The volcanoes of Kamchatka are the birthplace of instability. Volcanoes of Kamchatka - the birthplace of instability Volcanoes in Kamchatka names

Despite the fact that many believe that the volcanoes of Kamchatka are not bloodthirsty, in fact, they owe the small number of victims primarily to the fact that people avoid building houses at their feet - there are from 28 to 36 active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula (depending on the type of classification ) and a huge number of those that are considered asleep or extinct.

But no one wants to take risks, especially considering that volcanic activity here almost never subsides: only at the end of 2014 several Kamchatka hills woke up and began erupting at once - the Shiveluch, Zhupanovsky, Karymsky volcanoes, and others.

What is Kamchatka

The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the northeast of Eurasia, located on the territory of the Russian Federation. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, in the east by the Bering Sea, as well as the Pacific Ocean. The peninsula has an oblong shape and stretches from northeast to southwest for about 1200 km, while its greatest width is almost 450 km. Kamchatka is connected to the continent by a narrow (a little less than a hundred kilometers) isthmus.

This peninsula is unique primarily because there are a huge number of volcanoes here - both long-extinct and dormant, and many that are actively active (the volcanoes of Kamchatka occupy about 40% of the entire area of ​​the peninsula).

In total, scientists count about three hundred fire-breathing mountains here, so it is not surprising that volcanic eruptions and associated processes occurring at depth (primarily thermal springs and geysers) shape the local landscape.

The nature of this region is constantly changing, since about three or four volcanoes erupt lava here every year, revealing not only increased volcanic activity, but also causing seismic activity. Volcanoes and geysers of Kamchatka are a fairly typical phenomenon for local residents.

How Kamchatka was formed

The Kamchatka Peninsula belongs to the Pacific Ring of Fire, so the oceanic and continental plates constantly collide with each other here. A huge ridge was formed over the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, the total length of which was 2.5 thousand km. In the north of the newly formed ridge, in its wider part, the Kamchatka Peninsula arose, while in the south only individual peaks emerged from the water, forming the Kuril Islands.

It is worth noting that the relief of the peninsula consists of successive lowlands and mountain ranges. It was formed in this way: lava poured out from the bowels of the earth along deep faults and loose volcanic materials (ash, slag) were thrown up, forming high plateaus and volcanoes.

Over time, the volcanoes of Kamchatka have significantly decreased in size. This happened for several reasons:

• Powerful water flows eroded the slopes, forming ravines and gorges;
• The formed mountains were destroyed by wind, sharp temperature fluctuations and even constant melting/freezing of water;
• Glaciers crashed into the peninsula more than once, colliding with the ridges and destroying the rock.

At the same time, the tectonic plates have not stopped their activity and have been colliding with each other for many millennia almost as actively as before. This is one of the reasons that Kamchatka volcanoes have been active throughout the existence of the peninsula, gradually moving from west to east, forming lowlands, two main mountain systems and other hills:

1. The Western Kamchatka Lowland, the maximum width of which is about forty meters, hills begin to appear closer to the Sredinny Range.
2. The Sredinny Range is one of the main mountain systems of Kamchatka, the length of which is about 900 km and stretches along the watershed of the Sredinny Range, which is located in the center of the peninsula and expands to the south. There is only one active volcano here - Khangar, which last erupted more than 1.5 thousand years ago.
3. Central Kamchatka depression with a length of 500 km. The Bystraya and Kamchatka rivers flow here, leading to the Bering Sea.
4. The eastern volcanic zone is another, younger mountain system of Kamchatka, stretching from north to south along the entire peninsula. It includes almost all active volcanoes of Kamchatka and about 70% of thermal springs.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

The height of Klyuchevsky volcano is constantly changing and ranges from 4,750 to 4,850 meters, making it the highest active volcano in Eurasia. It erupts mainly once every 5-6 years and even more often: despite the fact that in 2013 it threw ash to a height of 12 km above sea level, already in January 2015 it woke up again and erupted a six-kilometer column of ash and a huge amount of lava.

