religion and activities of the people of that time.

Don't miss the most popular article in the section:

Climbing the volcanoes of Santorini

The archipelago of Santorini Islands is included in the UNESCO Heritage List. On its territory are the volcanoes Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, which appeared as a result of major eruptions in the period 1707-1712 and 1866-1870. They are full-fledged volcanic islands, and their peaks are popular among lovers of hiking.

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 constant emissions of hot gases from cracks and craters (fumaroles) and the presence of active hydro thermal springs.

Climate and precipitation

The 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°C;
cold and rainy from early November to late March - rain and clouds usually last for several days, and snow is very rare.

The optimal time for tourism is considered to be 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 erupts quite often. This was the reason for the low saturation of the flora - in the 21st century, only about 240 species were recorded on the island. The vegetation consists of shrubs, ferns and seed-bearing plant species.

Due to the fact that the soil is suitable for growing grapes, local residents have founded many vineyards, where they have been successfully harvesting a bountiful harvest for several centuries.

Most of the wildlife also died as a result of increased volcanic activity. That's why animal world 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 move around the rocky terrain of the island.

Sights of Santorini

Now there are 13 settlements on the island, home to about 15 thousand people. During the summer months, the population increases sharply due to visiting tourists, and all the beaches are crowded 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, and is home to about 1.5 thousand inhabitants. There are many souvenir shops in the city, which also sell jewelry.

Other settlements on the island:

The island attracts tourists with its beautiful landscapes, romance and beaches. All settlements consist of snow-white houses with azure blue windows, which 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

There are several options for tourists 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 ranges from 50-200 €;
viewing colorful beaches from the sea - the boat runs along the eastern and southern coasts of Santorini;
excursion along the crater of an active volcano - carried out by boat, which moored at the old port of Fira, to then continue the walking tour for 20-30 minutes to the top, where you can admire the desert landscape and bizarre rock formations.

Winery visits and tastings

Local residents boast the oldest vineyards in the world. Some old vineyards, whose vines were planted in 1200 BC, continue to produce crops using 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

Try the dishes local cuisine and delicacies can be found in a local tavern or restaurant:

pickled capers collected from the steep peaks of the caldera, which are used to prepare the famous Greek salad with the addition of tomatoes; when dried, they are used to prepare soups, sauces and vegetable stews;
yellow dried Fava peas - grown here and used for making puree, served with lemon sauce with olive oil and chopped onion;
Tomatokeftedes - meatballs or "poor man's food" - are made from large, meaty tomatoes, which are crushed 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 the wonderful bright sunsets, which all tourists and visitors gather on the embankment to watch. If you want to admire this performance and at the same time have a snack at a local cafe, then you need to make a reservation, because... limited number of seats.

The best place The best place to watch the sunset is the town of Oia, located on the north side of the island. You can get the most impressions by standing near the lighthouse in the southwest of the island.

Art galleries

Mnemossyne Gallery – 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 and handicrafts (pottery and sculptures) are exhibited here.

The Art of the Loom Gallery in Caldera is housed in a Cycladic-style building dating from 1866 that was originally used as a winery. It displays works by local artists, jewelry, ceramics and glass.

Hotels and beaches in Santorini

Famous beaches Santorini with colorful sand:

There are about 500 hotels of different levels on the island. The 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.

Top hotels on the island of Santorini are given below:

Name, location	Characteristic	Address and telephone
Smaragdi	The family-run hotel, consisting of small patios around a swimming pool, is located close to Perivalos Beach, with bars, taverns and restaurants nearby. The 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 mountain overlooking the caldera, all rooms have balconies, some have terraces overlooking the sea or pools; The rooms have air conditioning, mini-refrigerators, and showers.	Finikia 847 02, tel. +30 2286 071373
Akrotiri in the village of the same name	The hotel's interior is decorated in a traditional style; prices are lower compared to other hotels (about 50 €) due to the lack of a pool and beach; however, there is a bus ride to the popular black sand beaches; The rooms have air conditioning, a balcony overlooking the sea, a refrigerator and a stove for cooking - ideal for older tourists who want to relax in silence.	Akrotiri, Thira 847 00, Greece, tel. +30 2286 081375
Hotel Maria Preka, near Kamari beach	The hotel is cozy and consists of classic whitewashed buildings with blue trim surrounding a swimming 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 double 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: “Here there are more donkeys than people, and there are more cathedrals than residential buildings, and there is much more wine than water.”

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Video about Santorini volcano

Dormant volcano in Greece Santorini:

The Santorini volcano (crater diameter - 1680 m; height was 1.5 km) is an active shield volcano on greek island Santorini (Thira).

History of eruptions of Santorini volcano

For the ancient Cretans, Thira acted as a metropolitan 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 were destroyed, and on Mediterranean coast. Thus, due to a tsunami (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 water poured into the resulting abyss.

It is worth noting that the island of Thira “shaked” more than once: the largest (Minoan) earthquake is dated 1628 BC, the next (most powerful) – 1380 BC, and the last – 1950 (now a volcano “ sleeps”, but did not go out). 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 rugged by volcanic relief and volcanic activity occurs here.

