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Yesterday, after our ride and lunch, we sailed from the island of Kos to the island of Nisyros and docked in the village of Mondraki. Us Aussies, Americans and lone Canuck were ready to hit this volcanic island! But first a stroll around to see the sights and search out some ouzo! (the official libation of this trip )
Our ride was 36 miles(57km), 3,570 ft elevation
There is something very special about waking up on your own private gulet and getting off on a volcanic island with the intention of riding every paved metre of it!
The charming port of Nisiros with its white washed houses covering the surrounding hills was a stunning place to jump on our bikes. Naturally, our ride climbed to the top of the island offering amazing views of the Aegean, Dodecanese Islands, and Turkey’s immense coastline. Nikia, the island’s highest village was our stop for coffee and from here you can look down on the active volcano down below. We circled back to descend into the crater of the volcano, so large that there is a hazelnut tree grove and grazing cattle!
However, what goes down must come up!…2km at 8% with pitches of 12 to 15.4% !!
There were signs of the Knights of Rhodes! They took over this island in 1312 and marked their presence by building the five fortresses on the strategic points of the island!
Nisyros was born during the Battle of the Titans. Gaia, the mother of all, turned the mortal Giants against the immortal Olympian Gods. The Gods chased the Giants, who retreated and Poseidon, god of the sea, attacked the Giant Polyvotis. He caught up with him near Kos and with his trident he tore away part of the island Kos and hurled it at Polyvotis and the Giant was crushed into the sea. That former part of Kos became Nisyros!
Nisyros is the youngest of the great active volcanoes of Greece, together with Methana, Milos and Santorini. The first underwater explosions occurred 150.000 years ago, while the main activity took place 40 to 10 thousand years before. Today, hydrothermal eruptions are still happening. Nisyros consists of volcanic mountains, while its center is occupied by a caldera, 4 km of diameter, from the bottom to the surface of which, there is sulfur. Inside the caldera there is the biggest hydrothermal crater in the world, in fact known by the name Stephanos, which is 300 m of diameter, while overall, there are five craters in Nisyros. The last volcanic explosion happened in 1888 and today on the island there are active fumaroles or, as the locals call them, “ksefisistres”…