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Narrator:
The island of santorini
in the mediterranean sea.
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Today, a peaceful paradise.
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But buried deep
within these colored cliffs
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are the ruins of akrotiri,
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an ancient city
with a dark past.
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A mysterious civilization
wiped out by a volcanic eruption
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100 times
more powerful than pompei.
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Goodman: That natural disaster
changed the course of history.
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It was truly a massive,
catastrophic event.
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Narrator:
Today, investigators use
innovative underwater robots
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00:00:34,435 --> 00:00:38,270
and pioneering techniques
to discover the true extent
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00:00:38,272 --> 00:00:41,006
of this earth-shattering
eruption.
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Papanikolaou: I don't think that
there's any other explosion
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00:00:43,477 --> 00:00:48,347
in recent history that comes
close to the santorini eruption.
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Narrator: For over 3,000 years,
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this eruption has inspired myths
of the ancient mediterranean.
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Most of the people believe
the lost a atlantis city
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was here --
was in santorini.
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Narrator:
But what is the truth behind
the most destructive eruption
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in recorded history?
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To find out, we'll unearth
the lost city of akrotiri...
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...Reconstruct magnificent
homes...
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...And dive deep
beneath this mysterious island.
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We'll unearth the fate
of this lost civilization,
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and reveal the secrets of
santorini's deadly mega volcano.
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-- Captions by vitac --
www.Vitac.Com
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captions paid for by
discovery communications
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santorini is a greek island
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located 140 miles
southeast of athens
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in the mediterranean sea.
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A mysterious
ancient civilization
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living here thousands of years
ago vanishes without a trace.
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Papanikolaou: Thousands of years
ago in santorini,
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a highly developed civilization
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and culture disappeared
suddenly in the area.
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Narrator: Today, this idyllic
paradise
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is famous
for its towering cliffs,
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colored beaches,
and deep blue waters,
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but hidden away
at santorini's southern tip
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are clues
to its mysterious past.
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Buried 200 feet
beneath the ground,
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archeologists uncover akrotiri,
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an ancient city
over 3,000 years old.
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In its prime,
its narrow streets
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are intricately paved
with stone.
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Its town square is lined
with picturesque houses
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that tower three
and four stories high.
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An array of colorful stones
decorate the facades.
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What is this
thriving civilization?
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And what happens to its people?
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♪
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geologist dimitrios papanikolaou
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investigates akrotiri's
ancient past.
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The ruins suggests a highly
sophisticated civilization
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flourishes here for thousands
of years before its abrupt end.
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Papanikolaou: It predates
parthenon and the acropolis,
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considered all over
the world as a symbol
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of a high level of culture.
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Here, this is 1,000 years
before that.
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Narrator:
Dimitrios examines the city's
ancient stone buildings.
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He discovers many of the rocks
used to construct
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the upper floors
are volcanic in origin.
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The upper part contains
a lot of volcanic rocks,
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either tufts or some louvers.
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Narrator:
Dimitrios explores further
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and discovers
more volcanic rock,
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but this volcanic rock
is completely different.
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It's not used as
a building material,
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but is dumped unceremoniously.
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Here we have some huge boulders
of pure lava
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and they are found here --
this one,
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the other one also very big,
another one a little smaller.
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Narrator:
The unusual rock provides clues
to a major catastrophe
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that annihilates this city.
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The evidence suggests
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a massive volcanic
eruption buries akrotiri.
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But there's no obvious
volcanic mountain on santorini
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or in the surrounding sea.
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So where is the volcano?
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To find clues,
dimitrios explores the islands
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at the heart
of santorini's archipelago.
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Santorini is a group
of five islands --
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santorini,
therasia, and aspronisi,
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form its outer ring.
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The islands of nea kameni,
and palaia kameni
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lie at its center.
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Here, the water is tinted
in shades of rusty red.
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And patches of colored rocks
pepper the dark landscape.
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Papanikolaou:
Looking at the landscape,
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we see that there are some
contrasting points -- areas --
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small areas where the color
is whitest.
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Well, these are locations
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where gases are coming out
from the interior.
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Narrator:
The colored rocks suggest
the ground here releases
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clouds of toxic gas.
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Exploring further, dimitrios
confirms his suspicion.
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At the island's summit,
he finds gas
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escaping through cracks
in the earth's surface.
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It's clear evidence
of volcanic activity.
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I would say that I'm standing
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really in
the heart of the volcano here.
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Narrator:
The escaping gases hint
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at what lurks
beneath the island's surface --
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a thick layer of fragmented rock
stretches 2 miles underground.
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Beneath it lies
a spongy layer of crystals
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and glowing hot
semi-molten rock...
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...All concealing
a huge cavern below...
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...Bursting with up to
1.5 trillion gallons
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of molten magma hotter than
1,800 degrees fahrenheit.
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Is this huge
bubbling chamber of magma
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key to understanding
the island's past?
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The whole island is the result
of volcanic activity.
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The type of rocks,
the thermal springs,
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the vegetation, the atmosphere,
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the fumaroles,
everything around here
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is the result
of active volcanism.
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Narrator:
Santorini is a volcanic caldera,
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a huge depression that forms
after a volcano erupts.
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Stretching seven miles across
and covering an area
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over 30 square miles,
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it's the largest active caldera
in the world.
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Its immense size hints
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at the enormity
of the ancient eruption.
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This shows really
the energy release
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and the magnitude
of the explosion.
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Narrator:
The eruption creates a huge
20-mile high cloud.
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That blasts ash
as far as egypt
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over 200 miles away.
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Ancient writers describe
how the ash cloud
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00:08:16,864 --> 00:08:19,631
plunges the world
into darkness --
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veiling the sun and causing a
global winter
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for over two years.
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A blanket of ash up to 200-feet
thick covers the entire island.
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♪
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as the empty volcano
collapses into the water,
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it changes the shape
of the island forever.
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Like the roman ruins at pompei,
the ancient remains of akrotiri
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are preserved
by hot volcanic ash.
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A frozen snapshot of akrotiri's
last moments.
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But there's
an unsettling mystery...
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All over the excavated area,
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there are no bodies found, in
contrast to pompei, for example.
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There you have plenty of bodies
buried below the ashes.
