Santorini

One of the most intriguing features of Santorini's geology are isolated blocks of marine limestone which can be found in the northern part of the main island. A close look (see the two pictures below) clearly reveals that the contain masses of stromatolites, a limestone deposited by marine algae.

It i snow clear that these block were ejected from the northern caldera basin during theGgreat Minoan Eruption (1600p BC). Radiocarbon dating of the blocks indicates that they formed around 10'000 years ago in an at least partially seawater-filled caldera. Therefore, the Minoan Eruption may well have modified the shape of a previous caldera, but a caldera clearly must have existed already then.