Avachinskaya Sopka

Avachinsky volcano is active and located in the north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - 25 km. Its height is a little more than 2.7 thousand meters, the top is cone-shaped. Avachinsky volcano has a huge crater, the diameter of which is almost half a thousand meters, the height is 700 meters. In its upper part (together with the nearby Kozelskaya Sopka) there are 10 glaciers, the total area of ​​which exceeds ten kilometers of volcanoes.

Since Avachinsky volcano is located not far from Petropavlovsk, and the climb to it is quite simple and takes 6 to 8 hours along a paved path, it is one of the most visited volcanoes in Kamchatka.

Koryak hill

One of the most famous volcanoes of this mountain system is the Koryaksky volcano, located 35 km from Petropavlovsk, whose height is about 3.5 thousand meters. At the same time, local residents cannot imagine the city without it: in good weather it can be seen from almost any points of the city.

In terms of volcanic activity, the Koryaksky volcano is relatively safe (the last major eruption was observed here in the 50s of the last century).

In 2008, there was a release of volcanic gas that could be seen even from space, and the smoke plume stretched for almost 100 km and reached Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

Recently, the Koryaksky volcano, thanks to its extremely steep slopes, has increasingly attracted the attention of climbers. Another advantage for them is that, due to the difficult climb to this mountain, there are no such massive ascents as on more accessible hills. Therefore, only an experienced, well-prepared climber is capable of climbing the Koryaksky volcano, otherwise it could very well end in tragedy.

Karymskaya Sopka

Another interesting mountain of the Eastern Range is the Karymsky volcano, whose height is almost 1.5 thousand m. It is extremely active - since the mid-19th century, geologists have recorded about twenty eruptions here (over the past ten years the Karymsky volcano has erupted twice), while , despite the fact that it is separated from Petropavlovsk by 115 km, in the event of strong emissions, volcanic ash reaches there too.

Mutnovskaya Sopka

Mutnovsky volcano is located eighty kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Its height is about 2.3 km and it consists of several cones, which over time merged into a single massif. The northwestern cone, despite its small crater (2 by 1.5 m), has all the signs of volcanic activity.

Despite the fact that the Mutnovsky volcano is active (in total, geologists have recorded about 16 eruptions, the last of which was in 2000), it reminds of itself only by the emissions of volcanic gases and the presence of a huge number of thermal springs - this is where one of the largest geothermal deposits is located on our planet.

Zhupanovskaya Sopka

Seventy kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (in the southwestern side) is the Zhupanovsky volcano, whose height is almost 3 thousand m. This is one of the most active volcanoes of recent times: in recent years it has been erupting extremely actively, and the release of volcanic ash in January 2015 reached 5 km above sea level. Currently, the Zhupanovsky volcano has an orange aviation hazard code - and all tourists who find themselves near it are advised to leave the area.

Gorely Volcano

Gorely volcano is located in the southwest of Petropavlovsk (80 km). This volcano is active, its height is almost 2 km above sea level and it is located in the south of the peninsula. It consists of eleven superimposed cones and thirty craters, the length of which is three kilometers along the ridge. Some of them are filled with acid, others with fresh water. In total, scientists have recorded about 50 eruptions of this hill.

In former times, the Gorely volcano was so active that the underground magma chamber was completely devastated, which is why the plateau gave way and fell down into the resulting voids, forming the volcanic caldera.

Since the eruptions did not stop, a ridge subsequently grew inside it. At the same time, there was so much lava that it even flowed outside the caldera: one of its flows moved in a north-west direction for 9 km, the other – in a south-west direction – for 15 km.