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Here there's nothing left.
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Narrator:
What happens to the people?
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How does an entire civilization
mysteriously vanish?
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At akrotiri, evidence of
man-made destruction
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provides
tantalizing clues.
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♪
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narrator:
Santorini's mega eruption is
the most catastrophic volcanic
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explosion in recorded history.
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I don't think that is any other
explosion in recent history
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that comes close
to the santorini eruption.
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Narrator: It varies the ancient
city of akrotiri
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in lava and ash
up to 200-feet thick,
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100 times deeper than pompeii.
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But unlike that infamous
eruption, at akrotiri,
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not a single body
has ever been recovered.
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Papanikolaou: This is one of the
big differences.
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There have been no bodies
found anywhere.
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Narrator:
Dimitrios believes a clue
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to the fate of the people
lies inside the city.
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Hidden amongst the debris
of the ruins,
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investigators unearth
a strange heavy stone
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weighing over 30 pounds.
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Archeologists believe
the grooves once hold ropes so
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it can be used
like a wrecking ball.
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And in a nearby house,
two pots of plaster
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and a pot of dried paint
lie strewn on the floor --
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a decoration job
hastily abandoned.
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Are these home repair
and demolition tools,
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clues to what happens
to the lost people of akrotiri?
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Today, akrotiri's empty
streets remain eerily
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filled with rubble
and rows of destroyed buildings.
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Papanikolaou:
The present day ruins show
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it was destroyed several times
and was rebuilt.
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Narrator:
For dimitrios, the multiple
repairs hold clues
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to the fate
of the people of akrotiri.
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Papanikolaou: We can see
in lower parts,
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the construction is made of
large blocks.
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Then you have new construction
on top of the early ones
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where you have very small
blocks.
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Narrator:
Different styles of construction
suggests
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that people desperately tried
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to repair their homes
after a major disaster.
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Papanikolaou:
They were trying to repair
rapidly the city.
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This is illustrated
all over the settlement here.
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Narrator: But what is the cause
of all these emergency repairs?
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Dimitrios examines
the northern part of the city
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and finds a major clue.
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He discovers a solid stone
staircase
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split straight down the middle.
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It's a pattern of destruction
he knows well.
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This destruction you can observe
in many places in greece
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due to earthquakes.
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Narrator:
The broken staircase is proof
that a major earthquake
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also devastates akrotiri
before the eruption.
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The earthquake may have warned
the people
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of impending disaster.
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♪
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but dimitrios believes
that further warning signals
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00:13:02,649 --> 00:13:07,218
hit the city
before the eruption begins.
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He hunts for evidence
along the coastline.
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00:13:12,826 --> 00:13:16,094
An open quarry provides him
with a timeline of the events
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00:13:16,096 --> 00:13:17,595
leading up to the eruption
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00:13:17,597 --> 00:13:21,466
and a clue
to the fate of the people.
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Papanikolaou:
This is different layers.
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Each one meaning
a different period
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00:13:26,139 --> 00:13:28,473
with different characteristics.
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Narrator:
The separate layers show
the material deposited
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during different phases
of the volcanic eruption.
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The lower the layer,
the older the event.
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00:13:38,451 --> 00:13:45,156
♪
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00:13:45,158 --> 00:13:47,992
dimitrios examines
the first layer for clues
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00:13:47,994 --> 00:13:51,996
to akrotiri's destruction.
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00:13:51,998 --> 00:13:53,898
Papanikolaou:
The deposition of this layer
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00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:57,302
means the city
does not exist as a city.
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00:13:57,304 --> 00:14:03,241
It is buried below this layer
of several meters thick.
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00:14:03,243 --> 00:14:05,777
Narrator: On close inspection
at the very base,
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00:14:05,779 --> 00:14:09,147
dimitrios discovers
a thin layer of ash.
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00:14:09,149 --> 00:14:11,983
Papanikolaou:
See this yellowish material.
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00:14:11,985 --> 00:14:13,918
This is a distinctive,
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00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,956
very tiny, thin layer,
a few centimeters thick,
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00:14:17,958 --> 00:14:24,362
which is the result
of the first explosion.
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00:14:24,364 --> 00:14:27,999
Narrator:
The thin layer of ash suggests
the volcano's first eruption
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00:14:28,001 --> 00:14:30,468
is a minor explosion.
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00:14:30,470 --> 00:14:33,338
Papanikolaou:
This tiny first layer shows
the first explosion,
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00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:35,540
which is not a devastating one,
229
00:14:35,542 --> 00:14:40,078
and this made the warning
to people to flee out.
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00:14:42,716 --> 00:14:46,484
Narrator:
The first small eruption spews
thin, light ash
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00:14:46,486 --> 00:14:48,586
across the whole of akrotiri.
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00:14:52,759 --> 00:14:55,860
The ash and tremors
from the volcano's forewarnings
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00:14:55,862 --> 00:15:00,465
damaged local houses, which
are painstakingly repaired.
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00:15:03,536 --> 00:15:06,037
But the tremors continue
over the months
235
00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:10,441
and cause more and more damage
to the city's buildings.
236
00:15:10,443 --> 00:15:14,846
As the warning signs increase in
their frequency and intensity,
237
00:15:14,848 --> 00:15:16,814
the people pack up
their valuables
238
00:15:16,816 --> 00:15:20,685
and evacuate the island
to escape the erupting volcano.
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00:15:25,358 --> 00:15:27,625
Papanikolaou:
They took whatever they could
just carry
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00:15:27,627 --> 00:15:32,196
and they went away hoping
that they might come back.
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00:15:35,368 --> 00:15:38,803
Narrator:
Dimitrios believes the people
escape across the mediterranean
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00:15:38,805 --> 00:15:43,308
following the volcano's
warning signs.
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00:15:43,310 --> 00:15:45,543
The mega eruption
instantly wipes out
244
00:15:45,545 --> 00:15:49,280
all life left on the island.
245
00:15:49,282 --> 00:15:53,318
But its effects
are even further reaching.
246
00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,921
A discovery 850 miles away
in egypt
247
00:15:56,923 --> 00:16:01,592
provides evidence
of its shocking power.
