In the Aegean sea there is a small group of Islands of volcanic origin in the form of a ring, called Santorini (Thira). In ancient times there was a single island with a rounded shape, called, probably, Strongyle, which was located in the middle of a huge mountain with a height of 1, 5 km from an active volcano.

Approximately 3500 years ago there was a powerful eruption of the volcano (up to 7 points), which is considered the largest in the history of the earth. A tremendous explosion has resulted in the crater of the volcano formed a huge hollow space, the walls of which collapsed under its own weight, and formed a huge Caldera (diameter of 14 km, and the height of the walls in some places reaches up to 400 m). Caldera was flooded waters of the Aegean sea. The surface of the earth, not gone under the water, was covered with volcanic lava and ash, traces of which were also found on the island of Crete, the coastal areas of North Africa and Asia Minor. Assume that the local residents had to leave the island, because during excavations near Akrotiri was not found unburied human remains and any gold and other valuable items.

Volcanic blast was triggered by also a powerful tsunami with a height of 100 m, which covered the Northern coast of Crete and destroyed many settlements of the Aegean basin and the Mediterranean coast. After that the Minoan civilization was on the decline, although, according to some reports, some time still existed.

There is also the hypothesis that the eruption of Santorini volcano and resulted in the death of the legendary Atlantis. Reliable evidence for this currently exists.

Today, the volcano Thira (Santorini) is at rest, but, nevertheless, remains valid. The last strong earthquake shook the island of Santorini in 1956.