21st Annual Student Research Conference
Greek Volcanic Mysteries: The Geology of the Island of Santorini
Shelley R. Coffman
Dr. Steven Reschly and Prof. Martha L. Rose, Faculty Mentors
Santorini holds a beauty that many do not get the chance to realize. My paper focuses on the volcanic mysteries surrounding the creation of the island and the destruction of an entire civilization, a civilization that may hold the secret to the lost city of Atlantis. The Minoan eruption of 1613 left a deep impact on the shape of the island, creating a caldera in the center. The Kameni Islands in the middle of the caldera reveal how active Santorini is. Although the last eruption, which occurred on Nea Kameni, was in 1950, the volcanic structure still emits gases through fumaroles. Santorini is the only active volcanic center in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. Whether Santorini will have another series of volcanic eruptions we may never know, but the island will continue to change and attract thousands of visitors.
Keywords: volcanoes, Santorini, Greece, geology, Greek islands, volcanic eruptions, Greek geology
Topic(s):Study Abroad
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 56-1
Location: OP 2111
Time: 2:45