The last time the Gorely volcano was active was in 2010, and this process was accompanied by seismic activity and significant emissions of steam and gas. Over the past few years, this mountain has been silent and does not show itself in any way. Geologists say that the period of rest between eruptions averages about twenty years, and the longest break was as much as sixty (for this volcano, this is quite a long time).
Kronotskaya Sopka

Kronotsky volcano, whose height exceeds 3,538 meters, and the top has a regular ribbed cone. Eruptions at this stratovolcano occur, however, rarely - the last time this happened was in 1923. Not far from it is the famous Valley of Geysers.

Volcano Shiveluch

Shiveluch Volcano is the northernmost active volcano of the peninsula; it is separated from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by more than 400 km. It has been extremely active lately: in January 2015, ash emission was about 6 km above sea level, and ash clouds were carried 200 km westward.

Currently, the Shiveluch volcano has a height of 3283 meters, whereas previously it was much higher, but as a result of extremely strong eruptions at the beginning of the 21st century, it became lower by 114 meters. Three years later, the Shiveluch volcano threw volcanic ash and lava from its depths to a height of more than ten kilometers - its activity turned out to be so strong that part of its dome collapsed, but a crevice thirty meters deep also formed in it.

Since ancient times, volcanoes have brought fear and horror to people living nearby. Volcanic eruptions wiped out cities and towns, claiming millions of lives, leaving behind rivers of molten lava. There is a version that the last ice age was caused by a supervolcano eruption that occurred about 75 thousand years ago in Indonesia, on Lake Toba. Volcanoes got their name from the Roman god of fire and blacksmithing. The natural phenomenon gave rise to many myths and legends, including the legend of Ptolemy, who stole fire from the god Vulcan himself, and the infamous story of the death of Pompeii.

Due to the displacement of tectonic plates, the earth's surface is in constant motion. Large areas of the earth's crust move along underground currents of molten rock. Volcanoes appear in places where tectonic plates collapse, creating new material for the plates. Thanks to volcanic activity, many islands of the Pacific Ocean arose - Hawaiian, Galapagos, Fiji. Volcanism in Kamchatka is caused by the displacement of the Pacific plate under the Eurasian tectonic plate.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka

The Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano is considered one of the most famous and active on the peninsula. It is also the highest point in Kamchatka and Eurasia. The village of Klyuchi is located on the banks of the deepest river on the peninsula. This old settlement is the leader in the cluster of fire-breathing neighbors and is located at the foot of Klyuchevskaya Sopka. In its vicinity there are five highest active and several extinct volcanoes.

Kronotsky Reserve

Nature lovers call the Kronotsky Nature Reserve the eighth wonder of the world. One of the largest collections of geysers in the world is home to pulsating boiling springs, hot lakes, mud pots and volcanoes. In the book “Stone Torches of Kamchatka” K.N. Rudich writes: “...starting from the mouth of the Geysernaya River, nine groups of geysers and thermal springs are distinguished over a distance of 6 km. The first of them was discovered by T.I. Ustinova in the valley of the Shumnaya River, 50 m below the mouth of the Geysernaya River, and was named by her Pervenets.”. The valley shimmers with colorful shades; something is constantly bubbling, babbling, creaking in it and arousing genuine interest.

Active fire-breathing mountains form a volcanic belt from Shiveluch volcano in the north of the peninsula to Kambalny volcano in the south. From a helicopter, following the excursion route to the Valley of Geysers, you can observe the Shiveluch volcano with a turquoise-colored crater acid lake. The most active “stone torches” are the Klyuchevskoy, Karymsky, Shiveluch and Bezymyanny volcanoes.

Kizimen

The active volcano Kizimen has been silent for almost 80 years. Gradually, its activity began to increase, and strong earthquakes were felt in the surrounding area, soil vibrations and smoking cracks were observed on the surface. On the first day of 2001, several explosions occurred, and part of Kamchatka was covered with ash.

Flora and fauna of Kamchatka

The fauna of Kamchatka is surprisingly diverse. The Kamchatka polar bear weighs up to 150 kg. When there are no fish in local rivers, the predator eats plant foods for a long time. The Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve is home to the Kamchatka sable, which is listed in the Red Book. Its expensive fur is the wealth of the Kamchatka region.

