Santorini - Greece

Ferries to Santorini - Thira: http://www.ferriesgreekislands.com/ferries-cyclades/ferries-thira/

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece's mainland. The largest island is known as Thēra (or Thira, Greek Θήρα [ˈθira]), forming the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km2 (28 sq mi) and a 2001 census population of 13,670. It is composed of the Municipality of Thira (pop. 12,440) and the Community of Oía (Οία, pop. 1,230, which includes 268 inhabitants resident on the offshore island of Therasia, lying to the west). These have a total land area of 90.623 km2 (34.990 sq mi), which also includes the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiana (all part of the Municipality of Thira).

Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera.

A giant central lagoon, more or less rectangular, and measuring about 12 by 7 km (7.5 by 4.3 mi), is surrounded by 300 m (980 ft) high steep cliffs on three sides. The island slopes downward from the cliffs to the surrounding Aegean Sea. On the fourth side, the lagoon is separated from the sea by another much smaller island called Therasia; the lagoon merges with the sea in two places, in the northwest and southwest. The water in the centre of the lagoon is nearly 400 m (1,300 ft) deep, thus making it a safe harbour for all kinds of shipping. The island's harbours all lie in the lagoon and there are no ports on the outer perimeter of the island; the capital, Fira, clings to the top of the cliff looking down on the lagoon. The volcanic rocks present from the prior eruptions feature olivine and have a notably small presence of hornblende.[1]

It is the most active volcanic centre in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, though what remains today is chiefly a water-filled caldera. The volcanic arc is approximately 500 km long and 20-40 km wide. The region first became volcanically active around 3-4 million years ago though volcanism on Thera began around 2 million years ago with the extrusion of dacitic lavas from vents around the region of Akrotiri.

The island is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the Minoan eruption (sometimes called the Thera eruption), which occurred some 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of feet deep and may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (68 mi) to the south, through the creation of a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend of Atlantis.

The name Santorini was given to it by the Latin empire in the thirteenth century, and is a reference to Saint Irene. Before then it was known as Kallístē, or Thēra.
( source Wikipedia )

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[CostasTechGeek]

Who can dislike this? This is why Greece is what everyone wants...

[Elladamakedona]

so proud about my country !!!!

[bestgamerX]

@Elladamakedona Kai ego episis.(Greek) Me too (English)

[Reliique]

Been there. lovely place! A must visit!

[jok3rakos]

@Elladamakedona einai so proud of my vountry vre! ;)

[Emopanda00]

Ohh santorini I was stationed in Crete which is beautiful but I took my gf at the time to santorini and it was by far the mist beautiful place I have ever seen if you wish to go there save up and go it makes me smile each and everytime I think about it. Also if you want to see another beautiful island that's not far from it go to naxxos. Amazing

[byJessCh]

@MrDennisCabilla It doesn't have trees because it's a volcanic island. Flowers and grass can't grow there. But it's beautiful island, the buildings make it nice, i've been in Oia 2 times.

[riperichriselias7411]

@MrDennisCabilla santorini is not a ugly island.. have you ever been there? probably not. 

[ummam79hotmail]

very beautiful!!!! I wish I was there.

[pmay222]

spectacular but not for mee... i love a greek island with olive and lemon groves, sandy beaches.... tropical trees..turtles...  this is like a colony on a distant planet.. too volcanic and rocky... you can keep this... yassou

[MrDennisCabilla]

very ugly island no trees at all it like a desert

[pvolkspvolks]

Was there a few years back and long to return. This place is arguably the most beautiful place in the world and as breathtaking as any of these images may be they completely fall short of what it feels like to be there.