🌋VolcanoAtlas

Santorini Volcano

The Caldera That Ended the Bronze Age

Elevation

367 m

Last Eruption

1950

Type

Shield volcano / Caldera complex

Country

Greece

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows and surges
  • Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
  • Ash fall and tephra deposits
  • Lahars and debris flows

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity76 years agoHistoricalRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Normal
No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

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body of water during daytime

Segun Famisa

via Unsplash

a view of a body of water from the top of a hill

Daniel Bernal

via Unsplash

brown and beige road

Anna Sullivan

via Unsplash

a large body of water surrounded by mountains

Daniel Bernal

via Unsplash

a view of the ocean from the top of a mountain

Daniel Bernal

via Unsplash

a couple of people walking down a street next to a body of water

Evelina Guralivu

via Unsplash

Interesting Facts

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The Minoan eruption of Santorini (~1610 BCE) ejected an estimated 28–41 km³ of dense-rock equivalent material, making it one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the past 10,000 years and comparable in scale to Tambora's 1815 eruption.

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Santorini's flooded caldera — 7.5 × 11 km and up to 400 m deep — was formed by at least four major collapse events over 180,000 years, each triggered by a catastrophic eruption.

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The eruption column of the Minoan eruption reached 30–35 km into the stratosphere and generated tsunamis estimated at 35 to 150 m in height that devastated the coast of Crete 110 km away.

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No human remains have been found at the Akrotiri archaeological site, suggesting that the population successfully evacuated before the Minoan eruption — making it one of the earliest known examples of a large-scale volcanic evacuation.

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A 2024 study of seafloor sediment cores revealed a previously unknown eruption 520,000 years ago that was 15 times more powerful than the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption — potentially the largest eruption in the history of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc.

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The Kameni islands at the center of Santorini's caldera did not exist before 197 BCE — they were built entirely by post-Minoan eruptions over the past 2,200 years.

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The term 'Plinian eruption' — named for Pliny the Younger's description of Vesuvius in 79 AD — also applies to the Minoan eruption, which occurred more than 1,600 years before Pliny's famous account.

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Santorini's Minoan eruption tephra serves as a critical archaeological marker horizon across the entire Eastern Mediterranean, used to synchronize chronologies from Egypt to Anatolia.

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The submarine volcano Kolumbo, just 7 km northeast of Santorini, erupted explosively in 1650 (VEI 5) and killed approximately 70 people on Santorini through toxic gas emissions.

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Recent research (2025) showed the 726 AD eruption was 10 to 100 times more powerful than previously estimated, comparable to the Hunga Tonga eruption of 2022.

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Santorini receives over 2 million tourists per year, with peak daily populations exceeding 70,000 — creating one of the most acute volcanic evacuation challenges in the world.