From a helicopter, the thickets of dwarf cedar resemble a soft carpet spread along the ridges. But this is just an appearance. The branches of dwarf dwarf grow along the slope towards the ascending traveler, forming dense, impenetrable thickets.

Closed area

The discoverer of Kamchatka is called the Russian explorer, Siberian Cossack Vladimir Atlasov. He, together with his Cossack detachment, walked around almost the entire peninsula and collected a huge amount of information about the indigenous peoples of this region. It was with his travels in the 17th century that the development of this region began.

During the years of Soviet power, the mysterious peninsula was a closed area. Until 1990, no foreigner could set foot on the soil of Kamchatka and even a Russian needed a special pass to get here. The easternmost outpost of Russia housed secret facilities of the Pacific Fleet. And even today not everyone can get here.

Despite the imminent danger, volcanoes are among the most interesting natural objects that attract many tourists. The most favorite places to visit were the Nizhne-Semyachik hot springs, fumarole fields, mud pots and boiling lakes of the Burlyashchiy and Uzon volcanoes, the “valley of death” in the upper reaches of the Geysernaya River at the foot of the Kikhpinych volcano, Krasheninnikov volcano, Kronotskoye Lake and Boiling hot springs.

Tourism in Kamchatka

Before the invention of airplanes, the journey from Moscow to Kamchatka could take more than a year. With modern means of transport, the peninsula can be reached in approximately eight hours. A favorable time for extreme tourism and a rather risky journey through the volcanic park is from the beginning of June to the end of August. Before setting out on the route, it is important not to forget your satellite phone and GPS satellite navigation device, obtain a special permit and register at one of the Klyuchevsky Park offices - in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky or the village of Kozyrevsk. The search and rescue team of the Ministry of Emergency Situations must indicate the date of their return. Visits to the protected area are strictly regulated - no more than three thousand people visit here each year.

The volcano is a huge cone-shaped mound, which consists mainly of basalts. This is the most common rock in the Kuril Islands. The height of the volcano is approximately 1500 meters. It received its name in honor of the great military commander Khmelnitsky. Near Bogdan Khmelnitsky there is another volcano - Chirip. Together they make up the Two-Humped Range.

By the way, this confluence of two hills is considered the most popular among tourists. People come here specifically to climb to the top and look at the Sea of ​​Okhotsk from a bird's eye view. At the foot of the volcanoes there are many camp sites that offer overnight accommodation and all the necessary climbing equipment. During the ascent there are already prepared places to rest.

So, at an altitude of 1000 meters on a hill there is Lake Lost. There you can stop and get fresh water. It won't be found anywhere else higher. Although, many tourists do not disdain melt water from glaciers, of which there is a lot at the top.

Volcano Shirinki

The island on which the volcano stands is its main mass. The base area is approximately three by three kilometers.

The volcano is a regular, neat cone-shaped mound consisting of a variety of andesite rocks. The height of the hill does not even reach 1000 meters. At the top of the volcano there is a crater dotted with rocks and cracks. Its diameter is about 450 meters.

The slopes of Shirinka are disfigured by small cracks, depressions and flows of solidified lava. Some streams reached the sea, but no data on the volcanic eruption was preserved anywhere. Scientists can only guess based on the obvious facts surrounding the hill on all sides. There are guesses that the volcano is not at all young, but appeared more than a million years ago on the site of another ancient volcano.

Volcano Karymsky

Karymsky volcano is one of the most active Kamchatka volcanoes, which is part of the Karymsky volcanic center. It is located 125 kilometers north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk and 30 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean.

The volcano is represented by a caldera with a diameter of 5 kilometers and a cone located in the central part of the caldera. Her age is 7,700 years. The absolute height of the volcano reaches 1,536 meters.

At the foot of the volcano, Lake Karymskoye was formed, which occupies the main part of the caldera of an even more ancient volcano.

