"Santorini - An Island Paradise you want to visit!" Santorini Island by dlytle

Everyone talks about going on a cruise to the Greek Isles. Why?

Well, Santorini is a mighty good reason as far as I am concerned!

The present island of Thira has had a violent and dramatic history. The island is at the cusp of two tectonically active plates. When these two plates move, earthquakes and eruptions are generated The gigantic eruption in 1625 B.C. caused the deaths of all of the islands inhabitants resulting in the island remaining uninhabited for 300 years. This eruption also caused the destruction of the ancient Minoan Civilization. A 650 foot tall (200 m) tidal wave (tsunami) from the eruption of Thira reached as far as the coast of Crete. The volcano’s blast was heard in the Scandinavian countries and Asia Minor while volcanic ash from this eruption has been found in California, Greenland and Ireland.

Many earthquakes followed that same year, which caused the 3,000 foot crater to collapse inwards and break the central and western parts of the island in 5 different pieces allowing water to fill in and create the present day Caldera.

Santorini now has a crescent shape surrounding the black volcanic islands lying in the bay. What was once the island of Thira sank to the bottom of the caldera in the apocalyptic explosion in 1625 B.C. Today’s lagoon-like caldera measures 32 square miles and is up to 1,300 feet (400 m) deep. In the center of the caldera are Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.

The image most widely associated with Santorini is the cliff-hanging, white-colored town of Oia. Oia hosts the most magnificent views on Santorini. One can take a cable car from the harbour up to the town or walk the 556 steps or take a mule ride up those same steps.

This is a fabulous place that you simply must visit as soon as possible. It is also the most sought after marriage and honeymoon location in the world.