In the broader region of Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, the most prominent geodynamic event currently taking place is the subduction of the African Lithospheric Plate beneath the Eurasian Lithospheric Plate. According to extensive scientific studies, this plate convergence is occurring at a rate of approximately 35mm each year, while Africa bends below Europe in a northward direction. As a result, the rocks of the two plates experience extreme temperatures and pressures at great depths below the surface, hence leading to their extensive melting and the production of magma. Some volumes of this magma remain deep within the lithosphere, while others ascend to the surface and erupt, giving birth to volcanoes.
The manifestation of active volcanism in the South Aegean takes place approximately 250km north of the plate convergent boundary. The result is the worldwide known South Aegean Volcanic Arc, a chain of volcanoes that is approximately 600km long with a width of 20-40km and extends from the Saronic Gulf in the west to the islands of Kos and Nisyros in the east. It consists of the volcanic centers of Sousaki-Methana, Milos-Antimilos, Christiana-Santorini and the Kos-Yali-Nisyros volcanic field, as well as a number of offshore volcanic structures (like Kolumbo volcano, 7 Km NE of Santorini) that were detected after extensive and systematic reconnaissance of the Aegean Sea floor . The volcanic arc has been active for the past 4.7 million years. However, today only the volcanoes of Methana, Santorini, Kolumbo and Nisyros remain active but are in a dormant state according to scientists.
The ‘Minoan’ eruption was the last destructive eruption of Santorini. In a matter of hours to days, the volcano discharged several tens of km3 of gas-charged magma which entered the sea as pyroclastic flows and rock debris. Large quantities of pyroclastic products (tephra and aerosols) ejected many kilometers to the atmosphere and blanketed the prehistoric town of Akrotiri and in a matter of hours the whole east Mediterranean region. The following tsunami traveled as far as the northern coast of Crete having at least 9 m height and together with the atmospheric effects may have contributed to the decline of the great Minoan civilization, the dominant civilization in the Mediterranean at the time. According to scientific studies, the eruption ranks as one of the largest of the last 10,000 years and was responsible for the present-day morphology of the island.
Modern volcanological and archaeological research, through detailed studies of the deposits of pumice, ash and marine sediments on the Aegean islands and across the Eastern Mediterranean and studies on the remains of the Minoan culture, shed light on the chronicle of the Minoan eruption. There is a consensus that the eruption occurred in four phases with an initial precursory phase. Every phase was characterized by destructive events and violent phreatomagmatic explosions which culminated in the formation of the 11x7km present-day caldera.
Map of Santorini island of 1848, illustrating the morphology of the caldera and the Kameni islands
Panorama of the volcano
View of Palea and Nea Kameni and Aspronisi and Therasia in the background
Inside Georgios crater
The view from inside Georgios larger crater
Sulphur crystals in fumarole
Astonishing sulphur crystals around a fumarole of Georgios crater
Georgios smaller crater
The smaller crater of Georgios near the summit of the volcano
Lava oxidation
Color succession due to oxidation of lava
Surface lavas
The rough surface of lava is one of the characteristic of volcanoes
Georgios two craters
View of the Georgios main and smaller crater and Niki lava in the background
Lava remarkable forms
Lava forms due to magma cooling
The volcanic surface of Nea Kameni
The surface of the volcano resembles an unfamiliar moonscape
Creation
The historical eruptions of Palea and Nea Kameni shaped the morphology of the present-day volcano inside the unique flooded caldera of Santorini.
The Kameni islands are the subaerial expression of a 4.3 ± 0.7 km
3
lava shield, 3.5 km in basal diameter, the summit of which towers 470 m above the caldera seafloor. The magmatic vents of both islands lie within a NE-SW volcanotectonic line (known as the Kameni line) which controls the magma ascent of the region. Geochemical and mineralogical studies have revealed that actual morphology of the Kameni islands have been defined by nine subaerial eruptions: 197 BC, AD 46-47, AD 726, 1570/1573, 1707-1711, 1866-70, 1925-28, 1939-41, and 1950. Every eruptive event discharged dacitic lava flows and formed lava domes, channels and levees, blocky lavas, ash plumes, ballistic ejecta and pillow lavas below the water surface.Today, the volcano is continuously monitored by a network of instruments that measure seismicity, ground movements, temperature and the chemistry of hot springs.
of Nea Kameni Volcano
in detail the creation and evolution of Palea and Nea Kameni
islands through the centuries.