An eruption occurred here in 1996, which is still ongoing. The crater constantly releases hot gases and erupts from time to time. In 2008, the volcano ejected ash to a height of about 5 kilometers. Volcanic activity poses a great danger to local airlines.

Volcano Krasheninnikov

The discoverer of the volcano is considered to be the scientist S.P. Krasheninnikov, who led hundreds of expeditions to the Kamchatka region. He worked on rocks for years, studying each species individually. By the way, the volcano received its name precisely thanks to the researcher.

The majestic hill has impressive shapes. Its height is about 1800 meters. At the top there is a huge crater. Fresh traces of lava are visible on the slopes, confirming that the volcano is active. But there is no need to worry, its possibility is too small. The fiery lava can hardly reach the foot of the volcano. The last major eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano was recorded in 1550. No powerful explosions were observed afterward. But the destruction is still evident today. Because of this, nothing has grown around the volcano for a long time.

Vulcan Surveyors

The hill is a small cone-shaped mound that occupies a huge area of ​​more than 25 square kilometers. A small depression with a diameter of six kilometers formed at the top. The hole is completely filled with glaciers and snowfields. The height of the volcano is about a thousand meters. The mound consists exclusively of basalt, a long-explored rock. Andesites are still found here and there, but they are considered rare.

The slopes of the volcano are clean, without visible cracks or cliffs. This suggests that it appeared in the modern period. By the way, scientists are still arguing about the exact date of his birth. The date of the last eruption of the Geodesist volcano is also not known.

At the foot of the hill there is a volcanic field. Nothing living grows there due to the erupted lava.

Vulcan Naked

The volcano is approximately 3000 million years old. Golaya is located near the mountain river Asacha. By its shield-like composition it is connected with other hills in the upper reaches of the reservoir.

The hill is a cone-shaped mound consisting exclusively of basalt rocks. The exact height of Golaya is 858 meters. Due to the basalt, the volcano is almost white. Local residents jokingly nicknamed the volcano the Naked Woman for its corrugated shape. The second word of the nickname was lost and the hill remained simply Naked. The name remains the same. The top of the volcano is decorated with a small depression strewn with snowfields and glaciers.

Throughout its history, the volcano has erupted several dozen times, but it has not brought much destruction. Scientists have not established the date of the last explosion.

Volcano Bakening

Volcano Bakening is often called Benniken or Bakenin. The hill is a cone-shaped mound consisting of porous, light and brown lava rocks. The sides of Bakening are decorated with jagged ridges and sharp rocks. The height of the hill is just over 2000 meters. The last volcanic eruption was recorded in 550 BC.

The hill is located on the edge of two lakes - Ditmar and the lake that fills from the Bystraya River. At the foot of the volcano there is a beautiful view of the reservoirs and the majestic hill. Among photographers, there are already favorite places for shooting, where you can catch an angle that covers the territory to the maximum. Mostly they take pictures from the valley of the small river Timonova, which runs a few meters from the volcano.

Fussa Volcano

Fussa Volcano occupies the southwestern part of the island. Its age is just over 40 thousand years. The nearest populated area from the volcano is approximately 70 kilometers away.

In appearance, the hill is very beautiful. It is a huge cone-shaped mound consisting of various andesite rocks, including lava slag. The height of the volcano is approximately 2000 meters. At its summit, Fusso is truncated, forming a small crater approximately 700 meters in diameter and 300 meters deep.

Quite a few facts are known about the volcano. Even about the eruptions, only one date appears: 1854. Scientists consider it the last active action of Fuss. Although today the volcano is also active. Volcanic dust or gases are periodically released from the crater.

Vilyuchinsky volcano

The total height of the hill reaches approximately 2000 meters. The mighty hill is a cone-shaped mound consisting of various rocks. The volcano is completely covered with basalts and andesites, which are mixed with ice formations. The frozen lava has long been modified over the course of several millennia, because the last volcanic eruption occurred around 8050 BC.

