Santorini is a volcano part of the Cyclades chain of islands. In the 16th century BC, a devastating eruption hit where the entire half of the island fell into the ocean. With this large part of the island cut off, the geologic cross section is marvelous. A six foot wide strip of basalt sits on top of a ten foot strip of pumice and then an iron-red volcanic rock is on top. It is very beautiful. This part of Greece is highly volcanic as it is the convergence point of two tectonic plates. Much like Mykonos, the towns are very compact and maze-like. The main two towns are Fira and Oia. They also have the white buildings with blue roofs. Supposedly millions of tourists visit Santorini per year. As we were visiting at the end of the season, not many tourists were present. The side of the island that didn't fall into the ocean is a fertile plain where they grow produce and most notably their special grape. The vines are coiled into a circle on the ground so that the grapes are protected from the strong northern wind.
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