What’s 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 out of them to the surface) - everyone is taken there on small boats and on larger tourist boats.

If you are planning to climb the crater of a volcano, you will have to climb a rocky lava trail 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. Don't forget to provide yourself with water (there are no fresh water sources on Nea Kameni) and comfortable shoes. In addition, it is worth taking a swimsuit with you, since the trip to the volcano is combined with a visit to the healing thermal springs in Palea Kameni (another attraction of the island - the Church of St. Nicholas), in which you can and should swim (give preference to a dark-colored swimsuit - because due to the high content of various minerals it may become colored).

The boat tour includes several stops:

First stop - the volcano (charitable contribution - 2.5 euros): an English-speaking guide will tell you about legends and interesting facts, after which tourists will have a free time to enjoy unforgettable views and create unique photographs.
The second stop is the Palea Kameni springs (30 minutes - 1 hour will be allocated for swimming).
The third stop is Thirassia: there for two hours you will be able to admire the local beauty, 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: here you can visit souvenir shops and admire the famous sunsets. The western part of the resort overlooks Amoudi Bay. The eastern part of the resort also deserves attention - it offers views of the Gulf of Armenia.

And after a busy excursion day, tourists are returned back to the old port of Fira (approximate cost of the tour is 42 euros).

Sights of Santorini island

On Santorini, a volcanic island, tourists will be invited to visit the Archaeological Reserve (a visit will cost 5 euros; open from 8 am to 8 pm in June-October; closed on Monday), located in Akrotiri. In its vicinity, excavations were carried out and the ruins of a city of the Minoan civilization were discovered, namely, 2-3 storey houses well preserved under the ashes of the volcano, the facades of which were lined with stone slabs; wall painting that decorated interior spaces; Houseware; marble anthropomorphic sculptures; animal figurines; various vessels; the only gold object in the form of a figurine of a golden capricorn.

In addition, it deserves the attention of tourists Archaeological Museum(is a repository of finds found during excavations of Ancient Thera and Akrotiri - funerary artifacts, red and black-figure vase paintings, vessels with geometric patterns and other things; entrance costs 3 euros) and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera (the exhibition 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 also happily relax on amazing local beaches, covered with both red and black sand. Pay attention to Perivolos Beach, where you can rent a straw umbrella and sunbed, go diving or windsurfing, and also hold a wedding ceremony.

The attitude towards the world of the inhabitants of small islands and people living on mainland, is different. A person from the mainland is much more secure, in every sense. And the islanders live separately, in their own tiny universe, bounded on all sides by the sea. They will not fuss and wring their hands in horror if a week-long storm prevents ships from landing on the island or stubborn winds prevent planes from landing. They’ll just shrug their shoulders - what’s the point of blaming the vagaries of nature.

These people rely only on the one who is looking after them from above, and on themselves. Then, in the tenth place, they will remember the government that exists somewhere very far away. They live slowly, can not leave their island for years and even decades, preserve traditions, cherish fresh water, given by the rains, and look condescendingly at the youth who strive to break free. They say that over time many return. The islands are calling home.

But how do those who live not just on a piece of land, but on a volcano, on the well-known Santorini, feel?
Why do they stay on the island and raise children? Do they live in fear or have they long since given up on their dangerous neighborhood?
I'll tell you what I managed to find out.

Santorini is the general name for a group of islands of volcanic origin located in the Aegean Sea. Their story began with the birth of a volcano. After a period of riots, he “fell asleep”, became like a quite decent island and, over time, attracted the attention of people. The island was named “Strongili” - “round”, which corresponded to its then outlines.

In the 3rd millennium BC, the Minoans settled in the south of the island - representatives of the culture of Crete, progressive and sophisticated people. It is unknown what the name of the city they founded on the island was called in the 2nd millennium BC. Current researchers have agreed to call it the ancient city of Akrotiri, after the name of a modern settlement located nearby. The inhabitants of the ancient city excelled in arts and crafts, knew how to build houses with several floors, were engaged in agriculture and maritime trade, had connections with Crete, mainland Hellas, Cyprus, Syria and Egypt. Akrotiri became one of the centers of critical Minoan civilization.

About one and a half thousand years BC, after an earthquake, the volcano exploded. The disaster was monstrous. Volcanic ash covered vast areas. Scientists say that the consequences of the eruption were felt even in the territory of modern Italy and North Africa. The middle of the island collapsed several hundred meters, forming the so-called “caldera” - a round crater with steep walls. The void was quickly filled with sea waters. Oscillations earth's crust generated a giant tsunami wave. It is believed that its height was from 100 to 200 meters. In less than an hour, the wave hit Crete, destroying the main pride of the Minoans - the ports and fleet, destroying the palaces and destroying part of the population. The Cretan-Minoan civilization of sailors, travelers, and artists was never able to recover from this blow and eventually faded away completely. The scale of the incident gives reason to some researchers to assume that the explosion of the Santorini volcano became the basis of the legend about the death of Atlantis.