248
00:16:01,594 --> 00:16:04,195
How does this event become
the most powerful
249
00:16:04,197 --> 00:16:07,932
and violent eruption
ever witnessed by humankind?
250
00:16:16,910 --> 00:16:20,445
Narrator:
Santorini's mega volcano is the
most powerful eruption
251
00:16:20,447 --> 00:16:23,748
in written history.
252
00:16:23,750 --> 00:16:28,052
All life on the island
is destroyed in an instant.
253
00:16:28,054 --> 00:16:30,421
Papanikolaou: The island changed
its morphology
254
00:16:30,423 --> 00:16:32,089
and everything was changed here.
255
00:16:32,091 --> 00:16:35,093
Everything was destroyed
by a major explosion.
256
00:16:38,131 --> 00:16:42,266
Narrator:
A discovery 850 miles across
the mediterranean sea
257
00:16:42,268 --> 00:16:46,204
in egypt provides evidence
of its immense power.
258
00:16:50,477 --> 00:16:53,611
In karnak, archeologists
discover fragments
259
00:16:53,613 --> 00:16:58,850
of a stone slab that dates back
to the 16th century b.C.
260
00:17:02,288 --> 00:17:05,256
Known as the
tempest stele of ahmose,
261
00:17:05,258 --> 00:17:08,993
it's the world's oldest
weather report.
262
00:17:08,995 --> 00:17:12,463
It describes a huge storm
that ravages egypt
263
00:17:12,465 --> 00:17:15,033
where the sky is hit
by a tempest of rain
264
00:17:15,035 --> 00:17:17,201
causing intense darkness.
265
00:17:19,873 --> 00:17:21,873
Experts believe this could be
proof
266
00:17:21,875 --> 00:17:26,644
of the far-reaching effects
of the santorini eruption.
267
00:17:26,646 --> 00:17:28,780
What makes this eruption
more powerful
268
00:17:28,782 --> 00:17:30,915
than any other
in human history?
269
00:17:30,917 --> 00:17:39,023
♪
270
00:17:39,025 --> 00:17:41,259
ingo sonder is a volcanologist
271
00:17:41,261 --> 00:17:44,028
at the university at buffalo,
new york.
272
00:17:46,032 --> 00:17:49,934
He investigates
the volcanic process.
273
00:17:49,936 --> 00:17:51,702
I am fascinated by this process.
274
00:17:51,704 --> 00:17:57,909
I'm fascinated by molten rock,
and what we can do with it.
275
00:17:57,911 --> 00:18:01,345
Narrator:
During santorini's eruption,
seawater infiltrates
276
00:18:01,347 --> 00:18:06,117
the volcano's magmatic
chamber deep underground.
277
00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:09,053
When the magma rises
in the underground chamber,
278
00:18:09,055 --> 00:18:11,222
it cracks the surrounding rock,
279
00:18:11,224 --> 00:18:14,058
causing long fractures
that reach the sea.
280
00:18:17,697 --> 00:18:21,232
The cracks act like vacuums
and suck the seawater
281
00:18:21,234 --> 00:18:23,101
down into the chamber
282
00:18:23,103 --> 00:18:27,171
so the cold water hits the
scorching 1,800-degree magma.
283
00:18:29,242 --> 00:18:31,309
Ingo believes
this process of water
284
00:18:31,311 --> 00:18:35,480
mixing with magma is key
to santorini's explosive power.
285
00:18:37,951 --> 00:18:41,185
But how can water fuel
a volcanic explosion?
286
00:18:45,358 --> 00:18:48,693
To test how water impacts
a volcanic eruption,
287
00:18:48,695 --> 00:18:52,063
ingo and his team create
their own mini volcano.
288
00:18:54,901 --> 00:18:57,535
They heat 130-pounds of rock
289
00:18:57,537 --> 00:19:01,038
in a high powered
induction furnace.
290
00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:05,009
Sonder:
The rock will melt above
1,200 degrees celsius.
291
00:19:05,011 --> 00:19:07,378
We will heat it up
a little bit higher,
292
00:19:07,380 --> 00:19:09,680
so we have it really liquid
once we pour it.
293
00:19:09,682 --> 00:19:14,018
Narrator:
Ingo sets up the equipment.
294
00:19:14,020 --> 00:19:17,788
Four injection tubes
will spray water into the magma.
295
00:19:20,193 --> 00:19:23,628
When the magma reaches
2,300 degrees fahrenheit,
296
00:19:23,630 --> 00:19:25,796
ingo pours it
into the container.
297
00:19:28,468 --> 00:19:31,202
First, ingo and his team
will test what happens
298
00:19:31,204 --> 00:19:34,705
when water
slowly mixes with magma.
299
00:19:34,707 --> 00:19:38,910
He triggers a countdown
and clears the surrounding area.
300
00:19:38,912 --> 00:19:47,051
♪
301
00:19:47,053 --> 00:19:51,022
the explosion sends the magma
flying 3 feet into the air.
302
00:19:53,059 --> 00:19:55,259
But how does it compare to when
the water is mixed
303
00:19:55,261 --> 00:19:58,462
with magma at high speed?
304
00:19:58,464 --> 00:20:00,431
Ingo adjusts the valves.
305
00:20:02,402 --> 00:20:04,569
They run the experiment again.
306
00:20:04,571 --> 00:20:12,109
♪
307
00:20:12,111 --> 00:20:19,617
♪
308
00:20:19,619 --> 00:20:21,352
sonder: Look at that.
309
00:20:21,354 --> 00:20:24,789
Narrator:
The molten rock is ejected
over 9 feet into the air,
310
00:20:24,791 --> 00:20:29,527
and melt is spread
across the surrounding area.
311
00:20:29,529 --> 00:20:33,197
Ingo's tests show the higher
the speed of the water,
312
00:20:33,199 --> 00:20:36,567
the more powerful the explosion.
313
00:20:36,569 --> 00:20:40,404
The speed at which the water
enters the melt domains
314
00:20:40,406 --> 00:20:43,307
and creates its own mingling.
315
00:20:43,309 --> 00:20:47,745
This is probably
the most important component.
316
00:20:47,747 --> 00:20:49,847
Narrator: The faster the speed,
the more the water
317
00:20:49,849 --> 00:20:51,415
and magma mix together.
