Santorini: Gleaning Volcanic History from the Ocean Floor
2 December 2021, by IfG
Santorini is a picturesque archipelago in the southern Aegean. The islands encircle a massive volcanic caldera, which the ocean has long-since covered over. Some speculate that Santorini is all that’s left of Atlantis – the fabled, highly advanced island empire that suddenly vanished. The fact that about 3,600 years ago, a volcanic eruption at the center of the archipelago destroyed a flourishing Minoan city may be one of the sources of this ancient legend. The eruption set off a tsunami that was felt throughout the eastern Mediterranean and likely contributed to the decline of the Minoan culture. It also changed the climate: clouds of ash blocked out the sun, covering the world in a two-year-long winter. More information can be found here.