From the solid round island, only fragments remained - the modern islands of Thira, Thirassia and tiny Aspro (Aspronisi). The torn remains of the land were covered with a thick layer of volcanic rocks. Ancient city Akrotiri, like Pompeii centuries later, was buried for millennia under tons of dust and ash. Archaeologists subsequently concluded that the inhabitants of the Minoan settlement, which flourished on the island before the disaster, managed to leave the island before the eruption began. They were warned by earthquakes. It is not known whether they managed to hide in a safe place or died at sea.

But people did not abandon the idea of living on a volcano. Several centuries later, settlers again appeared on the largest, main island. First the Phoenicians. They named the island “Kallisti” - “most beautiful”. Then, in the 9th century BC. e., the Spartans appeared on the island and founded a city - Ancient Thira (Fira). The island also became known as Thira or Fira.

In the 12th century, the group of islands, like the main island of Thira (Firu), began to be called “Santorini”. The origin of the name is associated with the early Christian Basilica of St. Irene, the remains of which were discovered in the modern town of Perisse. They say that the Franks, who stopped at Tyre on their way to Asia, set up camp not far from it. They called the church "Santa Irina", which is where the new name came from. It is still used throughout the world by everyone except local residents. They are closer to the former name - Thira (or Fira).

IN different time the inhabitants of the volcano island were subject to Athens, Rome, the Franks, the Byzantines, the Venetians, and in a later period - the Turks.

Throughout all these centuries, the volcano did not allow people to relax - it regularly erupted, causing earthquakes, tidal waves and giving birth to new islands.

In the 1st century AD e. The island of Palea Kameni arose. Three centuries ago, in the 18th century, another island appeared above the water - Nea Kameni. The inhabitants of the island of Thira observed its formation during 1707 - 1708.

The island was born in torment, as evidenced by the memoirs of the Jesuit Tarillon: “Every day one could observe how huge rocks rose from the sea and the island became wider. Sometimes individual rocks connected with the main part of the island, while others, on the contrary, separated from it and moved away from shores. Within one month, four black islands were formed. A little later, they suddenly united into one...

On August 17, fiery jets began to shoot out from this island, and the sea around it smoked, boiled and foamed. Fire erupted from more than sixty vents. The sea was covered with reddish foam, emitting an unbearable stench.

Every night, immediately after the now familiar roars, tongues of dazzling flames rose from the depths of the sea, accompanied by millions of rising lights. Starting on September 18, the volcanic eruption intensified. Huge rocks erupted from the craters and, colliding with each other in the air, made a terrible roar.

Then, with a deafening noise, they fell onto Santorini and into the sea. Little Kameni ( new island, rising from the sea), repeatedly covered by these huge red-hot stone blocks, sparkled in the night with a bright flame.

September 21st this little one stone island was completely engulfed in fire. One of the craters sank into the water, and huge rocks were thrown out at a distance of three miles, four days of relative calm followed, after which the Lord's punishment again manifested itself with renewed vigor. The repeated emissions were so strong that two people could not hear each other, even if they were nearby. The people took refuge in churches. The Skaros rock shook and all the doors of the houses swung open noisily.

Until February 1708, there was no break in eruptions. On February 10, the volcano exploded. Entire mountains were violently thrown out of the crater. The island trembled, the underground roar took away the breath, the sea boiled.

This hell continued until May 23. The new island continually expanded and rose. The large crater grew even larger as the lava solidified. Then everything calmed down."

This is how a group of five islands was formed, now known under the single name Santorini (Santorini). It includes earlier parts of the ancient round island of Strongili - Thira, Thirasia and Aspro (Aspronisi), as well as islands born during later periods of volcanic activity - Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.

The twentieth century also did not become cloudless in the history of Santorini. The 1956 earthquake killed 57 people and destroyed most buildings. The islanders could not communicate their trouble to the world due to lack of communication. They spread white sheets and hoped that flying planes would see their distress signal. The signs were noticed and people were helped. Only the nerves of the island's inhabitants could not withstand the severity of the experience - many left it. Several hundred people remained on Santorini, and dilapidated houses were sold for next to nothing.

But as usually happened, life began anew. Now real estate here costs a lot of money, the island is flooded with tourists and the question “isn’t it scary to live on a dangerous island?” its residents shrug and smile. Like, let's figure it out. They take tourists to the islands of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, showing signs of volcanic activity - wisps of smoke in a huge crater. They also build churches - there are hundreds of them in island settlements. It is impossible to live without faith and hope for the best in Santorini.

On the island, I came across a glossy magazine about Santorini. Detailed, beautiful, with lots of articles on where to stay, what to eat and how to have fun. But in it I was attracted by a small note about exactly what gives strength to those people who live on the volcanic islands of Santorini.

