Santorini

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Context:  Santorini authorities concerned about overtourism as 11,000 cruise travelers flood the island.

Details

About

• Santorini, officially Thira , is a Greek island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from its mainland.
• It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago formed by the Santorini caldera.
• It is the southernmost island of the Cyclades group of islands.
• Area of approximately 73 km2 (28 sq mi) and population of 15,480.

Caldera A caldera is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses. During a volcanic eruption, magma present in the magma chamber underneath the volcano is expelled, often forcefully. When the magma chamber empties, the support that the magma had provided inside the chamber disappears. The Apolaki Caldera is a volcanic caldera with a diameter of 150 kilometers (93 mi), making it the world's largest caldera. It is located within the Benham Rise (Philippine Rise) and was discovered in 2019.

Geological setting

• Santorini was built up by layers of lava created by overlapping shield volcanoes, and it had experienced three significant eruptions that formed overlapping calderas, or collapsed magma chambers.
• Volcanism: Volcanism on Santorini is due to the Hellenic subduction zone southwest of Crete.
• Climate: Santorini has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh) with Mediterranean (Csa) characteristics, such as the dry summers and the relatively wetter winters.

Economy

• Santorini's primary industry is tourism, particularly in the summer months. Attractions:
• Low -lying cubical houses, made of local stone and whitewashed or limewashed with various volcanic ashes used as colours and fortifications.
• The island is home of a small wine industry, based on the indigenous Assyrtiko grape variety.

Recent Issue

• Impact of overtourism
• Measures are needed, including the construction of a new port, improvements to energy infrastructure, and urban planning.

Details about volcano: https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/types-of-volcano

Sources:

The Hindu, Wikipedia.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.  The Hellenic subduction zone is associated with which of the following tectonic plates? A.Pacific and Eurasian plates. B.Indian and Antarctica Plates. C.African and Eurasian Plates. D.North America and South America Plates. Answer C