The Greek island of Santorini is enchanting thanks to its sapphire-blue water, snow-white buildings, and multicolored cliffs that resemble French mille-feuille pastries. Aside from its phenomenal landscapes, this Cycladic island has a dramatic geological history since one of the most powerful volcanoes in recorded times erupted here more than 3,600 years ago.
Archaeologists believe that Santorini was once inhabited by a group of people similar to those on nearby Minoan Crete. Some experts even speculate that the nucleus of fictional Atlantis might have been situated in what is now Santorini’s caldera.
Before arriving in Santorini, Shawn and I heard about these theories that Santorini might have served as the inspiration for Plato’s Atlantis. As a result, we were eager to explore Santorini’s caldera by boat and visit the active-but-dormant volcanic island of Nea Kameni located across the caldera from Santorini.
To explore Santorini’s caldera, we embarked on a full-day boat trip that took us from the bustling port town of Fira to:
- the volcanic island of Nea Kameni
- hot springs (near Palea Kameni) for a refreshing swim
- the quieter island of Therasia
We then returned to Fira via the town of Oia.
Nea Kameni — Still an Active Volcanic Island
During the Bronze Age, geologists called the then-circular island of Santorini, Strongyli, which means “rounded.” After the devastating eruption, Strongyli was decimated, creating Santorini’s now-signature crescent shape, as well as several of the surrounding islands.
Nea Kameni is the eastern Mediterannean’s youngest volcanic landform. Today, it is a protected natural monument and national geological park.
Nea Kameni has erupted approximately eight times in the past 1,900 years. However, it’s been dormant since 1950, causing little problems. (See the Santorini Volcano Study and Monitoring Institute’s History of Eruptions page for more details.)
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to project when the next eruption might take place. On an optimistic note for those living on or wishing to travel to Santorini, scientists think they can forecast the volcano’s next eruptions at least a few months to a year in advance. They monitor Nea Kameni’s activity, taking into account seismic, geophysical, and geochemical data.
Today, magma exists at depths of a few kilometers. It is visible through hot springs and hot gases, giving Nea Kameni its trademark sulfuric aroma.
Where in the World?
Planning Pointers:
- Boat tours around Santorini are popular, and they’re easy to book via travel agencies and hotels. Shawn and I rarely join group tours, but we found this excursion to be convenient. It was also pleasant because we were able to “escape” the large group and have some exploration time to ourselves.
- Our excursion took us to the Nea Kameni Volcano, in the vicinity of the hot springs (where swimming was optional), and to the nearby island of Therasia.
- We opted to do a full-day tour, but we also some excursions that were shorter.
- Pack accordingly for the trip:
- sunhat
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- ample supply of water and snacks
- swimming gear, if you plan to take a dip. (The springs weren’t particularly hot. However, we did find the brief swim to be refreshing even though the water was reddish and chalky, given the high sulfur content.)
- On the island of Therasia (stop #3), small restaurants dotted the waterside. We stopped there for a light lunch and coffee break before returning to Fira via Oia.
- There is a €5 entrance fee to enter the National Geological Park of Nea Kameni. While exploring, stay on marked paths to avoid loose lava rock.
- If you’re looking for a cozy studio apartment in Santorini, consider the Phaos Santorini Suites (formerly Rhapsody Apartments) in Imerovigli. We spent one week here. The owner, George, was helpful and friendly. He even shared delicious Santorini zucchini from his own garden with us. We loved the apartment’s quiet location. It was still a walkable distance to Fira, the island’s public transportation hub. The sunrise views from our balcony were extraordinary, too!
- While in Santorini, we also visited the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the ruins of Akrotiri, a community on the southern edge of Santorini that was prosperous thousands of years ago, but decimated by the volcanic eruption.
- Need more inspiration? This link contains an index of all my posts from Greece.
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
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