Translated into Russian, the explanation looks like this: “The Motherland protects its children throughout the history of the island. It was she who warned them of the danger and gave them the opportunity to leave the island so as not to face the fury of the volcano. Many times the wrath of nature swept away settlements. But like any mother, Rodina knows how to treat her children. How to teach their souls to soar over the vineyards again and enjoy life. The homeland fills its children with the strength to start all over again. This positive energy never leaves her. It is in the water, in the wine and in those few seconds when the sun goes to rest. It allows you to free your heart. For this priceless gift, the Motherland does not ask for anything in return. Her beauty and tenderness are enough for everyone. After all, Santorini is the beloved child of the almighty lava. She will tell you something about you that you didn’t suspect before.”

The study of deep-sea sediments of the eastern Mediterranean Sea has made it possible to reconstruct the conditions of a grandiose volcanic catastrophe.
In 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 and pumice of various sizes are flying. This type of volcanic ejecta material is called tephra.
The study of the extracted soil cores made it possible to reliably distinguish the upper and lower tephra, construct maps of the areal distribution of these two volcanic layers and determine their thickness. The configuration of the area where volcanic sediments were found and the nature of the thickness distribution of the two ash layers leave no doubt that this ash was formed as a result of 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 to Sicily. All islands in the Aegean Sea, including Crete, located 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) also reaches its greatest thickness near Santorini. 130 km southeast of the volcano, its thickness exceeds two or more meters. The ash that makes up this horizon reached the coasts of Africa, Asia Minor and the 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 the places of its greatest accumulation, it was discovered that the ash layer of the upper tephra 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 successive eruptions of Santorini, of which the first was the most powerful and ash-rich.

Based on this, it was concluded that Santorini twice took the form of the round island of Strongyli 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, approx. 3400 years ago, when the top layer of tephra was deposited.

The further spread of volcanic sediments depends primarily on the direction and speed of high-altitude winds. After analyzing air currents in the eastern Mediterranean, scientists came to the conclusion that the distribution of lower tephra material indicates its transport by high-speed winds, which indicates a volcanic eruption in winter.
The 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 the harvest, is confirmed by the fact that there were almost no food reserves left in the jars found during archaeological excavations on Santorini.
The shape of the tephra fallout area allows us to conclude that the cloud, which covered the whole of Crete, some areas of the Peloponnese and Asia Minor, was transported in the southwestern direction. A meter-thick layer of tephra from that time was discovered on the island of Rhodes. A cloud of volcanic gases, vapors and dust should have covered an area much larger than the one where the tephra fell.

The lower layer of tephra dates back to approximately 25 thousand years ago. The date was determined based on the age of microorganism shells found in the soil cores.
The upper ash horizon turned out to be much younger. Although there is a fairly large scatter of figures, 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 eruption of Santorini and is dated, quite reliably, by determining the absolute age of a carbon isotope in a piece of wood found under 30 meters of ash. Radiocarbon dating showed that this piece was separated from the tree between 1510 and 1310 BC. e. Around this period of time, a catastrophic volcanic eruption occurred. And then the central part of Strongile again sank into the depths of the sea, forming a lagoon-caldera.

The ash from the Santorini caldera and from the upper layer of bottom sediments of the Eastern Mediterranean are completely identical.

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, named Tambora. Over the three years of its activity, it grew to a height of four kilometers, and on April 15, 1815, a terrible explosion occurred, shortening 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 complete darkness here for three days. At the site of the explosion, a caldera 700 meters deep and six and a half kilometers in diameter was formed.
The eruption of Krakatoa occurred in August 1883 in the Sunda Strait. On August 26, residents of the island of Java, located 160 km from Krakatoa, heard a noise similar to thunder. At 2 p.m. A black cloud about 27 km high rose above Krakatoa. At 5 p.m. The first tsunami occurred. Before noon on August 27, several more tsunamis occurred. The explosions continued throughout the night, but the most powerful of them occurred on August 27. 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 traveled around the entire globe. Its speed reached 566 kilometers per hour, and its height was 35 meters.
Explosions occurred throughout the autumn of 1883, and only on February 20 of the following year the last eruption occurred. During the eruptions, at least 18 km of rocks were thrown out, two-thirds of which fell in an area with a radius of 15 km from the explosion site. The sea north of Krakatoa became shallow and unnavigable for large 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 with a diameter of about 7 km was formed in the ocean.
The crater created by the Santorini explosion is much larger and deeper than the crater created by the Krakatoa explosion. This means that the eruption of Santorini-Strongyle was even more powerful. During it, 70 cubic kilometers of rock were thrown out, that is, three to four times more than during the Krakatoa explosion.

Before the catastrophe that formed the upper tephra, Santorini represented 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 big Island merged with small islands located to the south.
After the disaster, a collapse caldera appeared and most of the island collapsed into the water. It is possible that the interior of the Santorini archipelago, even before the disaster, was partly a lagoon or a flat area 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 emissions that immediately preceded the disaster. Geological observations indicate that the first manifestations of volcanism did not foreshadow disasters. Geologists divide the 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 were active in the northern part of the island. The middle group of pumice layers, found in the south and east of Thira, is distinguished 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 former vents. The release of huge masses of gas-rich magma inevitably caused the roof of the underground reservoir to collapse. This process could have begun during the eruptions, but was most pronounced shortly after their end.