197 B.C.
46-47 A.D.
726
1570-1573
1701-1711
1866-1870
1925-1928
1939-1941
1950
Volcano App
Palea and Nea Kameni islands are a wondrous natural laboratory and are included in the Natura 2000 European network of protected areas.
Georgios crater in Nea Kameni
Georgios main crater and smaller crater
Daphne crater
Wonderful Daphne crater and Thera island in the background
The colors of lava
Oxidation on the rocks of Nea Kameni creates colorful patterns
Volcanic sulfhur crystals
Sulphur crystals on the fumaroles of Georgios crater in Nea Kameni
Fumaroles in Nea Kameni
Georgios crater active fumaroles emit hot gases
Emerging lava
A lava block stands out on the surface of the volcano
Volcanic rocks in Nea Kameni
Lava blocks and fragments scattered on the surface of the volcano
Lava block
Multicolor lava due to natural oxidation on the volcano
Lava form
Fractures in lava forms in Nea Kameni volcano
Nea Kameni Island
Daily boat tours are organized especially during the summer months, departing from 2: the Old Port of Fira (Gialos),
3: Athinios Ferry Port (the new port), 4: Ammoudi (Oia) or from 5: Vlychada at the southern part of the island. The trip from the old and the new port usually takes about 20 and 30 minutes respectively. An important number of travel agencies commonly offer packages that include not only a visit to Nea Kameni, but also an extended intra-caldera cruise that also takes visitors to Palea Kameni thermal waters, the island of Therasia and a sail close to the caldera walls.
- Nea Kameni
- Fira old harbor
- Athinios Ferry port
- Ammoudi
- Vlychada
Santorini General Hospital: +30 22860 10021
Emergency Police Number: 100
Fire Brigade: 199
European Emergency Number: 112
Safety Tips
Help preserve this physical laboratory!
- Stay on established walkways for your safety and to protect the physical environment and fragile formations. Unstable ground in places.
- Follow the information on the signs. Never enter into the craters. Danger of rockfalls and volcanic gases.
- Never remove or detach the rocks.
- Appropriate clothing, sport shoes, sun protection, hat and water are highly recommended.
- Any rubbish should be discarded directly in the designated bins.
- Keep away from the instruments of the monitoring network set up on the island.
- Supervise children at all times.
- Observe safe distances and settings for selfies.
- In case of an organized tour, please follow the instructions of your guides.
and the management of the volcano.
About this
Research Program
A digital guide mobile application that improves the services of the National Geological Park of Nea Kameni Volcano
The scientific project concerning the production of a mobile application for smart devices in order to showcase the geological volcanic path of Nea Kameni and the points of interest. The content involves photographic and video material, historical records of volcanic eruptions, thematic Digital Elevation Models (DEM), volcanological map of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni with the points of interest (POI), digital maps of the lava flows and the elevation phases of Kameni islands from 197 BC to 1950 AD based on scientific data and an enlightening, descriptive text.
Moreover, the application is promoted through a corresponding website and a modern tourist leaflet for the volcano.
The application has been developed under the guidance of the Laboratory of Physical Geography of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).
