Santorini is one of the most ruggedly beautiful and dramatic places on earth. Santorini, also known as Thira, is the southern most of the Cyclades islands and one of the most popular destinations in all of Greece. Santorini's wild majesty created out of the apocalyptic event associated with mythical Atlantis, is unforgettable. Santorini is a crescent shape surrounding the black volcanic islands lying in the bay. What was once the island of Thira sank to the bottom of the caldera in the apocalyptic explosion in 1450 BC. The lagoon-like caldera measures 32 square miles and is 300 to 400 metres deep. In the center are Palea Kamini and Nea Kamini. On the western side where the volcano is located, the sheer cliffs, 300 metres high, are multi-coloured strata of black, red, grey, and brown. The capital of the island is Fira, Firostefani or Imerovigli and romantic Oia are the highlights of the island. The island is 96 sq. km. with a coastline 69 kilometres long and a population of almost 12,000. The island is 130 nautical miles from Piraeus and 70 nautical miles from Crete. Santorini is 18 km long and varies from 2 to 6 km wide. The volcanic conditions make pumice and other minerals a valuable commodity, but nothing compares to tourism for the island.