On the Greek island of Kimolos, nature has created a coastline filled with unusual shapes, bright blue water and small whitewashed houses. Among its most curious sights is a rock that appears to take the shape of an elephant.
The formation can be found around Rema and Goupa, a picturesque coastal area on the island. Seen from the right angle, the rock has a shape that suggests an elephant, complete with what looks like a trunk extending toward the sea.
It is a natural formation, and the resemblance comes from the way the rock has been shaped by erosion. The effect is especially striking when viewed from the water, where the rocky coastline rises above the turquoise Aegean.
Kimolos’ Elephant Rock and Volcanic Landscape
The “Elephant” is not a monument or a sculpture. It is part of the island’s distinctive volcanic landscape, where wind, waves and erosion have produced unusual rock formations.
The sight has become one of the memorable landmarks around Rema and Goupa.
Kimolos is part of the western Cyclades and is known for its unusual geology. The island takes its name from kimolia. The local chalk-like mineral, and its coastline features a striking variety of pale volcanic rocks.
The Traditional Syrmata of Goupa
The area has another feature that makes it especially distinctive: the syrmata, traditional boat shelters carved directly into the soft rock.
The small structures have colorful wooden doors and open toward the sea. Fishermen traditionally used them to protect their boats, particularly during the winter months. The shelters remain one of the most recognizable features of Kimolos’ coastal landscape.
Together, the Elephant rock, the syrmata and the whitewashed houses give this corner of Kimolos a character that feels distinctly local.
For visitors arriving by boat, the view is particularly striking: turquoise water in the foreground, pale volcanic rock rising from the shore. Colorful doors cut into the cliffs and, nearby, a formation that seems to take the shape of an elephant.
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