Volcanic Eruptions

The last big eruption occurred 3,600 years ago (during the Minoan Age) when igneous material (mainly ash, pumice, and lava stones) covered the three islands (Thira, Thirassia, and Aspronissi). The eruption destroyed the thriving local prehistoric civilization, evidence of which was found during the excavations of a settlement at Akrotiri. The solid material and gases emerging from the volcano’s interior created a huge “vacuum” underneath, causing the collapse of the central part and the creation of an enormous “pot” –today’s Caldera– with a size of 8×4 km and a depth of up to 400m below sea level.
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