The Minoan eruption of Thera, also referred to as the
Thera eruption or Santorini eruption, was a major
catastrophic volcanic eruption which is estimated to
have occurred in the mid second millennium BC. The
eruption was one of the largest volcanic events on
Earth in recorded history. The eruption devastated the
island of Thera (also called Santorini), including the
Minoan settlement at Akrotiri -- as well as communities
and agricultural areas on nearby islands and on the
coast of Crete. it has been speculated that the Minoan
eruption and the destruction of the city at Akrotiri
provided the basis for or otherwise inspired Plato's
story of Atlantis.