Profitis Ilias Volcanic Dome

The impressive hill of Profitis Ilias dominating the landscape is one of the most characteristic volcanic structures of Lemnos. Located to the west of the gulf of Moudros, south of the village of Kornos, the hot springs of Therma flow from its foothills.

The volcanic dome was formed by the uplifting of the volcanic rocks as dacitic lava permeated the crust. The hill of Profitis Ilias belongs to a complex of volcanic structures created 19.3-18.2 million years ago in western Lemnos by magma with a relatively high gas content which permeated and uplifted pre-existing geological formations before it rapidly cooled.

At the highest points of the volcanic dome there are weathering formations called “tafoni”, which are fascinating structures caused by erosion of the volcanic rocks.

The towering volcanic hill of Profitis Ilias appears to have been well-known among foreign visitors. There are instances, such as that of the French Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Auguste de Choiseul – Gouffie (1785), where the volcanic structure is referred to as the Therma Mountain (Mt. de Therma).

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