Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: hike from Pirgos to Prof. Ilias, Ancient Thera to Perissa
Normally, our last excursion during the geologic walking tour leads us to the non-volcanic basement, which forms the highest mountain Profitis Ilias and its neighbor Mesa Vouno, where the Ancient Greek city of Thera was located and whose excavated ruins are certainly a highlight that should not be missed during a visit to Santorini.
Spectacular views, very interesting geological formations, and - in spring - extraordinary spring colors by the rich flora, wait for you.
Spectacular views, very interesting geological formations, and - in spring - extraordinary spring colors by the rich flora, wait for you.
View from Pirgos towards Profitis Ilias mountain, the highest point of Santorini. It is formed by no... [info]
(61 visti)
(61 visti)
View of the medieval village of Pirgos built around a fortified hilltop (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(52 visti)
(52 visti)
View towads Exo Gonia village (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(47 visti)
(47 visti)
Church of a former monastery at the beginning of the trail to Profitis Ilias (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(49 visti)
(49 visti)
The fields along the path are filled with flowers. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(51 visti)
(51 visti)
Group of red poppies (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(129 visti)
(129 visti)
Daisies and red poppies. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(58 visti)
(58 visti)
View back towards Pirgos (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(51 visti)
(51 visti)
Soon, the view towards the islands in the north opens up. Ios Island can be seen in the background. ... [info]
(43 visti)
(43 visti)
View towards the southwest. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(42 visti)
(42 visti)
With exceptional visibility, the still snow-clad mountain ranges of Crete in more than 120 km distan... [info]
(49 visti)
(49 visti)
We slowly gain elevation. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(49 visti)
(49 visti)
Yellow and purple wildflowers (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(46 visti)
(46 visti)
Red poppies and fennel grow along the trail. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(41 visti)
(41 visti)
View of the trail (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(37 visti)
(37 visti)
We approach the summit area of the mountain. Looking back towards the SW with the Akrotiri peninsula... [info]
(40 visti)
(40 visti)
Flowering sage which grows a lot in this area. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(30 visti)
(30 visti)
On flatter parts of the mountain, the Minoan pumice fall deposit, about 5 m thick, is still preserve... [info]
(57 visti)
(57 visti)
Small remnant of a terrace on the northern slope of the mountain, which also was once farmland. (Pho... [info]
(94 visti)
(94 visti)
Red poppies arranged by chance as if in a loose circle. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(164 visti)
(164 visti)
The blue sea is everywhere about 500 m beneath us. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(40 visti)
(40 visti)
View from the trail towards the second mountain, Mesa Vouno, where the Ancient Greek capital was loc... [info]
(37 visti)
(37 visti)
Calcite crystals filling cracks in the marbles. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(36 visti)
(36 visti)
We pass an important fault zone. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(41 visti)
(41 visti)
A similar picture goes for the other side where Kamari beach town is located. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(39 visti)
(39 visti)
After a few hours, we have reached the site of the Ancient Greek city "Ancient Thera", excavated dur... [info]
(39 visti)
(39 visti)
Between the still very impressive ruins, flowers have taken over all space where there is soil. (Pho... [info]
(38 visti)
(38 visti)
Daisies and red poppies. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(34 visti)
(34 visti)
Seas of daisies (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(30 visti)
(30 visti)
Barley, red poppies and daisies. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(34 visti)
(34 visti)
Yellow and white dominate large patches, as golden marguerite (farberkamille, Cota tinctoria) and da... [info]
(32 visti)
(32 visti)
Poppies and daisies. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(32 visti)
(32 visti)
Green, white, yellow and red. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(33 visti)
(33 visti)
Red poppies and golden marguerites (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(40 visti)
(40 visti)
Red poppies and golden marguerites (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(34 visti)
(34 visti)
Red poppies and barley (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(32 visti)
(32 visti)
Red poppies (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(38 visti)
(38 visti)
Red poppy close-up (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(33 visti)
(33 visti)
Red poppies close-up (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(42 visti)
(42 visti)
Red poppy silhouette (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(39 visti)
(39 visti)
We're having a rest in the shade, or get absorbed by the extraordinary colorful natural flower decor... [info]
(35 visti)
(35 visti)
Red poppies... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(37 visti)
(37 visti)
santorini_k21715.jpg (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(35 visti)
(35 visti)
A bee is happy exploring the poppy flower. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(42 visti)
(42 visti)
Daisies and the sea with the Island of Anafi (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(29 visti)
(29 visti)
Meadow between the ancient ruins (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(33 visti)
(33 visti)
Red, yellow and green (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(27 visti)
(27 visti)
View towards the Christiana islands in the SW background (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(39 visti)
(39 visti)
Informative plates with Greek and English descriptions are placed around the site. (Photo: Tom Pfeif... [info]
(38 visti)
(38 visti)
The southern foothills of Profitis Ilias (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(34 visti)
(34 visti)
santorini_k21747.jpg (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(28 visti)
(28 visti)
Red and blue (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(39 visti)
(39 visti)
Ancient column (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(32 visti)
(32 visti)
The ancient trail down to Kamari (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(34 visti)
(34 visti)
View of Santorini's airport and the runway. From here, one can see planes landing and taking off fro... [info]
(37 visti)
(37 visti)
Early Christian basilica (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(28 visti)
(28 visti)
Group walking on the beautiful old trail. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(26 visti)
(26 visti)
View back up towards the saddle between Profitis Ilias and Mesa Vouno. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(32 visti)
(32 visti)
Remnants of the pumice deposit form a thick cake-like layer in the flatter parts of the slope. (Phot... [info]
(20 visti)
(20 visti)
View back to Profitis Ilias from the SE. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(29 visti)
(29 visti)
Panagia Katefiani chapel built high into the southern cliff of Mesa Vouno. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(35 visti)
(35 visti)
Enjoying a drink on the beach... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(33 visti)
(33 visti)
After the beach break, we decide to return for a few photos and another shorter walk to the caldera ... [info]
(33 visti)
(33 visti)
View of the red tuff layers that dominate the southern caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(29 visti)
(29 visti)
Fira must be busy today, with 3 cruise ships moored below... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(33 visti)
(33 visti)
View over Palea and Nea Kameni islands in the caldera (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(31 visti)
(31 visti)
Tasty meze at Anna's Kali Kardia shop and tavern. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(32 visti)
(32 visti)
Walking back we pass beneath the Taxiarchis hill, an area of updomed submarine volcanic sediments. (... [info]
(30 visti)
(30 visti)
After about 30 minutes, we have reached the coast on the other side. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(27 visti)
(27 visti)
Barley field in the evening sunlight. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(35 visti)
(35 visti)
Evening sunlight on the Red Beach (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(26 visti)
(26 visti)
Red Beach (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(30 visti)
(30 visti)
Piu su VolcanoDiscovery
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