TechnoTourist’s Engineering Expeditions

Santorini, officially known as Thira, is a Greek island. It's also rumored to be the source of the legend of Atlantis. Its caldera formation of a central lagoon surrounded by high cliffs on three sides is the result of a volcanic eruption that occurred 3,600 years ago. The eruption was one of the largest in history and may have sent a tsunami as far as the island of Crete, 68 miles away.

Santorini Volcanic History and Geography

An eruption around 1645 BC, also known as the Minoan eruption, drastically changed the shape of the island. It is believed that it was originally ring-shaped, enclosing a caldera. As the eruption occurred, parts of the island collapsed and sank, leaving a wider caldera that was partially open. Ash buried nearby towns and layers of white pumice and ash can still be seen today.

The last eruption occurred in 1956 and resulted in the demolition of many buildings; much of the population left the island. It has since become a tourist destination. On the day I visited there were at least four cruise ships in port.

When we pulled into Santorini's lagoon the first things we noticed were the beautiful blue color of the water and the impressive cliffs of the island. The cliffs are nearly 1,000 feet high and feature many colors - remnants of previous volcanic eruptions.

Transportation: Three Choices

Reaching the top of the island can take 20 minutes or more - there are 600 steps to climb! If that sounds too challenging, visitors can ride donkeys up the same route of ramped stairs. We opted for the tram - a funicular, like the one on Capri. Although the wait in line was almost 20 minutes it only took a few minutes to reach the top once on board. The view of the lagoon was beautiful on the way to the top!

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santorini

http://www.santorini.net/

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/santorini-volcano.html

http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/santorini.html