Santorini Island, Greece, 3-11 May 2019 Fascination Volcano tour photos
Impressions from our geologic walking tour on Santorini during 3-11 May 2019:
Chapel in Akrotiri (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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On 4 May, the atmosphere is exceptionally clear and Crete in more than 120 km distance can be seen e... [info]
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Looking SSW, the still snow-clad Psiloritis (2456 m, Mt Ida) massif, is visible. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffe... [info]
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The next morning (5 May), wind is quickly picking up from the SE, scirocco. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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It quickly develops into a dust storm with gales of up to 9-10 Beaufort. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A dark cloud deck races over the island, while the morning sun finds a brief gab beneath it from the... [info]
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No boat trips to "Red beach, White beach, Black beach" today... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A good time to visit the sheltered excavations of the Bronze-Age town nearby. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Often called the "Pompeii of the Bronze Age", it was buried, and hence preserved, under a thick pumi... [info]
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Partially collapsed wall of a multi-story house. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Large windows of an apparently important building. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We drive to the caldera rim to have a look; in the lee side, the water is calm beneath the reddish c... [info]
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The Sahara dust in the air filters the sunset pale yellow. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View of the caldera cliffs near Balos. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The next day, the storm has passed and we're in the backside of the front with still strong now west... [info]
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Fira town perched on the caldera rim. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View of Fira from Firostefani, with the highest peak Profitis Ilias mountain in the background. (Pho... [info]
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Due to the strong winds, no cruise ships have arrived and no excursions depart from the old port of ... [info]
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Ruin of a house destroyed during the 1956 earthquake in Firostefani. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View of the caldera towards Skaros from Firostefani. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Agios Theodoros church in Firostefani with its iconic blue dome is probably THE most photographed bu... [info]
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In the background, the black lavas of Nea Kameni can be seen. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Dome decorations. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Playing with the wind. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View of Mikro Profitis Ilias mountain. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Wind decreases on 7 May, but swell of the sea remains impressive, creating nice rolling long waves. ... [info]
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The waves on the south shore are perfect for sea kayak surfing, as a skillful rider demonstrates in ... [info]
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Today, we visit the impressive caldera near Megalochori. The upper white layer is the deposit from t... [info]
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View over the caldera from above Athinios where the Venetsanos Winery is located. (Photo: Tom Pfeiff... [info]
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Tables wait for bus loads of tourists to taste wine during the daily tours... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We continue along the caldera, reaching the area of Plaka Bay. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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In this part of the caldera, the western end of the pre-volcanic island composed of metamorphic schi... [info]
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Wide-angle view over the southern caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Old farmland at Plaka Bay (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Shoreline of Plaka Bay (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Weekend homes at Plaka (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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An impressive succession of pyroclastic layers representing about 400,000 years of volcanic history ... [info]
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Closer view of the exposed tuff layers in the Plaka cliff. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Visitors arriving from Crete in the huge speed catamaran ferry. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View down to the small boat shelter at Plaka. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The Greek flag in the wind (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Last view down to Plaka (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We descend to the caldera in the Christos Bay, dominated by a massive red layer of the approx. 400,0... [info]
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Large concrete structures have recently been placed into the shallow sea terrace, presumably in prep... [info]
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Detail of the red volcanic rock. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The century-old cave church of Christos is one of the most remarkable cave buildings on Santorini. (... [info]
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The waves create a strong rip current dragging out floating pumice. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The area was formerly used as a spa, as there are (now buried) warm volcanic springs. (Photo: Tom Pf... [info]
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Examining a small outcrop of hydrothermally altered schists and an unknown ancient pumice deposit. (... [info]
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Waves crashing onto the beach. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The beach is mostly black pebbles. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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After returning to the caldera rim, we later reach the abandoned Mavromais pumice quarry. (Photo: To... [info]
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Examining the base layers of the Minoan pumice. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Large quantities of pumice had been extracted from the quarry during the late 19th and last century.... [info]
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Exposed ash layers approx. 40,000 years old. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Fossile leaves can be found in the volcanic ash. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The quarry also contains important archeological remains. Here, ruins of pre-Minoan houses were foun... [info]