318
00:20:51,417 --> 00:20:56,387
And so the more heat shock
the magma receives.
319
00:20:56,389 --> 00:20:58,122
This rapid change
in temperature
320
00:20:58,124 --> 00:21:01,325
is converted
into mechanical energy
321
00:21:01,327 --> 00:21:04,362
and is what makes
the eruption so explosive.
322
00:21:08,968 --> 00:21:12,303
The amount of materials
santorini's volcano expels
323
00:21:12,305 --> 00:21:16,774
is a testament to the power
of the magma/water interaction.
324
00:21:16,776 --> 00:21:19,510
Papanikolaou:
The magma from the interior
of the earth,
325
00:21:19,512 --> 00:21:22,413
it takes up together blocks
and fragments
326
00:21:22,415 --> 00:21:24,415
of the pre-existing rocks,
327
00:21:24,417 --> 00:21:27,918
and everything is spread
tens of kilometers away.
328
00:21:30,323 --> 00:21:33,391
Narrator:
As well as lava and ash,
an erupting volcano
329
00:21:33,393 --> 00:21:35,760
can spew out solid rock --
330
00:21:35,762 --> 00:21:41,532
chunks bigger than 2 1/2-inches
are known as lava bombs.
331
00:21:41,534 --> 00:21:44,535
They can be thrown incredible
distances.
332
00:21:44,537 --> 00:21:47,838
In santorini,
archeologists find lava bombs
333
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,675
as far as 5 miles
from the volcano.
334
00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,314
The explosion of santorini's
mega volcano
335
00:21:56,316 --> 00:21:58,783
showers the island
with volcanic bombs
336
00:21:58,785 --> 00:22:03,187
and covers its inhabitants
in a blanket of volcanic ash.
337
00:22:03,189 --> 00:22:04,989
Papanikolaou:
Everything is escalated.
338
00:22:04,991 --> 00:22:08,559
You have bigger
and bigger explosions.
339
00:22:08,561 --> 00:22:11,762
Narrator:
But the danger isn't over yet.
340
00:22:11,764 --> 00:22:14,365
As archeologists dive
beneath the water,
341
00:22:14,367 --> 00:22:16,133
they discover evidence
that suggests
342
00:22:16,135 --> 00:22:19,437
the eruption triggers another
destructive force of nature
343
00:22:19,439 --> 00:22:22,973
that devastates
the surrounding islands --
344
00:22:22,975 --> 00:22:25,543
a tsunami.
345
00:22:25,545 --> 00:22:27,378
Can a discovery on the coast
346
00:22:27,380 --> 00:22:32,817
75 miles away provide clues
about santorini's monster wave?
347
00:22:40,193 --> 00:22:43,160
Narrator:
The eruption of santorini
is a natural disaster
348
00:22:43,162 --> 00:22:47,331
unparalleled in all of history.
349
00:22:47,333 --> 00:22:50,301
It destroys the ancient city
of akrotiri
350
00:22:50,303 --> 00:22:53,170
and changes the shape
of the island forever.
351
00:22:55,641 --> 00:22:58,843
The power of the eruption
was huge,
352
00:22:58,845 --> 00:23:03,381
the equivalent of 600 atomic
bombs, can you imagine this?
353
00:23:03,383 --> 00:23:06,250
It was a catastrophe for sure.
354
00:23:06,252 --> 00:23:08,652
Narrator:
But the danger is far from over.
355
00:23:10,656 --> 00:23:14,392
In crete, 75 miles
from santorini,
356
00:23:14,394 --> 00:23:19,730
archeologists find unusual,
chaotic layers of soil.
357
00:23:19,732 --> 00:23:23,167
They contain a strange mixture
of debris --
358
00:23:23,169 --> 00:23:27,571
pieces of ancient pottery,
plates and cups,
359
00:23:27,573 --> 00:23:32,576
chunks of wall plaster from once
beautiful homes,
360
00:23:32,578 --> 00:23:36,647
and fragments of cattle bones
mixed in with volcanic ash.
361
00:23:38,918 --> 00:23:40,818
Nestled amongst this debris
362
00:23:40,820 --> 00:23:44,221
are 3,000-year-old sea shells
and algae
363
00:23:44,223 --> 00:23:47,825
as far as 1,000-feet inland.
364
00:23:47,827 --> 00:23:49,894
Is this mixture of land and sea
365
00:23:49,896 --> 00:23:53,130
proof of a mega tsunami
from santorini.
366
00:23:55,134 --> 00:23:59,403
As a santorini native,
marine geologist, evi nomikou,
367
00:23:59,405 --> 00:24:04,408
feels a close connection
to the volcano.
368
00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:07,711
Nomikou:
I was born in santorini.
My father was a sailor,
369
00:24:07,713 --> 00:24:09,747
so I'm always close to the sea.
370
00:24:09,749 --> 00:24:13,384
And of course, as a kid,
we loved to walk on the volcano
371
00:24:13,386 --> 00:24:17,788
and try to understand
what is happening.
372
00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:23,260
Narrator:
Today, evi uncovers santorini's
underwater secrets.
373
00:24:23,262 --> 00:24:25,830
She investigates
how the volcanic eruption here
374
00:24:25,832 --> 00:24:28,799
could trigger a mega tsunami.
375
00:24:28,801 --> 00:24:30,601
Nomikou: Some years ago, the
scientists believe
376
00:24:30,603 --> 00:24:33,237
the generation of tsunami
happened
377
00:24:33,239 --> 00:24:35,139
because of
the caldera collapse.
378
00:24:36,876 --> 00:24:39,543
Narrator: Some experts believe
the collapse of the caldera
379
00:24:39,545 --> 00:24:42,379
into the sea
displaces so much water
380
00:24:42,381 --> 00:24:44,148
that it triggers the tsunami.
381
00:24:48,187 --> 00:24:52,556
The deadly wave is so huge,
towering over 90-feet high,
382
00:24:52,558 --> 00:24:56,327
it overwhelms boats and
destroys everything in its path.
383
00:25:01,234 --> 00:25:03,634
But is there any truth
to the theory?