The slopes of the embankment are pointed and convex. On one side a beautiful waterfall falls from them. On the other hand, hot springs come out of the volcano. In some places, gases come out from under the stones. This extraordinary spectacle is incredibly mesmerizing. Believe me, it's worth seeing.

Baransky Volcano

The volcano received its name from the geographer N.N. Baranov, who conducted research in the Kuril Islands. The size of the Baransky volcano is about 1000 meters. The hill is a cone-shaped mound, which consists of various rocks of basalt and andesite. The top is decorated with a cut crater. Its diameter is approximately 600 meters. All the walls and sides of the cavity are carefully lined with rare types of natural stones. The volcano has another crater located on the southwestern slope. It has mud boilers and thermal waters.

History has recorded many eruptions of Baransky. The most memorable and, by the way, the last one was in 1951. Today, gases and occasionally volcanic dust come out of the hill.

The Okeanskaya power plant operates near the hill. It was built in 2007.

Volcano Chikurachki

Chikurachka’s age is approximately 50 thousand years. It is a volcano of complex structure. Its height is approximately 1800 meters. It is a neat cone-shaped mound consisting of andesite rocks, as well as volcanic dust, ash and slag. At the top of the hill there is a regular-shaped crater. Its diameter reaches 450 meters. Along the edges of the depression there are high sides. There is a volcanic plug inside the crater.

Due to frequent eruptions, nothing grows near the volcano. Living organisms categorically do not perceive frozen lava, and a lot of it has spilled over the entire history of the volcano’s existence. Eruptions began in the 19th century. There are three major explosions in one century. Nowadays, the volcano is disturbed almost every year. The last eruption was recorded in 2008. For five years now he has not made himself known. Seismologists consider it an unpredictable volcano, so they monitor it closely.

Ebeko Volcano

Ebeko is a layered volcano measuring just over 1000 meters. It is a huge cone-shaped mound consisting of andesites and basalts. The volcano was formed more than 2500 years ago.

At the top of the hill there are three craters. They have a diameter of approximately 200 meters and a depth of 100 meters. They are located at the bottom of a huge somma, surrounded by high rocky sides. In each crater there are springs, geysers, and also hot lakes of a greenish-blue color. This shade comes from a large number of chemical elements. Scientist K. Zelenov took a sample of the liquid and discovered iron, manganese, and sulfur in it. All this “wealth” of the volcano flows into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk with the help of mountain rivers and streams.

Like many other volcanoes of the Kuril Islands, Ebeko erupted frequently. Explosions have been recorded since 1793. There were nine of them in total. Seismologists recorded the last eruption in 2010.

Severgina Volcano

The island of Kharimkotan, on which the volcano is located, is essentially the entire terrestrial part of the hill. Its area is approximately 60 square kilometers. The hill is a regular cone-shaped layered mound consisting of andesite and basalt rocks. In addition, the slopes of the hill are strewn with frozen streams of once-burning lava, ash and volcanic dust.

At the moment, the volcano is active and is under the close supervision of the volcanic station. Only at the end of the 19th century were three powerful explosions recorded that destroyed the sharp cone of the volcano. In the last century, the elevation of Severgin made itself felt only twice. The last eruption dates back to 1933.

Volcano Bolshaya Ipelka

The location of the volcano is very picturesque. The hill rises at the mouth of three mountain rivers. Udochka, Plotnikova and Karymchina seem to surround the hill on three sides. Near the hill lies the well-known Tolmachev Dol depression in the Kamchatka Territory.

A shield volcano is a small mound consisting of several mountain ranges. The entire embankment is dotted with various mountain parades, but most of it is basalt. At the top there is a huge crater with a diameter of about 35 kilometers. The height of Bolshaya Ipelka is just over a thousand meters. The area of ​​the mountain embankment is approximately one thousand square kilometers.

The last eruption of Bolshaya Ipelka was recorded in 1976. The volcano spat out a fiery stream of lava about 60 meters thick onto the surface.

