Nisyros

Nisyros is home to an active volcano and is one of the most beautiful Aegean islands, remaining relatively untouched by tourism. According to mythology, the island was created from the Battle of Giants, during the war between the Olympan Gods and the Giants. Poseidon pursued the giant Polyvotis to Kos island, grabbed a part of it and threw it onto his enemy, sinking him for ever at the bottom of the Aegean Sea. The legendary rock under which the giant is buried is the modern Nisyros and it is said that the volcano’s explosions are the angry breathing of the defeated giant. These explosions shaped Nisyros, which is considered to be the youngest volcanic centre in Greece along with the volcanoes of Milos, Santorini and Methanoi. During antiquity the island had a prosperous obsidian commerce, extracted by the inhabitants of Nisyros, from the near island, Gyali. The island extends over a surface of 41km², its coastline is 28km long and has 1,000 inhabitants. It can be reached by ferry from Kos and Rhodes.

Source: GNTO