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Grapes grown on Santorini's volcanic tephra soil — particularly the Assyrtiko variety — are trained in unique basket-shaped 'kouloura' formations to protect against wind, producing internationally acclaimed wines from volcanic terroir.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santorini an active volcano?
Yes, Santorini is classified as an active volcano. In volcanological terms, any volcano that has erupted during the Holocene epoch (the past 11,700 years) is considered active, and Santorini has erupted 11 times in the past 3,600 years, most recently in 1950. The Kameni islands at the center of the flooded caldera are the visible summit of the active volcanic system, which continues to produce fumarolic gases and periodic seismic unrest. A significant episode of magma intrusion in 2011–2012 caused measurable ground inflation and thousands of small earthquakes, and renewed seismic activity in early 2025 generated public concern. Scientists consider future eruptions at the Kameni center to be inevitable, though the timing remains unpredictable.
When did Santorini last erupt?
Santorini's most recent eruption occurred from January 10 to February 2, 1950, when a small lava dome (the Liatsikas dome) and lava flow emerged on Nea Kameni island at the center of the caldera. The eruption was a low-intensity VEI 2 event with mild explosive activity. This was the last in a cluster of four 20th-century eruptions (1925, 1928, 1939–1941, and 1950) that progressively enlarged Nea Kameni. Since 1950, the volcano has remained in a state of fumarolic repose with periodic episodes of seismic unrest, the most notable being the 2011–2012 magma intrusion event.
What was the Minoan eruption of Santorini?
The Minoan eruption was a catastrophic VEI 7 volcanic event that occurred around 1610 BCE, making it one of the largest explosive eruptions in human history. The eruption ejected an estimated 28–41 km³ of material, created an eruption column reaching 30–35 km into the stratosphere, and generated tsunamis up to 150 m high that devastated the coastline of Crete 110 km away. The eruption buried the prosperous Cycladic-Minoan town of Akrotiri under meters of pumice and ash, preserving it in remarkable detail for modern archaeologists. The event formed Santorini's current caldera and may have contributed to the decline of the Minoan civilization, one of the Bronze Age Mediterranean's most advanced societies.
Is Santorini the lost city of Atlantis?
The connection between Santorini and Plato's legend of Atlantis is one of the most popular hypotheses in classical archaeology, but it remains speculative and unproven. Proponents point to compelling parallels: a powerful island civilization destroyed suddenly by a cataclysm and partially submerged beneath the sea. The Minoan civilization, centered on Crete and with a major settlement on Santorini (Akrotiri), was a sophisticated maritime power that was catastrophically affected by the volcanic eruption. However, significant discrepancies exist — Plato placed Atlantis beyond the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) and described it as far larger than any Aegean island. Most scholars treat the Atlantis story as philosophical allegory rather than historical reportage, though the Santorini connection remains a legitimate area of academic debate.
Could Santorini erupt again?
Yes, Santorini will almost certainly erupt again. The question is not whether but when and how large. Based on the post-Minoan eruption record, effusive to mildly explosive eruptions (VEI 2–3) at the Kameni center have occurred at intervals of decades to centuries — the current 75-year repose since 1950 is within normal range. A larger explosive event similar to the 726 AD eruption (recently upgraded in estimated magnitude) is considered possible on timescales of centuries. A repeat of the Minoan-scale VEI 7 eruption is considered extremely unlikely in the near future, as such caldera-forming events recur on timescales of 20,000–30,000 years, and only approximately 3,600 years have passed since the last one.
How tall is Santorini volcano?
The highest point on the Santorini caldera rim is Profitis Ilias at 567 m (1,860 ft), though this peak is composed of pre-volcanic metamorphic rock rather than volcanic material. The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists Santorini's volcanic elevation at 367 m (1,204 ft) on the caldera rim. The active volcanic center, Nea Kameni island, rises to only 128 m (420 ft) above sea level. However, the volcanic edifice extends approximately 400 m below sea level to the caldera floor, and the complete volcanic structure from its submarine base is far larger than the emergent islands suggest. Before the Minoan eruption, the island may have stood significantly higher, with the summit possibly exceeding 1,000 m.
Can you visit the volcano on Santorini?
Yes, visiting the Santorini volcano is one of the island's most popular tourist activities. Excursion boats depart regularly from Fira's old port, Athinios port, and Oia, taking visitors to Nea Kameni island at the center of the caldera. A guided walking trail (approximately 30–40 minutes each way) crosses dark lava fields to the summit crater, where active fumaroles emit sulfurous gases. Entry fees apply for the volcanic park. Most tours also include a stop at the Palea Kameni hot springs for swimming in volcanically heated seawater. Visitors should wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, bring sun protection and water, and be prepared for rough, unshaded terrain with no facilities. The excursion is moderately strenuous and not suitable for those with limited mobility.
What type of volcano is Santorini?
Santorini is classified as a shield volcano and caldera complex by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, though its structure is more nuanced than a single classification suggests. The island group consists of overlapping shield volcanoes that have been repeatedly cut by at least four caldera-forming explosive eruptions over the past 180,000 years. The currently active Kameni volcanic center — building lava domes within the flooded caldera — represents the early stages of a new constructive cycle. The dominant eruption styles range from effusive lava dome growth (as in the post-Minoan eruptions) to catastrophically explosive Plinian eruptions (as in the Minoan event), reflecting the range of magma compositions and volatile contents available in the system.
How big was the Minoan eruption compared to other eruptions?
The Minoan eruption of Santorini was a VEI 7 event — the second-highest level on the Volcanic Explosivity Index scale — ejecting an estimated 28–41 km³ of dense-rock equivalent material. This places it in the same category as Tambora's 1815 eruption (the largest confirmed eruption in recorded history at approximately 41 km³ DRE) and vastly larger than more recent famous eruptions: Krakatau 1883 (VEI 6, ~12 km³), Mount St. Helens 1980 (VEI 5, ~1 km³), and Pinatubo 1991 (VEI 6, ~5 km³). Only a handful of eruptions in the past 10,000 years have reached VEI 7, making the Minoan event one of the most powerful volcanic episodes in human history.
Is it safe to live on Santorini?
Santorini is considered safe for habitation under current conditions, though it carries inherent volcanic risk. The volcano is continuously monitored by Greek and international scientific agencies, and the current seismic and deformation data do not indicate an imminent eruption. However, Santorini is unquestionably an active volcanic system: it has erupted 11 times in 3,600 years, and future eruptions are considered certain. The primary safety challenges relate to evacuation logistics — the island's limited road network, single small airport, and port capacity could be severely strained during a volcanic emergency, especially during the tourist season when daily populations can exceed 70,000 people. Greek civil protection authorities maintain emergency plans, and the monitoring network is designed to provide advance warning of increased volcanic activity.