With its romantic sunsets, dazzling ocean views, and whitewashed buildings clinging to rocky clifftops, the Greek island of Santorini (aka Thera or Thira) is the very picture of an idyll in the Aegean. But this tranquil scene belies the island"s explosive geologic history, for this is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. The Minoan eruption, about 3,600 years ago, caused the center of the Thera volcano to collapse into the ocean, leaving Santorini a jagged, crescent-shaped moon atop the sea.
Santorini through the clouds
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Palace of Westminster, London, England
-
Make your list and check it twice
-
The puffin-rabbit connection
-
Its Halfway Day!
-
Plate ice along Lake Superior, Grand Marais, Minnesota
-
Illuminating Annecy
-
Atolls in the Maldives
-
Tower Bridge, London, England
-
A bridge of Madison County
-
Virgin Islands National Park established
-
The Unfinished Obelisk near Aswan, Egypt
-
The Hermitage of Santa Justa
-
Mexican giant cardon cactus
-
Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
-
Gem State views
-
Pamukkale, Turkey
-
Juvenile sunbittern displaying at nest, Ecuador
-
Grandparents Day
-
National Trails Day
-
Are you older than this lake?
-
I see one!
-
Presidents Day
-
Ruins of St. Dwynwens Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales
-
Not your average sandcastle
-
Beyond Walls for World Refugee Day
-
Champaka Sarasi, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India
-
World Population Day
-
American bison, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
-
World Philosophy Day
-
Happy Panda Day!
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

