A mountain with hiccups: όπως λέμε ηφαίστειο!

Εσείς το ξέρατε ότι στον νομό Αττικής έχουμε ηφαίστειο;… Λίγο πιο έξω από την Αθήνα;! Στους πρόποδες των Γερανείων, στην περιοχή των Αγίων Θεοδώρων, πάνω από την Εθνική Οδό (με κατεύθυνση το ρεύμα προς Κόρινθο)! Αν το «γκουγλάρετε» θα βρείτε αρκετές αναρτήσεις, από τις οποίες ξεχώρισα ένα άρθρο στο Enet.gr (Απρίλιος 2010) με πολλές πληροφορίες και ενδιαφέρουσα περιγραφή!

Well… it’s true: there’s a volcano just 70 km (43.5 miles) away from the center of Athens.

Few know that just outside Athens, in the area called Agioi Theodoroi (part of the municipality of Loutraki) lies a volcano which, fortunately, has been sleeping quietly for the last two million years! Its name is Sousaki and it is the northernmost edge of the active volcanic arc of the southern Aegean Sea, which also includes the volcanoes of Methana, Poros, Milos, Santorini and Nisyros.

What makes Sousaki special is that it has no actual crater or a caldera but rather dozens of holes (ports), widespread around the steep barren slopes of its gorge, which release large amounts of carbon dioxide & sulfur into the atmoshere, on a permanent basis. The smallest birds and mammals that foolishly hang around these burrows faint and die from the poisonous gases. Their mummified remains and the smell of sulfur in the air make for a lurid but interesting hike nonetheless!

Sousaki - Attica | Kicking Back the Pebbles — Sign reads “Volcano” in Greek: [e-fè-ste-o]

Most volcanologists die in bed.” ― Volcanologist Maurice Krafft
“What time does the volcano erupt?” ― Tourist on Mt. Etna in 2000
“No one told us we needed a gas mask” ― Tourist visiting remote Ambrym volcano in South West Pacific
“We’ll just look at you. If you look scared then we’ll panic.” ― Discovery Channel crew comments to Volcanologist John Seach while filming at Yasur Volcano in 2000
“Do we need to bring a sleeping bag, or will the volcano keep us warm at night?” ― Documentary producer at Mt. Etna in 2000
“We will be bringing the best, insured cameraman.” ― Documentary producer discussing the close-up filming of lava in 2003