Santorini

SantoriniThe volcanic eruptionSTUDENTS: , , , ,

One of the largest eruptions over the last 10 thousand years was the one that took place in Santorini, Greece in 1650 BC. The amount of magma which was removed was so great that the volcano itself collapsed, creating a caldera. It was this eruption that probably caused the end of the Minoan civilisation on the island of Crete.

Santorini is a circular group of islands (Thera, Therasia, Aspronisi and the central Klemeni islands) which belongs to the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. Its location is midway between mainland Greece t the west, Turkey to the east and the island of Crete to the south .

When the volcano erupted, Akrotiri, a Minoan city on the southern part of Thera, was buried under the ground. It is now being excavated. The residents appear to have successfully evacuated the island prior to the eruption. No bodies have been found in the ash like those at Pompeii. Archaeologists have also reported that movable objects had been taken from the city.

IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME (A STORY)Once upon a time, a very long time ago, a group of 4 friends, Hermione, Alexander, Penelope and Odysseus were walking up one of Santorini`s beautiful hilltops to admire the best of sunsets.

Little did they know what was about to happen. And what was about to happen would change not only their lives but it would also mean the end of the Minoan civilization.

Suddenly, as they were admiring the unforgettable colours of the sunset high up on a hilltop, they heard a strange noise: a loud rumble. Then they saw red lava pouring out of the volcano. Ash Fire Heat Fear were the 4 words that described what they saw and how they felt. Hermione was shocked, Penelope was screaming, Alexander couldn`t move, he was petrified, and fortunately only Odysseus remained calm.

No matter what each of the 4 friends felt or did one thing was sure; what they saw, sensed and felt would never be forgotten by them. Then Odysseus thought that the best way to escape from that destructive phenomenon was to take a boat to go to Athens, and thats exactly what happened. They had witnessed one of the worst and biggest volcanic eruptions of the world in 1650 BC.

THEY WERE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!