The small, circular group of volcanic islands of Santorini, is the southern most of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea, and is located 200 km southeast of the Greek mainland. It has an area of just 73 sq km and an estimated population of 13,600.
The island was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the last several thousand years. The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times. The island itself owes its very existence to the volcano, though what remains of it today is just a water filled caldera. The island is one of the most picturesque islands of Greece, and is actually the rim of the gigantic sunken volcano.
The island differs from other islands in the group thanks to its geological morphology which is the result of the now dormant volcano. Santorini’s famous beaches with their black shining pebbles, white, red and black sand, and unique land formations make for unforgettable scenery.
The 2 small islands in the center of the Santorini caldera, Palea and Nea Kameni, are the youngest volcanic lands in the Eastern Mediterranean. Palea Kameni (Old Burnt Island) is less than 2,000 years old, while Nea Kameni (Young Burnt Island) began to form only 425 years ago and its youngest lavas are less than 50 years old. These 2 islands represent the volcano's most recent activity.