Volcano Stone

Despite multiple destructions, the volcano is known in the Kamchatka Territory as the highest. The height of the Stone is more than 4500 meters.

The Stone once looked like a cone-shaped mound, but recent eruptions have destroyed the crater with its sides, scattering huge boulders at the foot of the volcano. The eastern part of the hill suffered heavy losses.

The volcano consists of a variety of rocks. These are mainly basalts, andesites, pyroxenes and plagioclases.

Volcano Stone is known throughout the world for its destructive actions. Once upon a time he really demolished everything in his path. More precisely, lava erupting from a crater. The last powerful explosion occurred in 808 BC.

Today the Kamen volcano is a favorite place for climbers. Its steep slopes are extreme tracks for aces. At the foot of the hill there is a special base that provides climbing equipment for rent.

Volcano Maly Semyachik

Maly Samyachik is a mountain range consisting of three fused cones. The highest of them reaches an altitude of approximately 1500 meters. There are several craters in the southwest of the hill. The most famous of them is the Troitsky crater. It is named after the famous scientist and explorer who repeatedly assembled expeditions to the Eastern Ridge. This crater has a diameter of about 700 meters. The depression is filled with a lake of unusual light green color. This shade is given by sulfur particles floating in water. The temperature of the reservoir is the same every year - 30-40 degrees Celsius. The reservoir never freezes. The depth of the lake in the crater in some places reaches 140 meters.

Maly Semyachik is currently considered an active volcano, despite the fact that the last eruptions occurred in 1952.

Volcano Koryakskaya Sopka

The Koryak hill is the highest in the Kamchatka region. Its height reaches almost 3500 meters. Not every volcano can boast of this. At the top of the hill there is a regular-shaped crater with small sides. The diameter of the depression is approximately 200 meters. The crater is covered with centuries-old ice and snow.

The volcano consists of a variety of rocks. The most common are andesite and basalt. In addition, the slopes of the volcano are covered with slag, frozen lava, dust and ash.

At the foot of the Koryak hill lies a forest consisting entirely of stone birch and cedar.

As for volcanic eruptions, they occur periodically, but now they are insignificant than before. The last largest explosion on the Koryak hill occurred approximately 5000 BC.

Bezymyanny Volcano

Bezymyanny Volcano is considered a young volcano. It was formed on the site of an old volcano in the southeastern part of the mountain range. The height of the hill is about 3000 meters. It is a cone-shaped mound, along the edges of which there are multiple flows of frozen lava.

There have been many eruptions on Bezymyanny, but the most memorable and destructive is the explosion in 1956. Until that moment, the volcano had been “silent” for almost a thousand years. The reason for everything turned out to be earthquakes that engulfed Kamchatka. They took place over the course of a month, after which the Nameless One opened up. At that time, it had a crater with a diameter of about 800 meters, but after the explosion it was already more than a kilometer. Lava flowed in several streams at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour. The burning red magma destroyed everything in its path. The length of the path that the lava traveled in some places was more than 20 kilometers. The volcanic eruption left lasting damage on the peninsula.

Volcano Kuntomintar

Kuntomintar is formed like layered volcanoes. It looks like a cone-shaped mound, which consists of a variety of rocks. Basalt and andesite are mainly found. From a satellite view, the volcano looks like a figure eight or glasses. Its height is approximately 800 meters. Its location is listed in the very center of the Nikonov Peninsula.

At the top of Kuntomintar there is a huge crater. The recess is filled with glaciers and snowfields.

There is very little history about this volcano. Many scientists assumed that Kuntomintar erupted in 1872. The explosion was so powerful that it completely destroyed a nearby village of local residents. But this data is false. The village was destroyed by an eruption from another volcano.

There are suggestions that the last eruption of Kuntomintara actually occurred in 1927. But again, there is no exact evidence of this.

Volcano Zavaritsky

Zavoritsky Volcano is a small hill in its structure. Her height is approximately 600 meters. