SANTORINI VOLCANO

One of the greatest attractions of Santorini is the volcano, whose intense activity during antiquity, gave the island its current shape and terrain morphology. Before the volcanic eruptions that occurred at that time, the size and shape of the island were quite different; Santorini used to be a round island, and its name was “Strongili”, meaning “round”. 

Thousands of years ago, when the roaring and raging volcanic eruption happened, it caused the center of Strongili to sink deep into the sea. A crater was created on the surface, the modern-day caldera, with steep cliffs rimming along the main island’s east coastline, and four other small islands scattered around, Therasia, an uninhabited island called Aspronisi, and the volcanic islets of Palaia Kammeni and Nea Kammeni.

The volcanic activity was so overwhelming that it took thousands of years for the island to show signs of new flora and fauna. The volcano and its traces are visible all over Santorini, rendering it an island of exceptional natural beauty, with the settlements that are built on the caldera cliffs offering a stunning view, and its extraordinary beaches presenting unique, otherworldly landscapes for visitors to admire while swimming.