Santorini

Santorini, the volcanic island in the Cyclades group of the Greek Islands, becomes the stage for a remarkable demonstration of Captain Nemo's mastery over the Nautilus and his deep understanding of the earth's plutonic forces. The encounter occurs as the Nautilus navigates the channel between the volcanic islets of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, where the captain deliberately brings his vessel into a current of boiling water to show Professor Aronnax an underwater volcanic eruption in progress. The heat becomes so intense that the lounge thermometer registers 42° centigrade, and the sea around the Nautilus turns completely white, with steaming sulfurous fumes uncoiling in the midst of waves bubbling like water in a boiler. When Aronnax leans his hand against one of the lounge windows, the heat is so great that he must snatch it back immediately. Captain Nemo explains that the formation of new islands in this region has not ceased, recounting how in 1866 a new islet named George Island emerged near Nea Kameni, followed by the islet of Aphroessa and a smaller one called Reka, all of which have since fused into a single island. The captain reveals that he was present in these seas when that phenomenon occurred and was able to observe its every phase, describing the black, glassy lava mixed with bits of feldspar that composed the new land. The water in the channel turns from white to red, a coloration caused by the presence of iron salts, and the lounge fills with an intolerable stink of sulfur despite being hermetically sealed. Scarlet flames of such brightness overpower the Nautilus's electric light, and Aronnax feels himself being cooked in actual fact. Captain Nemo, remaining emotionless throughout, finally gives the order to retreat, and the Nautilus tacks about and retreats from this furnace it cannot brave with impunity. A quarter of an hour later, they are breathing fresh air on the surface of the waves. The episode leaves Aronnax reflecting that if Ned Land had chosen these waterways for an escape attempt, they would not have come out alive from this sea of fire. This incident at Santorini not only showcases the raw power of submarine volcanism but also reveals Captain Nemo's character as a scientist who has personally witnessed and documented geological processes that few humans have ever seen, reinforcing his identity as a man who has made the ocean his true domain and who possesses knowledge that places him beyond the reach of ordinary humanity.