Sarakiniko, a stunning geological landmark on the aegean island of Milos, Greece, is under imminent threat. Known for its breath-taking white tuff formations built by the deposition of submarine volcanic eruptions and sculpted by wind and water over millions of years, this site serves as both a natural laboratory for geoscience and planetary research and a worldwide significant geoheritage site. However, recent construction of a large-scale hotel and plans for expansion to multiple constructions in the near future within Sarakiniko is causing irreversible damage, jeopardizing not only its aesthetic and cultural value but also its scientific importance.
Figure 1. The Lunar-like landscape of Sarakiniko. The contrast between the bright rocks and the turquoise waters exemplifies the site’s aesthetic and geological significance, making it a natural wonder and an important terrestrial analogue for planetary studies (Photo credit: Alexandros Maragos).
To me, spending time in Sarakiniko was natural and familiar as a kid who spent every Easter and summer holiday on the island—Milos, my mom’s birthplace. I would swim and snorkel in the beautiful canal with my cousins, run across the white tuffs, and scout for fossils embedded in the sediment—always careful not to disturb them.
It wasn’t until I was around ten that I started realizing what a unique place this is for our entire planet. I began noticing tourists marveling at Sarakiniko, calling it the ‘Moon on Earth’ and capturing it from every angle. I’ll never forget seeing a woman reading in the middle of the night, relying on nothing but the moonlight and its stunning reflection on the white tuffs. This site, along with other phenomenal volcanic landscapes—Fyriplaka, Kleftiko, and Glaronisia—shaped my desire to understand my homeland better and deeper—how else but by studying geology?
And I can’t deny that it was this extraterrestrial look of Sarakiniko that made me want to study unearthly places in our solar system and become a planetary geologist.
But now, that same place that inspired so many people and linked our terrestrial existence with space is marred by excavators tearing into million-year-old geological layers—treating them as nothing more than raw material for yet another luxury hotel.
The geological and scientific value of Sarakiniko
Sarakiniko is part of the Southern Aegean Volcanic Arc (SAVA), formed by the subduction of the African Plate beneath the Aegean Sea plate, where its northern margin is a divergent boundary with the Eurasian Plate. Milos is renowned for its diverse volcanic formations, including ignimbrites, pumice deposits, rhyolites, and hydrothermal minerals. Sarakiniko, in particular, showcases the interaction of aeolian and fluvial erosion and volcanic activity, creating an extraterrestrial landscape that closely resembles planetary surfaces such as those found on the Moon, Mars, and Saturn’s moon Titan.
Earth and Planetary scientists have long utilized Sarakiniko, as a terrestrial analogue for planetary exploration, studying its exogenic processes, sedimentary deposits, and tuff formations to better understand exotic environments. In 2024, the ‘Terrestrial Analogues for Solar System studies’ Workshop sponsored by EGU as part of the Angioletta Coradini series, brought together international experts who reaffirmed the site’s critical role in planetary science. The white volcanic tuff of Sarakiniko provides a natural testbed for remote sensing techniques, robotic exploration strategies, and geological interpretations relevant to future space missions.
Figure.2 In 2024, an EGU-sponsored workshop on Milos confirmed Sarakiniko as a key planetary analogue for the Moon, Mars, and icy bodies. Scientists analyzed its geology, emphasizing its value for testing robotic tools, remote sensing, and space exploration. The workshop called for its preservation due to its scientific significance.
Moreover, fossils are embedded throughout the volcanic rock, offering crucial insights into the paleo-geographic evolution of the region. These fossils serve as markers for reconstructing past marine environments and climate conditions, making Sarakiniko a valuable site for understanding the interplay between volcanic and marine processes over geological timescales.
A catastrophic assault on geoheritage
Despite its scientific and cultural significance, Sarakiniko is facing an existential threat. The construction of a luxury hotel and plans for the construction of several more within the geological formations has led to the destruction of irreplaceable volcanic layers, erosion of fossil deposits, and environmental degradation. Heavy machinery has already removed sections of the delicate rock formations, while construction foundations threaten to alter the natural landscape permanently.
The locals are clear ‘If we lose Sarakiniko, we lose our identity’.
The damage extends beyond geology: the hotel development risks increasing sediment runoff into the marine environment, polluting the surrounding ecosystem, and disrupting a fragile coastal habitat. The unchecked nature of this construction, occurring in the absence of sufficient legal protection for Sarakiniko, highlights the urgent need for stronger geoheritage conservation policies in Greece.
Figure 3. Wide-scale excavation has stripped large sections of the white rock, treating fossils of millions of years as trash, and leaving behind scars on the landscape.
Figure 4. Destruction of million-year-old geological layers to build yet another luxury hotel with rooms featuring private pools.
Melians live in and outside of Milos, along with nature lovers from around the world, have publicly expressed their frustration to which the Ministry of Environment and Energy replied by ordering the suspension of construction work until the legality of the building permit could be verified.
Even though construction has been halted for now, the future of this project, as well as other planned developments, remains uncertain. The same concerns apply to other unique geological and ecological sites around Milos, such as Cape Vani, Achivadolimni, Kastanas, Kleftiko, Sykia, and more, raising broader questions about the island’s environmental protection and sustainable development.
Call to action: Protecting Sarakiniko for future generations
The destruction of Sarakiniko is not just a local issue—it is a global crisis in the preservation of geoheritage. This case underscores the need for immediate intervention to halt ongoing construction and implement long-term conservation strategies. And it’s not a secret the entire group of the Cyclades islands is in danger from the unlimited construction zones and the destruction of the natural world.
Beyond the key actions that must be taken by the government to prevent further destruction of correct the damage already done, we- the citizens of this planet- must take action.
Please share this information with your peers and friends. Raise awareness in your communities.
Please sign the petition to stop the destruction and safeguard Sarakiniko and other precious sites on Milos! Every signature counts in the fight to preserve the island’s unparalleled natural beauty.
Conclusion
Sarakiniko is a rare and invaluable window into Earth’s geological past, a scientific asset for planetary research, and an irreplaceable natural wonder. If we do not act now, the loss of this site will be irreversible, depriving future generations of its scientific and cultural legacy.
Protecting Sarakiniko is not just an environmental obligation—it is a commitment to preserving our planet’s geological heritage. So more kids can be inspired, more eyes can admire it, and deeper connections can be forged with the natural world.
The time to act is now.