The oldest population of Santorini, which appeared here ca. 3000g. BC e., was pre-Greek. The presence of the influence of Minoan Crete was established during excavations on Akrotiri, when from under a 40-meter layer of volcanic ash an entire village of two or three storey houses, decorated with frescoes that resemble the wall paintings of Minoan palaces, was dug up.
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, a residential structure, vessels from the Minoan period, fragments of a loom and large cinder blocks were discovered under a layer of ash. The frescoes were discovered under a multi-meter layer of ash. They depicted plants, birds, the landscape of the island before the eruption, gracefully walking antelopes, a bowed palm tree, boys boxing in special gloves, a procession of women with sacred gifts and an ape-like creature painted blue. The city found on Tire is not inferior in size and splendor to Knossos, the center of the island of Crete. The Santorini volcanic massif was surprisingly well adapted for creating an impregnable military fortress there, so it was on Tire that it was most advisable to keep a navy in case of attack by enemies and in order to extend its power to 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 - grass had time to grow on the walls of abandoned houses before they were covered with ash. 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 blocks went under water, to the bottom of the lagoon. Their remains were found at a depth of 20 meters.

F. Fouquet at one time discovered that despite the enormous force of the eruption and the proximity of the caldera, Minoan buildings on the island of Thira 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 release of ash and pumice that covered the Minoan settlements. Therefore, by the time the island collapsed, part of the settlements around the future caldera had already been buried by a thick layer of tephra.

In 1939, archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos, based on excavations of a Minoan villa at Amnisos on the northern coast of Crete, concluded that the Minoan civilization was destroyed by an eruption on the nearby volcanic island of Santorini. Layers of ash and volcanic pumice were discovered 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 Thera erupted during the Bronze Age was beyond doubt: ceramics from the Minoan period had already been discovered in the debris of volcanic origin. In 1967, streets lined with Minoan-era houses were revealed under a thick layer of volcanic ash and tephra. In some houses, beautiful colored frescoes and intact ceramics were discovered. In the late 1980s, it became apparent that the eruption occurred approximately 150 years before the destruction of Knossos and the great Minoan palaces.

According to archaeological data, all 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 abandoned suddenly, the population took 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 excavations of the palaces of Crete, archaeologists discovered pieces of pumice, as well as sintered pieces of other volcanic rocks mixed with sulfur.
Until recently, there was fairly widespread support for 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. 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.
The hypothesis is now 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 they reach hundreds of meters. The wind scattered tens of millions of tons of ash and pumice throughout the Aegean Sea and even carried it into North Africa, Asia Minor and Macedonia. Anafi Psara, Kos, Milos, Naxos and other Cyclades islands were covered with a layer of ash more than ten 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 grass in pastures and, thereby, cause mass deaths of livestock. Under the threat of famine, the surviving population of Crete was forced to leave the fertile valleys of the central and eastern part 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 deaths of herbivores from starvation. A mixture of volcanic gases and ash formed a bluish smog that enveloped Iceland, causing great damage to grain and feed crops and leading to hunger and lack of food. The consequence of all this was the death of half the cows, three quarters of the sheep and horses, and the population of Iceland decreased 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 filled with ash. The livestock had to be taken out, and it was possible to return it only after 2 years, when the pastures were revived.

The explosion on Santorini caused a powerful earthquake. But if at the epicenter the strength 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 Strongyle explosion.
During the eruption of Krakatoa, the roar of the explosion was heard over an area equal to 1/13 of the globe. The air shock waves broke glass in houses as far as 150 km away, and in some cases damaged houses as far away as 800 km from Krakatoa. This means that on the Cyclades Islands and Crete, located 100-150 km from Santorini, the blast wave should have caused significant destruction. It is possible that the destructive effect of the air wave was even greater than the earthquake. Disasters also struck neighboring lands. This primarily applies to Egypt.

The Minoan eruption was not the last page in the history of Santorini. Vulcan was silent for 1200 years.
In 197 BC. e. appeared in the Santorini lagoon small island formed by lava. The Roman philosopher and naturalist Seneca, in his work “Questions of Natural Science,” speaking about the forces shaping the face of the planet, included among them “air pressure,” which “can scatter the earth over a large area, erect new mountains, create in the middle of the sea never before seen islands." And he cited Santorin as an example: “Who can doubt that Thera, Therasia and this new island that appeared in the Aegean Sea before our eyes were born from air?”
In 46 AD e. Another volcanic island was born. In 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. A strong earthquake occurred in the Nile Delta, the earth sank, and the sea poured onto the land. At the same time, there was a significant change in the coast of Crete, the surrounding islands 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 several kilometers around. The viscous magma that later filled the crater appeared as a black tongue of lava on the northeastern 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 Thira and Tirassia, heat began to bubble from a 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 located 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 was 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 birth to the island of Mikra 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 occurred in the center of the ring in 1707, it was not interrupted for five years. In 1707, two volcanic cones appeared, called Aspronisi and Makronesi. 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 it was possible to observe a volcano appearing in the sea. On May 21, 1711, three days after the violent eruption, a white island could be seen appearing. 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 80 meters. On June 5th a fire was seen, after which a new black island appeared in the north. On September 12th, the black island became so large 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.
Jesuit Gori observed the eruptions of 1707-1711 from Skaros Castle. "And between this small island and the Great Kammeni, on May 23, 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, 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 became frightened and quickly rushed to the shore, spreading rumors throughout the island. they readily believed, since all the residents knew, and some even saw, what happened in 1650."
1712 "At that time 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 from the second floor."

Volcanic activity in the lagoon resumed in 1866, when eruptions began in Vulcan Bay on the shores of Nea Kameni. As a result of the eruption of 1866-1870, the area of Nea Kameni almost quadrupled. In 1925-1926 and 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, a volcano created the new island of Daphne. This island grew rapidly and connected Mikra-Kameni and Nea-Kameni. The last eruption on Santorini, which occurred in 1950-1956, once again increased the size of Nea Kameni.
The most powerful (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 occurred in the Middle Ages, were described in detail by the Abbot of Pegu in 1842. He was the first researcher to understand that the space between the islands of Thira, Thirasia and Aspronisi from the Santorini group is a giant caldera submerged by the sea, formed as a result of the collapse of a once-existing single volcanic island.

in love with books. Mutually

My Mediterranean love) A fairy tale island, simple, dried out, but incredibly beautiful and cozy.
The calling card of Greece, a Mecca for lovers and romantics, a land of enchanting sunsets and at the same time a dormant mortal danger.

Santorini now

The Santorini archipelago is a group of five islands:
Main island - Thira 75.8 sq. km, coastline- 70 km, population about 8,000 inhabitants.
Thirassia 9.3 sq. km, about 250 inhabitants (boat excursions are available here with visits to the volcano and thermal springs)
Aspronisi 0.1 sq. km, not inhabited
Old Kameni (Palea Kameni) 0.5 sq. km, 1 inhabitant
New Kameni (Nea Kameni) 3.4 sq. km, not inhabited.

Yes, there are a lot of letters again, but this is the last time) probably)) the history of the island is very interesting and its attractive power is amazing. Santorini-Thera is associated with one of the most catastrophic volcanic eruptions in the history of mankind, as well as one of the most mysterious and alluring myths, the legend of Atlantis.
I’ll try to briefly retell it) the epic nature of what happened in ancient times on the island brings me into some kind of almost sacred awe)

Grand cataclysm

The Mediterranean is located - African and Eurasian, and therefore
« Most of the islands in the Aegean Sea were created as a result of volcanic activity. One of these islands, part of the Cyclades archipelago, is Thira (Thira). Thira, together with the islands of Thirasia, Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and Aspro, is part of a ring-shaped group of islands called Santorini.»
“The history of Santorini began 80 thousand years ago, when a new volcano was born in the southern Aegean Sea. He “notified” the Mediterranean of his birth with a powerful eruption and ashfall, traces of which are still found today all the way from Italy to Cyprus. Over time, the volcano grew, rose above the water, attached to itself three rocks protruding from the sea and turned into an island fifteen kilometers across. Then its activity dropped, the volcano “fell asleep”, became overgrown with grass and forest and became similar to other habitable islands of the Aegean Sea.”

In the most common version, Thira is represented as a volcanic cone, although there are theories that the island was a complex group of volcanic cones fused with each other, located mainly along its periphery, and the inner part was partially occupied by a lagoon or plain.
Freely located in the middle of the sea, warmed by the sun, it attracted people with its fertile soils. It is believed that the first name of the island was “Strongili”, Round.

“It is difficult to say when the first people appeared on the island - all that is known for certain is that long before the advent of our era, life on its shores was already in full swing: cities stood, gardens bloomed, ships with goods from Egypt, from Crete, from other islands of the Cyclades archipelago..."
“The inhabitants of the island of Santorini knew the system of measures and calculations, they mined lime and built complex vaulted structures, painted the walls with fantastic frescoes. They successfully developed agriculture, weaving, and pottery.”
The village of Akrotiri in the south of the island was a colony of Crete and one of the centers of the Cretan-Minoan civilization. During excavations near it from 1967 to 1974 (just some forty years ago) The expedition of Spyridon Marinatos discovered
an entire residential area consisting of spacious two- and three-story houses with facades lined with stone slabs. Many houses probably collapsed into the sea when the volcano exploded, splitting the edges of its crater, on the slopes of which the settlement discovered by Greek archaeologists was located. But even from the surviving remains one can imagine a populous and prosperous seaside city that once stood here.
and also found
“wall paintings of amazing beauty and meticulous execution that decorated the interiors of almost all the houses of the preserved part of the settlement that were discovered during excavations. In terms of their artistic merit, these paintings are in no way inferior to the frescoes discovered long before in the palaces of Knossos, Pylos, Tiryns and Mycenae. Among them there are also works that are completely unique in their artistic and historical value. In all Aegean art there is hardly anything comparable to the amazing picturesque frieze depicting a whole squadron of ships cruising along the coasts and islands of the Aegean or perhaps the Mediterranean Sea.”

