Volcanic eruptionsThe island itself owes its very existence to the volcano. The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times. The last huge eruption of the volcano dates back 3,600 years (17th century B.C.), to the late bronze age.
What is so special about the landscape of Santorini?
The best example of Santorini's geography is the world-famous caldera, which is strongly related to the island's history. Circular in shape, it is entirely filled with water. In fact, it is the only sunken caldera in the world and resembles a lagoon, as the water depth is approximately 400 meters.
How was Santorini formed?
Prior to 1620 BC, the island of Santorini, now known as Thera, was built up by layers of lava created by overlapping shield volcanoes, and it had experienced three significant eruptions that formed overlapping calderas, or collapsed magma chambers.
Why is Santorini so unique?
Its wild volcanic landscape, rugged cliffs, wild nature, and beautiful shores, combined with its rich history and traditions, make the island the gem of Greece. Santorini got its current half-moon shape around 1,650 BC after a huge volcanic eruption.
Is Santorini as nice as it looks?
Featuring the remarkable volcanic feature, Caldera and stunning sunsets, Santorini is a must-visit island gifted with exceptional natural beauty and awe-inspiring attractions.
Why are Santorini houses domed?
Back in the day, the low cost of cave houses made them perfect dwellings for the poorer inhabitants. At first, they were dug either entirely or partially into the volcanic rock and had narrow, dome-covered facades and windows in varying shapes and sizes that brought natural light into the living rooms.
How did Santorini look before?
Over the past five millennia, Santorini has changed shape drastically. It wasn't always a volcano. Back when Africa and Europe were still connected, there was a piece of land in the Aegean Sea called “Aigiida.” The land slowly started to fragment and sink, leaving only a few islands peeking out of the water.
Why are buildings in Santorini white?
The white color reflects the biggest part of the dazzling light, preventing the houses from getting warm and that was a basic goal of the traditional architecture. Making the houses heat resistant, the summers are much more tolerable and pleasant.
Why is Santorini shaped the way it is?
Why is Santorini so blue?
Well, the Mediterranean Sea is a little similar. It is lacking in a number of nutrients that lead to plant growth in other seas and oceans (causing that more familiar green-brown colour that is so unattractive), and as such it retains its wonderful blue hue.
Why are the roofs curved in Santorini?
It mainly had to do with construction reasons. Domes in general are one of the first structural forms humans worked with in stone architecture. Spherical domes are used in Greece from appx. 5,800 BC.
Why are roofs blue in Santorini?
The reason behind this color choice has to do with practicality. In the old times, Greek housewives would use a cleaning agent called loulaki (blue powder in English) which came in the form of talcum powder. It was widely and cheaply available across Greece.
Why is Santorini white and blue?
It was not until 1967, that these two colors became a mandatory choice when the Junta, a right-wing military dictatorship mandated that all buildings must be painted or repainted to white and blue. The regime believed that this measure would inspire patriotism and reflect nationalism.
Can you drink Santorini tap water?
Technically, Santorini's tap water is safe to drink. However, it's also brackish, and the water supply system itself isn't always reliable. Single-use water bottles are popular in Santorini, but terrible for the environment.
Why cant you drink the water on Santorini?
But because the drinking water is ocean water that has passed through desalination plants prior to reaching your tap, many people report that the water tastes brackish and salty. In fact, this is probably why so many places in Santorini's hospitality industry offer water bottles instead.
Why are all the houses white in Santorini?
The white color reflects the biggest part of the dazzling light, preventing the houses from getting warm and that was a basic goal of the traditional architecture. Making the houses heat resistant, the summers are much more tolerable and pleasant.
Can you flush toilet paper in Santorini?
Santorini » Articles » Can you flush toilet paper in Santorini? No, in Santorini you cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet bowl. As with most places in Greece, toilet paper cannot be flushed down the toilet. You should place the used toilet paper into a special trash bin located next to it.