384
00:25:03,636 --> 00:25:08,672
♪
385
00:25:08,674 --> 00:25:11,275
evi works with remote-operated
vehicle pilot
386
00:25:11,277 --> 00:25:13,177
othonas vlasopoulos
387
00:25:13,179 --> 00:25:17,681
to explore santorini's submerged
caldera for evidence.
388
00:25:17,683 --> 00:25:22,620
The secrets of santorini are on
the seawater, not on land, okay.
389
00:25:22,622 --> 00:25:25,756
We know lots of
what is happening on shore,
390
00:25:25,758 --> 00:25:30,160
but we need to get out
what is happening offshore.
391
00:25:30,162 --> 00:25:34,331
Narrator: Othonas prepares
an underwater robot.
392
00:25:34,333 --> 00:25:37,067
The cutting edge r.O.V. Is
fitted with two cameras
393
00:25:37,069 --> 00:25:40,104
to map and model
the caldera floor.
394
00:25:42,808 --> 00:25:45,309
They deploy the robot off
the southern edge
395
00:25:45,311 --> 00:25:47,745
of santorini's therasia island.
396
00:25:57,056 --> 00:26:02,493
-We got him 40-meters depth now.
-Wow. 40 meters.
397
00:26:02,495 --> 00:26:06,030
Narrator: 130 feet below the
water's surface,
398
00:26:06,032 --> 00:26:08,899
evi makes a surprising
discovery.
399
00:26:08,901 --> 00:26:13,904
On the caldera floor
is a massive landslide.
400
00:26:13,906 --> 00:26:15,239
For sure this is the
continuation
401
00:26:15,241 --> 00:26:17,575
of a huge landslide, okay.
402
00:26:17,577 --> 00:26:21,111
So the other water
landslide tell us
403
00:26:21,113 --> 00:26:23,581
this part of the island was land
404
00:26:23,583 --> 00:26:29,053
and at the end of the eruption,
this part was collapsed.
405
00:26:29,055 --> 00:26:32,289
Narrator:
The landslide is evidence that
at the time of the eruption,
406
00:26:32,291 --> 00:26:34,858
santorini's islands were
connected.
407
00:26:34,860 --> 00:26:37,027
Where the caldera lies today
408
00:26:37,029 --> 00:26:41,832
was once dry land
and closed off to the sea.
409
00:26:41,834 --> 00:26:43,400
You have the caldera collapse,
410
00:26:43,402 --> 00:26:47,538
but at that time, santorini
was not filled up with water.
411
00:26:47,540 --> 00:26:52,042
The caldera was dry,
was completely dry.
412
00:26:52,044 --> 00:26:55,646
Narrator:
The caldera is dry and isolated
from the sea,
413
00:26:55,648 --> 00:26:57,815
so its collapse
cannot be responsible
414
00:26:57,817 --> 00:27:02,953
for generating the mega tsunami
that devastates crete.
415
00:27:02,955 --> 00:27:06,824
So what is the true trigger?
416
00:27:06,826 --> 00:27:09,159
Evi analyzes her surveys
417
00:27:09,161 --> 00:27:12,363
of santorini's sea floor
to find clues.
418
00:27:15,134 --> 00:27:18,469
The results reveal a huge volume
of volcanic material
419
00:27:18,471 --> 00:27:21,772
buried beneath the seabed.
420
00:27:21,774 --> 00:27:25,509
This yellow layer indicates
the pyroclastic flows,
421
00:27:25,511 --> 00:27:28,278
so the thickness of the
pyroclastic flows
422
00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,382
is almost 300 feet.
423
00:27:31,384 --> 00:27:34,284
Narrator: Pyroclastic flows are
ground-hugging clouds
424
00:27:34,286 --> 00:27:36,654
of hot volcanic material.
425
00:27:36,656 --> 00:27:40,024
They reach temperatures
of 1,800 degrees fahrenheit
426
00:27:40,026 --> 00:27:44,328
and can travel up
to 600 miles per hour --
427
00:27:44,330 --> 00:27:47,498
three times faster
than a bullet train,
428
00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:51,268
destroying everything
in its path.
429
00:27:51,270 --> 00:27:54,605
Evi believes these huge 300-feet
thick deposits
430
00:27:54,607 --> 00:27:56,106
of volcanic material
431
00:27:56,108 --> 00:27:59,810
are the true trigger of the mega
tsunami that devastates crete.
432
00:28:03,816 --> 00:28:06,316
The volcano's violent
pyroclastic flow
433
00:28:06,318 --> 00:28:09,520
tumbles into the sea,
displacing so much water,
434
00:28:09,522 --> 00:28:12,423
it triggers a series
of powerful tsunamis.
435
00:28:14,493 --> 00:28:17,327
The tsunamis devastate
the coastline of crete
436
00:28:17,329 --> 00:28:19,496
over 75 miles away
437
00:28:19,498 --> 00:28:21,632
and even reach as far
as the mediterranean's
438
00:28:21,634 --> 00:28:23,801
eastern shores.
439
00:28:23,803 --> 00:28:28,238
The height of the waves
was almost 90 feet.
440
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,308
So you had a big tsunami
that was devastating
441
00:28:31,310 --> 00:28:34,111
all the northern parts of crete.
442
00:28:36,182 --> 00:28:38,248
Narrator:
At santorini's southern tip,
443
00:28:38,250 --> 00:28:41,819
evi explores the pyroclastic
deposits on land.
444
00:28:44,657 --> 00:28:46,457
It's an alien landscape
445
00:28:46,459 --> 00:28:49,793
dominated by 130-foot high
cliffs.
446
00:28:51,797 --> 00:28:54,498
They are proof of
the huge volume of material
447
00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:57,801
ejected by the volcano.
448
00:28:57,803 --> 00:29:00,404
You need to imagine
all this volume
449
00:29:00,406 --> 00:29:05,242
of pyroclastic flows
that were entering into the sea
450
00:29:05,244 --> 00:29:10,814
with high speeds
and generated the tsunami.
451
00:29:10,816 --> 00:29:14,651
This was the total catastrophe
of the island.
452
00:29:17,923 --> 00:29:21,625
Narrator:
The tsunami and ash wipe out
civilizations on islands
453
00:29:21,627 --> 00:29:24,061
for miles around.