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Group examining the remaining walls of the houses which are at least 4000 years old. (Photo: Tom Pfe... [info]
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The quarry has some of the most beautiful exposures of the 21,000 years-old "Red" or "Cape Riva" ign... [info]
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We leave the quarry on a moderately difficult trail along the caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The Cape Riva ignimbrite forms a platform in the southern part of the island. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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In southern Thera, the Cape Riva ignimbrite is directly overlain by the 1600 BC pumice. (Photo: Tom ... [info]
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We continue our hike along the caldera and soon reach Akrotiri. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Where the sea has calmed down a little more, but only the braver ones go swimming. (Photo: Tom Pfeif... [info]
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Others enjoy the views of the evening sun over the deep blue sea. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The beige pumice cliffs of Vlihada in the background. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Rolling waves. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Nicely breaking waves. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Time for aperitif at the hotel! (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View from near my room over the Sea of Crete. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Waves (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Waves (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Waves curving around the headland (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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9 May is a perfect day for a boat tour to the volcanic islands. We pass the cliffs near Balos. (Phot... [info]
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And reach the area of Cape Loumaravi, where ancient volcanic tuffs have been altered to turn into gr... [info]
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A large portion of the cliff here is composed by the white volcanic tuffs from the early phase of th... [info]
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View of the pumice fall and pyroclastic flow layer of the Lower Pumice 1 eruption about 200,000 year... [info]
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We reach the strait between Palea (l) and Nea Kameni (r). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Palea Kameni is cut on this side, probably due to a partial collapse in 1492 AD, exposing the interi... [info]
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Climbing Nea Kameni, we pass the Daphne craters from the 1925-28 eruption. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Temperature monitoring device at the Georgios crater (1866 eruption). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Volcanic gas monitoring device and anemometer (wind metering) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Sample of a rock covered by oxides and pure sulphur crystals from near an active fumarole. (Photo: T... [info]
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View towards Palea Kameni (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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On Sostis'boat. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Buoy of "pirates" (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Nea Kameni's secret hot spring bay. Underwater springs deposit iron in the water, green at the botto... [info]
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Agios Nikolaos and the hot spring bay of Palea Kameni seen from above with Nea Kameni island in the ... [info]
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Colored water due to underwater hydrothermal sources. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The small lake on the lava field of the 726 AD eruption on Palea Kameni. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Platy lavas abund on Palea Kameni. Similar lavas were used in ancient times for pavements. (Photo: T... [info]
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Some of Sostis'pigs. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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More common tourists hang around in the bay. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Plato, Sostis'dog, won't let anyone unauthorized disturb the home. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Agios Nikolas chapel on Palea Kameni. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Sostis'wonderful boat, the best on Santorini for such excursions. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Clear and calm evening mood at the hotel. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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10 May. We have climbed the Profitis Ilias mountain and look down over the entire island with its ca... [info]
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View of part of Pirgos village. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Terraces farmland on the slopes of the mountain near Pirgos. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Alternative engineering. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Marina posing as scale near a preserved ballistic impact from during the Minoan eruption. Such block... [info]
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On our trail towards the summit (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The trail leading towards Mesa Vouno. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Views are not extremely clear today. Anafi Island can be barely seen on the southeastern horizon. (P... [info]
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Old farmland terraces near the summit of Profitis Ilias. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Karst effects (chemical erosion of limestone/marble) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Mesa Vouno mountain with the access road from Kamari. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Ancient decorated grave monument. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Red poppies inside the archeological site of Ancient Thera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Remains of the ancient market area (agora) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Ancient house with atrium (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Daisies growing everywhere between the ruins. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View towards Profitis Ilias mountain. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Field of red poppies and the sea (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Early christian basilica. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View of Kamari (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The ancient trail descending towards Kamari. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Ancient ruins and modern buildings above them... (Perissa) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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