With its romantic sunsets, dazzling ocean views, and whitewashed buildings clinging to rocky clifftops, the Greek island of Santorini (aka Thera or Thira) is the very picture of an idyll in the Aegean. But this tranquil scene belies the island"s explosive geologic history, for this is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. The Minoan eruption, about 3,600 years ago, caused the center of the Thera volcano to collapse into the ocean, leaving Santorini a jagged, crescent-shaped moon atop the sea.
Santorini through the clouds
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
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World Childrens Day
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A young bull moose in Denali National Park, Alaska
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A herd of impalas, Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa
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Celebrating the UN’s International Day of Families
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Full moon
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A bridge that rocks
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Get amped for Glastonbury
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Celebrating Flag Day: ‘O long may it wave’
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There was gold in them there hills…
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Vineyards in the Mosel Valley, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
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Bearded reedlings in Flevoland
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Chocolate Hills
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Málaga, Spain
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Arbor Day
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Black History Month
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Tintern Abbey, Wales
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Over the boardwalk
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A day for the dolphins
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‘Fringe’ takes center stage as Edinburgh celebrates the arts
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Happy New Years Eve!
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Mount Logan in Yukon, Canada
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Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, India
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Silbury Hill for International Archaeology Day
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Christmas market, St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
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In praise of bogs, swamps, and marshes
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Observing a squirrelly day
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Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
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Super sandy Sweet 16
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Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

