The volcanic islands of Kos & Nisyros

The Island of Kos is part of one of the biggest volcano calderas in Europe. There was a explosion of the Kos volcano many times larger than the one that happened at Santorini in Minoan times. 140.000 years ago the south-western part of Kos was blown in the air by a huge eruption. Even today you can find thick layers of pumice and pyroclastic rocks on the island. The western part of Kos, the Kefalos peninsula is dominated by huge volcano domes. The islands of Strongyle, Yali and Nisyros are the today active centers of this volcano caldera. Nisyros is a small circular volcanic island around 30 km south of the island of Kos.
It is one of the most interesting active volcanoes of Greece.

Its last eruption (of hydrothermic character) took place in 1886 and it is certainly going to show activity in the future again. A strong increase of fumarole temperatures during the past years could even be a sign that renewed activity might well occur in the not-so-far future (months - few years). Nisyros is not only highly interesting from a geological point of view, but it is also in archaeological remains. In contrast to the Cyclades, the island is green. Its nature hosts treasures such as orchids, rare reptiles (e.g. agames). It is a unknown treasure: There are some valleys up in the mountains with ancient items that aren´t described yet. Even it seems to be a small island, there are many interesting places to be discovered. And the hospital people of Nisyros make it difficult to leave such a little paradise...