LABORATORY OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Paraskevi Nomikou, Associate Professor (Laboratory of Physical Geography, NKUA), Scientific Coordinator – Geoscientist of Santorini
Varvara Antoniou
Educational Research Staff | Faculty of Geology and Geoenvronment | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Dr Geosciences | Natural Disasters – Geographic Information Systems
Stavroula Kazana, PhDc. Geologist – Engineering Geologist
Pavlos Krassakis, PhDc. Geologist – GIS specialist
Kyriaki Drymoni, Dr. Geologist
Joseph Perros, PhDc. Historian
Special thanks to Prof. Tim Druitt,
(Univ. of Clermont) for his help on the scientific text
With the contribution of:
GEOTHIRA
George Pehlivanides hands-on.studio
Research & Art Direction, Branding, UX/UI Design, Project Management
EContent Systems
Web-Mobile-Digital Marketing Services
econtentsys.gr
Project Management: Aristides Batis
Mobile Development: Agiomavritis Marios
Web Development: Elmousian George
Paraskevi Nomikou
Artemia Argirou
Artemis Tomai
Alexandros Arapantonis
Joseph Perros
Stavroula Kazana
ETH Zurich https://ba.e-pics.ethz.ch/main/galleryview/qsr=Santorin%201925 (Copyright notice: ETH-Bibliothek Zurich, Bildarchiv/Fotograf:Wehli, Leo/Dia_247-11130/CC BY-SA 4.0)
GAPfilmingteam, George Petropoulos, Andreas Petropoulos
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Hooft, E.E.E., Heath, B.A., Toomey, D.R., Paulatto, M., Papazachos, C.B., Nomikou, P., Morgan, J.V., Warner, M.R. (2019). Seismic imaging of Santorini: Subsurface constraints on caldera collapse and present-day magma recharge, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 514, 48-61, ISSN 0012-821X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.02.033.
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Karátson, D., Telbisz, T., Gertisser, R., Strasser, T., Nomikou, P., Druitt, T., Vereb, V., Quidelleur, X., Kósik, S. (2020). Constraining the landscape of Late Bronze Age Santorini prior to the Minoan eruption: Insights from volcanological, geomorphological and archaeological findings, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 106911, 104, ISSN 0377-0273, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2020.106911.
Karátson, D., Gertisser, R.,Telbisz, T., Vereb, V., Quidelleur, X.,Druitt, T.H., Nomikou, P. & Kósik, S. (2018). Towards reconstruction of the lost Late Bronze Age intra-caldera island of Santorini, Greece, Scientific Reports volume 8.
Karátson, D., Telbisz, T., Gertisser, R., Strasser, T., Nomikou, P., Druitt, T., Vereb, V., Quidelleur, X., Kósik, S. (2020). Constraining the landscape of Late Bronze Age Santorini prior to the Minoan eruption: Insights from volcanological, geomorphological and archaeological findings, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Volume 401, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2020.106911.
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McVey, B.G., Hooft, E.E.E., Heath, B.A., Toomey, D.R., Paulatto, M., Morgan, J.V., Nomikou, P. Papazachos, C.B. (2020). Magma accumulation beneath Santorini volcano, Greece, from P-wave tomography, Geology, 48 (3): 231–235, doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G47127.1
Nomikou, P., Papanikolaou, D., Alexandri, M., Sakellariou, D., Rousakis, G. (2013). Submarine volcanoes along the Aegean volcanic arc, Tectonophysics 597-598: 123-146
Nomikou, P., Parks, M.M., Papanikolaou, D., Pyle, D.M., Mather, T.A., Carey, S., Watts, A.B., Paulatto, M., Kalnins, M.L., Livanos, I., Bejelou, K., Simou, E., Perros, I. (2014). The emergence and growth of a submarine volcano: the Kameni islands, Santorini (Greece), Geo. Res. J. 1–2, 8–18.
Nomikou, P., Druitt, T. H., Hübscher, C., Mather, T.A, Paulatto, M., Kalnins, L.M., Kelfoun, K., Papanikolaou, D., Bejelou, K., Lampridou, D., Pyle, D.M., Carey, S., Watts A.B, Weiß, B. & Parks, M.M. (2016). Post-eruptive flooding of Santorini caldera and implications for tsunami generation. Nat Commun 7, 13332
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Parks, M.M., Biggs, J., England, P., Mather, T.A., Nomikou, P., Palamartchouk, K., Papanikolaou, X., Paradissis, D., Parsons, B., Pyle, D.M., Raptakis, C., Zacharis, V. (2012). Evolution of Santorini Volcano dominated by episodic and rapid fluxes of melt from depth, Nat.Geosci., 5(10), 749–54.
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how to contact us
1. by email
2. by phone
3. visiting Santorini
of Nea Kameni Volcano
www.geothira.gr
E-mail: geothira@gmail.com
Administration: +30 (0)22860 23021