And just at this inopportune time (approximately between 1500 and 1640 BC, data refined as dating methods improve) The volcano has awakened from a thousand-year hibernation. There is no historical evidence of this event, but the picture can be reconstructed from volcanology and observations of other eruptions, such as the Krakatoa explosion in Indonesia, etc.

The catastrophe was monstrous; the eruption began with an explosion. “A giant black plume soared over the island. A few minutes later, the shock wave, having covered 130 km, reached Crete: the mountains shook, the walls of the royal palaces cracked. Stunned and frightened, the Cretans ran out of their homes: in the north, where the sea was always serenely blue, a black cloud swirled, covered in crimson reflections. Devouring space, it was rapidly approaching.
Impenetrable, suffocating darkness then covered not only Crete, but also Palestine - biblical tales and Egyptian chronicles testify to this. The ashfall probably continued for several days, after which the force of the explosions began to wane, but Santorini was shaken by a new, no less terrible cataclysm.

The eruption devastated the magma chamber beneath the volcano, and the entire middle of the island - more than 80 cubic kilometers of rock - fell into the underground void with a roar that should have been heard as far away as Norway. Norway, can you imagine? She rushed into the resulting abyss sea water, she fell straight onto the hot lava. Huge volumes of water instantly turned into steam, the pressure of which grew at enormous speed.
The island of Santorini exploded like a steam boiler. This explosion caused vibrations of the earth's surface and its local subsidence. But the worst thing was the formation of a new tsunami wave, which surpassed the first in its size and power.

A huge wave, the height of which supposedly reached from 100 to 200 m, hit north coast Krita. This wave finally destroyed the entire Minoan fleet, the buildings on the island, and part of the population of Crete and the Cyclades islands. The Cretan-Minoan civilization suffered such damage that it was unable to recover from it.

Strongyly no longer existed. All that remains of the round island are torn edges with dizzying cliffs leading to an inner bay 380 meters deep - the so-called caldera. Black, red, yellow rocks - this is what was the “flesh” of the old volcano, torn apart by the explosion and collapses.”

“The entire island was covered with a thick layer of pumice, the thickness of which in some areas reaches over 30 meters. Basalt boulders erupted from the volcanic vent with such force that they damaged many houses in Akrotiri.”
“At a speed of 150 km per hour and at a temperature of more than 600 degrees, the lava burns everything in its path.”

The explosion on Strongili is considered one of the strongest in the history of our planet. Add to this an earthquake, tsunami and fires and you get the picture of a real apocalypse for the Mediterranean region.
“The Santorini volcano changed almost the entire Mediterranean beyond recognition, and the sound wave from the explosion circled the entire planet several times. The ash that rose into the atmosphere changed the climate many thousands of kilometers from the epicenter for several years.”
The scatter of the crater's contents, according to various estimates, reaches 500-700 km, affecting Africa, mainland Greece, Near East
“The volcano ejected a huge amount of pumice. And pumice is lighter than water. As a result, the entire eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea was covered with pumice for many years. Navigation has become impossible."

« The eruption of Thera set European civilization on a different path.
Perhaps Tyra wiped out an entire continent. For example, the legendary Atlantis.
Under the caldera at a depth of three hundred meters under water and a layer of ash, perhaps, lies a lost city.
An eruption was observed in Egypt 800 kilometers from Thira. It is even mentioned in the Bible. The volcanic eruption and tsunami are associated with such a biblical event as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, and in particular, the famous passage of Moses across the sea, when the sea receded (low tide before the tsunami) and the Jews passed, and the Pharaoh’s army was destroyed by the oncoming huge wave. »

Living on a volcano

When Marinatos began excavations, archaeologists expected to discover a second Pompeii, but something warned the inhabitants of the danger and they left the settlement in advance.
“No valuables, no jewelry, no seals or other signs of authority were found in Akrotiri, and no human or animal remains were found, except for one pig skeleton. The time period between the earthquake and the awakening of the volcano is unknown. Most likely, one year passed, since the seeds that had been in the ruins of houses since the earthquake began to germinate when they were covered with the first volcanic ash.”

But for some reason people love to live on a volcano) And even after such a disaster, the former Strongili did not fall into desolation. Centuries passed, history turned into legend, and the inhabitants returned to the island. Only different ones.