454
00:29:24,063 --> 00:29:27,331
But with so much destroyed,
scientists and scholars
455
00:29:27,333 --> 00:29:32,936
wage war over the precise date
of these cataclysmic events.
456
00:29:32,938 --> 00:29:34,638
Clues buried under water
457
00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:38,308
over 600 miles away
could provide the answer.
458
00:29:46,051 --> 00:29:48,952
[ explosion ]
459
00:29:48,954 --> 00:29:51,255
narrator:
The santorini eruption explodes
460
00:29:51,257 --> 00:29:56,760
with the power of two million
hiroshima atomic bombs.
461
00:29:56,762 --> 00:29:59,563
But when did this cataclysmic
event happen?
462
00:30:02,168 --> 00:30:07,004
Evidence for the date may lie
across the mediterranean.
463
00:30:07,006 --> 00:30:09,706
I believe that the eruption
that led to its tsunami
464
00:30:09,708 --> 00:30:11,809
that made its way
to the shores of israel.
465
00:30:13,212 --> 00:30:18,382
Narrator:
Beverly goodman is a marine
geo-archeologist.
466
00:30:18,384 --> 00:30:20,417
She studies ancient
tsunami evidence
467
00:30:20,419 --> 00:30:22,085
along the shores of israel
468
00:30:22,087 --> 00:30:25,722
and makes some surprising
discoveries.
469
00:30:25,724 --> 00:30:27,925
Not only do we have evidence
for one tsunami,
470
00:30:27,927 --> 00:30:29,459
we have evidence
for many tsunamis
471
00:30:29,461 --> 00:30:32,095
that have hit
the coast of israel.
472
00:30:32,097 --> 00:30:33,230
Narrator: Any evidence here of
473
00:30:33,232 --> 00:30:37,234
the santorini tsunami could help
date it.
474
00:30:37,236 --> 00:30:39,670
Goodman:
So the way that I go about
trying to find information
475
00:30:39,672 --> 00:30:41,238
about the coastal history
476
00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,207
is that we look
along the coastline,
477
00:30:43,209 --> 00:30:47,811
but then we also especially
go underwater.
478
00:30:47,813 --> 00:30:50,948
Narrator:
Beverly and her team head out
to sea to collect sediments
479
00:30:50,950 --> 00:30:53,650
near caesarea maritima,
480
00:30:53,652 --> 00:30:56,887
a roman city on israel's
mediterranean coast.
481
00:31:00,025 --> 00:31:01,525
A team of divers works up
482
00:31:01,527 --> 00:31:04,928
to 120-feet
beneath the water's surface.
483
00:31:07,032 --> 00:31:10,133
To retrieve a core sample,
the team uses a hammer
484
00:31:10,135 --> 00:31:14,471
to insert a hollow steel tube
into the seabed.
485
00:31:14,473 --> 00:31:17,774
The tube fills up
with a section of sand.
486
00:31:17,776 --> 00:31:20,644
The divers secure the core
to an airbag
487
00:31:20,646 --> 00:31:22,479
and launch it to the surface.
488
00:31:24,850 --> 00:31:28,719
Back on land, beverly opens
and analyzes the cores.
489
00:31:32,524 --> 00:31:34,524
The cores can reveal
major events
490
00:31:34,526 --> 00:31:38,095
in the coastline's history.
491
00:31:38,097 --> 00:31:40,697
Goodman:
So what we can see here is that
when we take a core,
492
00:31:40,699 --> 00:31:44,067
the top of the core
is our present situation.
493
00:31:44,069 --> 00:31:47,671
This is today.
And as we go down the core,
494
00:31:47,673 --> 00:31:49,406
it's sort of like
looking at tree rings
495
00:31:49,408 --> 00:31:52,442
where we're
looking back in time.
496
00:31:52,444 --> 00:31:55,545
Narrator:
Variations in the sediment
can reveal major events
497
00:31:55,547 --> 00:31:58,548
that hit caesarea's coastline.
498
00:31:58,550 --> 00:32:02,619
We want to pay attention and see
where we get any chaotic layers
499
00:32:02,621 --> 00:32:06,089
or any big changes,
but as we get down to this part,
500
00:32:06,091 --> 00:32:10,093
whoa! Boom! We've got this
massive, chaotic layer.
501
00:32:10,095 --> 00:32:15,465
It's full of pieces of broken
shell and tiny little pebbles.
502
00:32:15,467 --> 00:32:16,833
Narrator:
These chaotic layers
503
00:32:16,835 --> 00:32:19,703
are evidence
of ancient tsunami damage.
504
00:32:21,941 --> 00:32:26,810
Beverly homes in on
the larger stones and seashells.
505
00:32:26,812 --> 00:32:28,845
This is actually
our smoking gun.
506
00:32:28,847 --> 00:32:33,116
This is our fingerprint
of our tsunamis.
507
00:32:33,118 --> 00:32:36,286
The core was collected
in about 60-feet water depth,
508
00:32:36,288 --> 00:32:39,122
and these are clams that like
to live in much deeper water,
509
00:32:39,124 --> 00:32:42,559
so we know that they had
to be transported and moved.
510
00:32:44,363 --> 00:32:47,731
Narrator:
The cores display three strips
of chaotic layers.
511
00:32:47,733 --> 00:32:51,568
It's evidence
for three tsunami events.
512
00:32:51,570 --> 00:32:54,404
But is one from the santorini
eruption,
513
00:32:54,406 --> 00:32:57,374
and can it help date it?
514
00:32:57,376 --> 00:33:00,110
The first two chaotic layers
515
00:33:00,112 --> 00:33:03,647
contain fragments
of roman pottery.
516
00:33:03,649 --> 00:33:08,418
But at the time of the eruption,
the roman empire doesn't exist.
517
00:33:08,420 --> 00:33:09,853
It suggests those events
518
00:33:09,855 --> 00:33:14,091
are too recent
to be the santorini tsunami.
519
00:33:14,093 --> 00:33:18,962
The third layer, however,
contains no pottery whatsoever.
520
00:33:18,964 --> 00:33:22,499
Because we don't see a lot
of pottery in here, any pottery,
521
00:33:22,501 --> 00:33:25,635
there's a very good chance
that this is an earlier event
522
00:33:25,637 --> 00:33:31,041
and maybe even the event
related to santorini's eruption.
