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The Methana Peninsula is situated on the south part of the Saronikos gulf and on the Northern edge of the tectonic trench of Troizina. It is made up mostly of volcanic rock, which covers 40 square kilometre area. It is linked to the Peloponese by a 300 metre wide isthmus made up of Mesozoic limestone. The oldest volcanic products of the area date back to pleistocenic times, while the newest belong to historic times. The volcanic structure of Methana is manly formed by lava constructions, which have a NNW-SSE and NE-SW direction in accordance with the main local tectonic directions. Numerous streams of lava spread out from the central part of the peninsula towards the sea. Volcanic activity on the peninsula ended in historic times while lava still pours from the cracked constructions (Kameno Vouno) towards the sea on the northwest side of the peninsula. The only known eruption is placed between 276-239 BC. Based on the frequency and the volume of the volcanic activity in the Aegian we can deduce that the danger of new activity in Methana is relatively small. Volcanic activity in Methana manifests itself in the form of volcanoes, vapour springs and warm water springs. It is known that the Methana Peninsula is in its largest part the product of volcanic activity. Proof of this can be found in the kind of rock found on the peninsula as well as in the many craters that exist there. Up to now, 30 craters have been found.
Hellinic Research Centres continues research into this area its great interest while Swiss universities have also expressed interest in recent years. The result of this interest has been two recent maps (1:25,000) and a wealth of photographs of the penin뮿Ϗߝݎ |