Phoenician, Dorian and Roman ships landed on its shores at different times. The Dorians liked the island so much that in the 2nd century BC they decided to found a city on the main island called Thera in honor of King Theras ( modern name- Fira). During the Hellenistic period, Thera served naval base for the Ptolemaic dynasty, later passed to the Romans, in the 4th century the first appeared on the island Christian church.
Santorini received its current name in 1204 from the Franks - in honor of St. Irene. The Franks chose to move the capital to the eastern, steep shore, building a fortress on the Skaros rock. Later, the modern capital of Santorini, Fira, grew nearby, right on the ridge of the caldera.
A series of bloody quarrels between the dukes who owned Cyclades Islands, attempts by Byzantium to recapture Santorini, Turkish raids - a relatively calm life for the Santorini people began only in 1579, when the island was finally annexed to the Ottoman Empire. For some reason, the Turks granted autonomy to Santorini, allowing residents to elect their own elders. Either the Turks were fascinated by the Santorini windmills (in Turkish the island was called “Deymertsik” - “Little Mill”), or they were confused by the renewed activity of the volcano.

The new inhabitants of Santorini have had a hard time. The former greatness of the island remained forever buried under a layer of volcanic ash, along with its fertile soil, clean springs, and convenient harbors. The dry soil continued to retain traces of fire and looked more like pumice. The vine had to be twisted into a ring to prevent it from being broken by the wind. And the fishermen had to undertake a whole journey to get down to the boats.

Permanent eruptions

But the volcano itself did not let people relax
Scientists know about another powerful cataclysm associated with the Santorini volcano, which occurred approximately 25 thousand years ago, and about many smaller ones.
1) Santorini troubled the Greeks in 197 BC. e., then the island of Palea Kameni arose.
2) The eruption of 236 BC separated Thirassia from the northwestern edge of Thera.
3) In 726, the island of Palea Kaimeni grew significantly
4) A terrible volcanic eruption drowned half of Palea Kameni in 1452.
5) South coast Santorini sank in 1570. Three years later, Malaya Kammeni appeared.
6) In 1650, the Columbus Shoal was formed
7) An underwater eruption with poisonous gases that occurred around 1700 in the northeast of Oia resulted in the death of thousands of people and animals.
8) During 1707-12 New Kammeni appeared above the water. 5 years!

In 1707, sailors saw something black in the middle of the Santorini bay. They decided that these were the remains of a sunken ship and hurried there, but... ran into rocks! These rocks moved, and the sea around them changed its color from green to red, from red to yellow. Heavy smoke and flames burst from the depths - panic gripped the island's population: people decided that the fire was about to spread to the island itself. The lava island grew before our eyes, gradually turning into a giant black “spider” resting in the center of the bay. Meanwhile, the sea boiled and burned like oil in a frying pan, and the waves threw dead fish onto the shore. Every night, flames flared up over the bay, rising high into the sky and scattering over the stunned people like “star rain.” And this went on for almost a month...

9) In 1866, a series of eruptions that lasted two years led to the appearance of the islet of Afotessa, which then disappeared again.

On January 26, 1866, stones fell from the ancient cone of Nea Kaimeni, and on the 30th the number of stones increased. Residents of the island noticed that in many places in the bay the water became noticeably warmer than before. Clouds of steam rose from the water, spreading the smell of sulfur. The next day, steam began to noisily escape from the water, a slight underground rumble was heard, cracks appeared on the land, and many houses in the villages scattered across the archipelago also cracked. Then the frightened residents, seeking salvation, moved to the largest of the islands. On February 1, volcanic activity intensified, and around noon, in the middle of the bay, a black jagged rock, shrouded in white steam, emerged from the water, giving rise to the island of Georgios, which joined Nea Kaimeni on February 5. On February 13, after a strong underwater roar, another island named Afroessa appeared on the surface of the water. And finally, on February 20, the underwater eruption reached its maximum. There was a terrible explosion on Georgios. A huge column of ash and steam rose to a height of several hundred meters, and hot pieces of lava flying out of the sea rose up at least 500 meters. Soon a third island arose, which then became one with Afroessa. Eruptions continued throughout the year, with periods of increased volcanic activity alternating with periods of relative calm.

10) In 1920, New Kammeni was formed again, without casualties.
11) In 1925-26 connected Malaya and Novaya Kammeni and did not cause major destruction. And it looked like this:

12) The volcano last woke up in 1956, causing a strong earthquake and tidal waves 17 meters high. 50 people died on the island. This earthquake destroyed most of the houses of Santorini and many residents were forced to leave the island, leaving only about 400 people on the island.

Not everyone could withstand such “performances”. People left the "devil's island", but many soon returned back. In order to survive on a volcano where there is not a single normal tree, there is really no clay, no sand, no stone, the Santorini people began to dig horizontal caves - “skafts” - in the malleable volcanic tuff.
“Cave” life on Santorini continued until 1956, when the island suffered a catastrophic earthquake. A new misfortune drove the residents out of their nor-skaft forever. The horror of the prospect of being flattened in the thickness of the rock cannot be experienced twice - people did not want to return to their homes, although it was the skaftas that survived: the viscous tuff withstood the vibrations of the firmament, while all the above-ground buildings collapsed.