523
00:33:31,043 --> 00:33:32,376
Narrator:
Beverly sends shells
524
00:33:32,378 --> 00:33:36,079
from this mysterious layer
for radiocarbon analysis.
525
00:33:38,350 --> 00:33:41,084
The results are conclusive.
526
00:33:41,086 --> 00:33:43,253
The radiocarbon dates
on these deposits
527
00:33:43,255 --> 00:33:46,656
have given us the date
of 1650 b.C.
528
00:33:46,658 --> 00:33:48,692
Narrator: Her results
give a decisive date
529
00:33:48,694 --> 00:33:52,396
for the obliteration
of santorini.
530
00:33:52,398 --> 00:33:55,499
Goodman:
These cores are the first
evidence of a tsunami deposit
531
00:33:55,501 --> 00:33:59,736
from santorini arriving
to the shores of israel.
532
00:33:59,738 --> 00:34:03,540
Narrator:
The dating of 1650 b.C.
Places the eruption close
533
00:34:03,542 --> 00:34:05,042
to the mysterious collapse
534
00:34:05,044 --> 00:34:07,544
of a mighty sea-faring
civilization --
535
00:34:07,546 --> 00:34:09,780
the minoans.
536
00:34:09,782 --> 00:34:13,050
Although only
70 miles away from santorini,
537
00:34:13,052 --> 00:34:15,485
the minoans have a distinct
and separate culture
538
00:34:15,487 --> 00:34:18,889
from the people of akrotiri.
539
00:34:18,891 --> 00:34:21,691
The minoan civilization
is situated in crete
540
00:34:21,693 --> 00:34:24,461
and its surrounding islands.
541
00:34:24,463 --> 00:34:27,264
While most people in europe
live in simple huts,
542
00:34:27,266 --> 00:34:31,001
the minoans
build advanced cities.
543
00:34:31,003 --> 00:34:33,570
But 200 years
after the eruption,
544
00:34:33,572 --> 00:34:38,275
the civilization declines
and is conquered by invaders.
545
00:34:38,277 --> 00:34:40,277
Is the eruption to blame?
546
00:34:44,783 --> 00:34:46,950
Many archeologists believe
547
00:34:46,952 --> 00:34:49,319
that the santorini eruption
plays a role
548
00:34:49,321 --> 00:34:51,354
in the great minoan collapse.
549
00:34:53,358 --> 00:34:57,961
The explosion covers the land
in ash, choking the vegetation,
550
00:34:57,963 --> 00:35:02,099
and the tsunami
destroys many of their fleets.
551
00:35:02,101 --> 00:35:06,503
They become an open target
for enemy attack.
552
00:35:06,505 --> 00:35:09,639
It's the worst natural disaster
in recorded history,
553
00:35:09,641 --> 00:35:11,575
and the minoans pay for it.
554
00:35:11,577 --> 00:35:13,610
Finding the tsunami evidence
555
00:35:13,612 --> 00:35:16,613
from this far in the eastern
mediterranean shows
556
00:35:16,615 --> 00:35:20,750
that it was truly a massive,
catastrophic event,
557
00:35:20,752 --> 00:35:24,387
and makes us really understand
what it meant for that time.
558
00:35:26,425 --> 00:35:29,826
Narrator: But who are the people
who live in ancient akrotiri?
559
00:35:32,698 --> 00:35:38,535
Many scientists claim santorini
is the lost island of atlantis.
560
00:35:38,537 --> 00:35:40,537
Could a discovery
on the sea floor
561
00:35:40,539 --> 00:35:43,507
provide evidence
of a submerged city?
562
00:35:53,585 --> 00:35:57,187
Narrator:
The eruption of santorini
in 1650 b.C.
563
00:35:57,189 --> 00:35:59,890
Decimates all life on the island
564
00:35:59,892 --> 00:36:02,092
and erases
an entire civilization
565
00:36:02,094 --> 00:36:05,295
from the pages of history.
566
00:36:05,297 --> 00:36:08,431
The mysterious lost people
of ancient akrotiri
567
00:36:08,433 --> 00:36:12,536
leave behind no written records
of who they are.
568
00:36:12,538 --> 00:36:18,575
Clues, however, can be found
in the archeological evidence.
569
00:36:18,577 --> 00:36:21,011
The ruins preserved
by the volcanic ash
570
00:36:21,013 --> 00:36:24,414
provide a glimpse of this
advanced, lost civilization.
571
00:36:26,418 --> 00:36:27,951
Through the front door,
572
00:36:27,953 --> 00:36:32,055
a stone staircase
leads up to the first floor.
573
00:36:32,057 --> 00:36:35,225
The floors are paved with
huge slabs of volcanic rock
574
00:36:35,227 --> 00:36:37,260
with vibrant red detail.
575
00:36:39,364 --> 00:36:43,233
Beautiful frescoes adorn
the walls depicting local life
576
00:36:43,235 --> 00:36:48,305
by the sea -- sailboats
and fishermen with their catch.
577
00:36:48,307 --> 00:36:53,643
Alongside an ancient bathroom
with a magnificent clay bathtub
578
00:36:53,645 --> 00:36:57,714
and one of the earliest toilets
ever discovered, ingeniously
579
00:36:57,716 --> 00:37:01,117
plumbed into the city's own
sewer network.
580
00:37:01,119 --> 00:37:03,286
It's evidence of
a highly sophisticated
581
00:37:03,288 --> 00:37:05,855
and cultured society.
582
00:37:05,857 --> 00:37:08,959
What is this civilization,
and who are its people?
583
00:37:11,363 --> 00:37:14,731
Most of the people believe
the lost atlantis city
584
00:37:14,733 --> 00:37:16,700
was here --
was in santorini.
585
00:37:16,702 --> 00:37:19,803
There was a huge city,
a marvelous city
586
00:37:19,805 --> 00:37:21,938
that has been
destroyed completely
587
00:37:21,940 --> 00:37:23,873
due to the eruption.
