In the area of Ligona in Petra, on the western slopes of the Lepetymnos volcano, the largest volcanic center of Lesbos, impressive columnar lavas appear side by side.
These are volcanic structures created during the cooling process of liquid magma, from the development of successive cracks inside the volcanic rock, which result in the formation of an array of polygonal prisms that have the form of columns.
The prismatic lava columns of Ligona were created during the rapid cooling of lava flows, of a dacite composition, that erupted 18 million years ago from the Lepetymnos volcano. When fluid magma reached the surface, flows of incandescent magma were created that moved up the volcano’s slopes.
The magma cooled rapidly resulting in the creation of multiple parallel cracks throughout the volume of the rock. Along these cracks, the rock separated forming impressive pentagonal or hexagonal natural pillars that we observe today creating impressive ensembles in the valley of Ligona.