Chimaera Flames

Last night we packed into the hotel’s bus and drove to the base of the mountain we had to climb at 8:30pm in the pitch dark up to see the chimaera flames.  The Chimaera flames are a series of flames that spurt from cracks in the rock, which is caused by the combustion of natural gas seeping out of the mountain at the ancient site of Olympos. The cause of the composition of the gas is still uncertain, but whatever it is, if left long enough and with enough concentration, it will ignite and the flames stay burning forever.  These flames have been burning for as long as history records man in the area and they will still be there long after humans are extinct.  Some flames are as small as the one on your stove; others are as large as a bon fire, though when earthquakes occur it changes the flames.  Historically the flames have been as large as busses, and this has always been a great landmark for sailors who are sailing past the area at night.   The climb to the Chimaeras is about 1 km up and it is a series of wide rock steps surrounded by ruins. We brought headlamps knowing we would be hiking at night and I brought marshmallows to roast over the flames.


It was really cool to see all the fires shooting out the side of the mountain…definitely a once in a life time experience!