Nisyros Volcan
Updated: 2 mai 2025 16:52 GMT -
Stratovolcano, volcanic domes
Dodecanese Islands, Greece, 36.58°N / 27.17°E 

Summit height: 680 m
Condition actuelle: normal / en sommeil (1 sur 5)
Last update: 26 févr. 2025

Stephanos crater of Nisyros volcano
The small round island of Nisyros is one of the more active but less known volcanoes in Greece. It is located south of the popular beach holiday island of Kos.
The last eruption of Nisyros were phreatic explosions in 1881-87. They left a moonscape with colorful craters and very active fumaroles.
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Eruptions du volcan Nisyros: 1881-1887 - hydrothermic explosions of the crater "Micros Polyvotis"
1500 - hydrothermic explosions
1000-2000 B.C. - hydrothermic explosions of the crater "Stefanos"
5000-10.000 B.C. - hydrothermic eruptions of the Kaminakia craters
15.000-10.000 B.C. - building of postcalderic volcano domes
15.000 B.C. - effusive eruption of the central caldera of Nisyros ("Upper pumice")
25.000 B.C. - effusive eruption of the central caldera of Nisyros ("Lower pumice")
40.000-30.000 B.C. - effusive eruption ("Kira-Formation")
150.000 B.C. - first submarin eruptions
Derniers séismes proches
Date et l'heure | Mag / Prof. | Distance / Lieux | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 avril 11:36 (Temps Universel) | 1.6 21 km | 25 km au nord | ![]() | Info | |
30 avril 11:34 (Temps Universel) | 1.8 12 km | 7.4 km au nord-est | ![]() | Info | |
30 avril 00:44 (Temps Universel) | 0.0 118 km | 26 km à l'ouest | ![]() | Info | |
mardi, 29 avril 2025 GMT (1 séisme) | |||||
29 avril 09:34 (Temps Universel) | 1.9 15 km | 19 km au nord | ![]() | Info | |
dimanche, 27 avril 2025 GMT (1 séisme) | |||||
27 avril 23:29 (Athens) | 2.4 75 km | 20 km au sud-ouest | ![]() | Info | |
vendredi, 25 avril 2025 GMT (1 séisme) | |||||
25 avril 22:37 (Athens) | 2.7 113 km | 25 km au nord-ouest | ![]() | Info | |
jeudi, 24 avril 2025 GMT (1 séisme) | |||||
25 avril 02:41 (Athens) | 2.3 2 km | 17 km au sud-ouest | ![]() | Info | |
mercredi, 23 avril 2025 GMT (1 séisme) | |||||
23 avril 01:07 (Temps Universel) | 1.9 10 km | 4.4 km au sud | ![]() | Info | |
lundi, 21 avril 2025 GMT (1 séisme) | |||||
21 avril 15:32 (Temps Universel) | 2.0 10 km | 27 km au sud | ![]() | Info |
Introduction
Nisyros volcano is part of the Hellenic Arc, a curved line of volcanic centers caused by the subduction zone where the African tectonic plate sinks under under the Aegean microplate, which in turn is part of the larger Eurasian tectonic plate. The arc stretches from the Saronic Gulf opposite Athens via the island groups of Milos, Santorini, and Nisyros-Yali-Kos to the Bodrum peninsula at the extreme SW of Turkey.Together with the volcanoes of the Kos caldera, Nisyros forms the most important volcanic center of the eastern section of the Hellenic arc.
Nisyros volcano itself is the most recently active part of the Kos caldera, which had formed during a massive ultra-plinian eruption approx. 150.000 years ago. Nisyros, Yali, Strongyli, Pyrgoussa, Pahia and Kefalos (at Kos) are the present-day centers of this caldera system that can be considered to be still active.
At Nisyros, an active magma chamber is located at only 3-4 km depth. Since 2000 when the Nisyros research program of the GEOWARN-Team started, the temperatures of the fumaroles have been changing from 98 C to 103 C in 2004.
Nisyros Volcano Photos

Le cratère Stephanos vu du village de Nikia (volcan Nisyros, Grèce) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Le cratère Stefanos, île de Nisyros, au printemps (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Fumerolles et roches colorées au bord du cratère. (c)

Colorful moonscape at the Polyvotis crater. (c)
Éruptions volcaniques importantes: volcano Nisyros
In the past 10,000 years, Nisyros has had at least 4 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Nisyros volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Nisyros can be found on the news page of Nisyros volcano.
Date | Note | VEI | Morts | Dommages | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Polyvotis Micros Obs./docs historiques | 2 | inconnu | |||
Plegathon and Polyvotis Obs./docs historiques | 2 | inconnu | |||
Plegathon and Polyvotis Obs./docs historiques | 2 | inconnu | |||
Obs./docs historiques | 2 | inconnu |
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Nisyros Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Nisyros volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Nisyros occurred in 1888.
+How often does Nisyros volcano erupt?
Since 1422 AD, Nisyros volcano has had at least 4 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 151 years.
+When was the largest eruption of Nisyros volcano?
The largest eruption of Nisyros volcano in historic times occurred in 1888. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Dernières images satellite
Nisyros Voyages aux Volcans
Nisyros (Grèce)
Amandes, Olives et Volcans
7-jours voyage randonnées & étude sur l'île volcanique de Nisyros, Grèce
7 Jours (6 nuits) - Modérée
Prix 1690 €
Prix 1690 €
13-20 sept. 2025
Nisyros Volcan Cartes
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (world scale)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (world scale)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (region scale large)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (region scale large)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (region scale medium)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (region scale medium)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (region scale small)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (region scale small)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (local scale large)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (local scale large)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (local scale medium)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (local scale medium)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (local scale small)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (local scale small)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of 10s of km)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of 10s of km)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of 20-40 km)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of 20-40 km)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)

Terrain-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of 5-10 km)

Satellite/aerial-type map of Nisyros volcano (scale of few kilometers)