588
00:37:23,875 --> 00:37:25,809
Narrator:
In 360 b.C.,
589
00:37:25,811 --> 00:37:30,547
the greek philosopher plato
records the legend of atlantis,
590
00:37:30,549 --> 00:37:32,549
the story of
an advanced civilization
591
00:37:32,551 --> 00:37:37,287
destroyed by the gods
for their arrogance.
592
00:37:37,289 --> 00:37:41,524
It's a story that's fascinated
us for millennia.
593
00:37:41,526 --> 00:37:43,660
People have searched
for physical evidence
594
00:37:43,662 --> 00:37:46,296
of plato's atlantis,
but found nothing.
595
00:37:48,567 --> 00:37:52,269
Could santorini
be the lost island of atlantis?
596
00:37:52,271 --> 00:37:57,407
Plato say that the civilization
was very brilliant,
597
00:37:57,409 --> 00:38:00,243
and we do know the people
that they live in santorini
598
00:38:00,245 --> 00:38:03,413
at that time, they were very
clever.
599
00:38:03,415 --> 00:38:07,917
That civilization
was very sophisticated.
600
00:38:07,919 --> 00:38:11,221
Narrator:
But something doesn't stack up.
601
00:38:11,223 --> 00:38:14,357
Plato's atlantis sinks
into the ocean,
602
00:38:14,359 --> 00:38:17,460
but santorini doesn't
603
00:38:17,462 --> 00:38:21,564
could more evidence
be submerged beneath the waves?
604
00:38:26,038 --> 00:38:28,271
Evi uses her remote
operated vehicle
605
00:38:28,273 --> 00:38:31,207
to explore santorini's
hidden depths.
606
00:38:33,512 --> 00:38:38,615
She's looking for any evidence
of ancient man-made structures.
607
00:38:38,617 --> 00:38:40,283
Nomikou: I'm just wondering
what will happen
608
00:38:40,285 --> 00:38:46,189
if we map the area on the
smallest dikes over there.
609
00:38:46,191 --> 00:38:47,791
Narrator:
In santorini's caldera
610
00:38:47,793 --> 00:38:50,493
on the eastern edge
of therasia island,
611
00:38:50,495 --> 00:38:52,629
36-feet below the water,
612
00:38:52,631 --> 00:38:55,231
evi makes
an extraordinary discovery.
613
00:38:55,233 --> 00:38:59,436
Yeah. What is this?
Yeah, you see the structure
614
00:38:59,438 --> 00:39:01,404
of the lava?
-Yes.
615
00:39:01,406 --> 00:39:02,539
It's very peculiar here.
616
00:39:02,541 --> 00:39:06,509
Also, there is a line here.
Wow.
617
00:39:06,511 --> 00:39:12,015
So we have some kind of steps
very close to the land.
618
00:39:12,017 --> 00:39:14,651
Narrator:
An ancient structure bears
a striking resemblance
619
00:39:14,653 --> 00:39:18,254
to a stone staircase.
620
00:39:18,256 --> 00:39:21,791
But is it natural or man-made?
621
00:39:21,793 --> 00:39:24,728
The step could be man-made,
okay,
622
00:39:24,730 --> 00:39:28,298
because of the shape,
the geometry of the step,
623
00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:33,503
they don't have this peculiar
lava structure around.
624
00:39:33,505 --> 00:39:37,107
This is completely flat
and perpendicular.
625
00:39:39,811 --> 00:39:42,278
Narrator: But why are these
steps underwater?
626
00:39:44,449 --> 00:39:47,484
Maybe this is a small part of
the ancient port --
627
00:39:47,486 --> 00:39:50,086
a submerged ancient port.
-Amazing.
628
00:39:50,088 --> 00:39:52,722
Narrator: An ancient port
within the caldera
629
00:39:52,724 --> 00:39:57,160
matches plato's description of
atlantis.
630
00:39:57,162 --> 00:39:58,895
Originally on dry land,
631
00:39:58,897 --> 00:40:00,964
the port collapses
into the caldera
632
00:40:00,966 --> 00:40:03,967
during santorini's eruption.
It suggests
633
00:40:03,969 --> 00:40:07,203
the port sits right on top
of the volcano's epicenter
634
00:40:07,205 --> 00:40:11,474
when it erupts over
3,000 years ago.
635
00:40:11,476 --> 00:40:15,345
If we found some remnants
of the port within the caldera,
636
00:40:15,347 --> 00:40:20,617
that means that something
that was an ancient city
637
00:40:20,619 --> 00:40:22,485
just in the middle
of the caldera
638
00:40:22,487 --> 00:40:25,321
like plato described.
639
00:40:25,323 --> 00:40:27,857
Narrator: Evi will need
future exploration
640
00:40:27,859 --> 00:40:29,392
to confirm her findings
641
00:40:29,394 --> 00:40:34,497
and reveal the true relationship
between santorini and atlantis.
642
00:40:34,499 --> 00:40:36,299
Nikomou:
If you connect geography,
643
00:40:36,301 --> 00:40:39,302
the history, and the
catastrophic event
644
00:40:39,304 --> 00:40:41,504
of the eruption,
that means you have found
645
00:40:41,506 --> 00:40:44,808
some evidence of the lost
atlantis in santorini.
646
00:40:44,810 --> 00:40:50,713
♪
647
00:40:50,715 --> 00:40:54,851
narrator: Santorini is an island
borne out of fire and brimstone.
648
00:40:57,222 --> 00:41:00,490
Today, the ruins of akrotiri
are all that remains
649
00:41:00,492 --> 00:41:02,358
of the
sophisticated civilization
650
00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:04,060
that once thrives here.
651
00:41:06,531 --> 00:41:10,166
Wiped from existence
in the largest volcanic eruption
652
00:41:10,168 --> 00:41:11,801
in human history.
653
00:41:16,374 --> 00:41:22,445
By unearthing the remains
and diving deep into the crater,
654
00:41:22,447 --> 00:41:25,882
experts can piece together
the true story of santorini's
655
00:41:25,884 --> 00:41:29,652
mega volcano,
and discover the real connection
656
00:41:29,654 --> 00:41:33,923
between ancient akrotiri
and the legend of atlantis.
657
00:41:33,925 --> 00:41:43,933
♪
658
00:41:43,935 --> 00:41:53,943
♪
659
00:41:53,945 --> 00:42:03,987
♪
60531
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