Tsunamis Observed on the Coasts of Greece from Antiquity to Present Time

Abstract

In comparison with the great number of disastrous earthquakeswhich have occurred from antiquity to the present time in Greece, largetsunamis are very rare on the coasts of Greece. A really great tsunamimay have started in the Aegean Sea after the tremendous explosion ofSantorin volcano, which occurred 3370 ± 100 years ago (13). After thedeposit of a layer of pumice 20-30 m thick and the emptying of thevolcanic focus, the roof of the cavern thus formed collapsed. Thecentrai part, consisting of an area of 83 sq km, of the former islandStronghyb tlius became a gigantic caldera 300-400 m deep.Tliere is no evidence indicating whether the cobapse took placegraduaby or ab at once. In the second case a huge tsunami should havestarted greater by far than that generated by the explosion of Krakatoa,on August 27, 1883. At that time depths of 200-300 m were formed bythe sinking (24) of 2/3 of the former island of an area of 33 1/2 sq km.Thus the cavity formed by the explosion of Santorin is about 4 timesgreater than that of the Krakatoa.