The great crater
Hissing sulphur, warm gravel โ a live volcano.
Bernard Gagnon โ CC BY-SA 3.0 ยท Holger Uwe Schmitt โ CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Holger Uwe Schmitt โ CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Holger Uwe Schmitt โ CC BY-SA 4.0
Scientifically watched around the clock, tours halting at any activity โ today's action is vent-breath, no more. For energetic over-sixes it is a lifetime adventure (a real volcano!) โ the exposed gravel climb is the judge: trainers, water, and no pushchairs.
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Nea Kameni is the caldera's living heart: the black island at the basin's centre is the crater of the volcano that made all Santorini โ child of successive eruptions (latest 1950) and still breathing: vents hissing sulphur, warmth your hand finds in the gravel. It is visited by boat tours from the old port (beneath Fira's cable car): landing, then the volcanic gravel path to the great crater (25-30 exposed climbing minutes โ closed shoes, water and hat obligatory) with a view circling the caldera basin and its coloured walls from inside โ the angle land never gives. Tours usually complete with Palea Kameni: swimming the orange sulphur hot springs off the boat (an old swimsuit โ sulphur dyes) โ and longer versions stretch the day with Thirasia and sunset. The island's small landing fee is usually paid separately at the jetty.
Hissing sulphur, warm gravel โ a live volcano.
The basin's coloured walls in full circle.
Swimming the warm orange off the boat.
Nea Kameni, mid-caldera