Methana.Com: Geology

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Geologische Karte

Geology

Methana is part of the agean volcanic arch. The peninsula is also the youngest ACTVIVE part of the Saronic Gulf Volcanoes (Cromyonia, Aegina and Poros). The last eruption took place in the north-western part of the peninsula close to the village Kameni Hora in about 230 B.C. and there was a submarine eruption in 1700.
The hiostoric eruption has been desrcribed by ancient writers like PAUSANIAS, OVIDIUS and STRABON. They described the hot lava dome rising at this part of Methana. It is not the youngest volcano of the area, because in the last years there was a submarine volcano be found in the sea northly of Methana between the peninsula and the island of Angistri. So there is still active volcano activity in the area. Further eruptions are possible in future. A sign of active volcanoes are the many thermal-springs in the area of the Methana peninsula and some earthquakes.
Alltogether there are about 32 volcanoes on Methana. So Methana is a geologically interesting area. Similar volcano domes you can also find on the island of Nisyros and in the german "Siebengebirge" close to the former capital of Germany Bonn.
From 1991-1995 there was a geological and cartographical survey by the universitiy ETH-Zurich on Methana. The results were two modern maps.