Are you headed to Milos island this summer? It’s the perfect Greek island for adventure lovers. In addition to secluded beaches, boat trips, and volcanic hikes, you need to visit the old sulfur mines in Milos. Let me tell you more about them!
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What is Milos?
Milos is an island in Greece. It is part of the Cyclades, a group of islands including Santorini and Mykonos. It was formed over one million years ago from volcanic eruptions. For this reason, the island has a lot of minerals such as iron, manganese, bentonite, and of course, sulfur. Milos has been a very important part of Greece’s industrial history and still today exports massive amounts of perlite and bentonite. The history of mining sulfur in Milos goes back to ancient times!
What is sulfur?
Sulfur is a chemical element that is used to create sulfuric acid and other materials like matches, explosives, and pesticides. It is yellow in color and typically appears in the form of crystals or powder. Fun fact: sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in the universe!
What is the history of the old sulfur mines?
The old sulfur mines of Milos (Theiorycheia, Theorychia, or Thiorichia in Greek) were built in the 1930s and used for the extraction of sulfur. The machinery used a new method for mining sulfur which made processing easier.
At its peak, the sulfur mines were producing 15,000 tons of sulfur per year. Most was being exported to France to be used as pesticides. In the 1960s, a much cheaper method to acquire sulfur was discovered. The mining company went bankrupt and the sulfur mines were abandoned.
How were the old sulfur mines used?
Miners would dig tunnels in the hillside surrounding the sulfur mines and extract sulfur with the help of dynamite. They would then carry the sulfur to the processing facility where it was melted. Once cooled, the sulfur was collected in wagons and transported to the nearby dock to be exported.
Unfortunately, the working conditions at the old sulfur mines were poor. The miners were constantly inhaling sulfur dust, which affects the lungs and kidneys. In the underground tunnels the temperatures could reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit and there was no ventilation.
What remains of the old sulfur mines today?
When the sulfur mines were abandoned, the buildings, machinery, and tools were left behind. Unfortunately, some items were stolen, but others were collected and placed in a local mining museum. The old sulfur mines were eventually declared as a historic site by the Greek Ministry of Culture.
Today, there is a lot to explore at the old sulfur mines. In addition to the stone buildings, railroad tracks for wagons, rusty machinery and tools, and living quarters of the miners, you can also visit the entrances to the actual mines (pictured below).
How do I get to the old sulfur mines?
The old sulfur mines are located on the south east coast of Milos, adjacent to a beach called Paliorema. Since it’s at the end of a dirt road, the site is accessible only by 4×4 cars or ATVs. We drove our ATV from Plaka to Theiorycheia which took about 40 minutes. Be aware that as you get closer to the mines, the ride gets bumpier, but there’s a great view!
If you have a normal car, you will want to park above the mines and walk the rest of the way down. If you don’t plan to rent a car or ATV, you can also book a tour that will take you to the old sulfur mines!
Why should I visit the old sulfur mines?
Visiting the old sulfur mines in Milos is a great way to appreciate the volcanic and industrial history of the island. All in all, we spent about 45 minutes wandering around the site and afterwards relaxed on the nearby beach (which is literally a few steps away). This is definitely a unique experience as the mines have held up so well over the last 60+ years. If you have a few hours of spare time on your Milos itinerary, head to the old sulfur mines!
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For more on what to do in Milos and other Cyclades islands, check out my blog post: SO YOU WANT TO GO CYCLADES ISLAND HOPPING (2023)
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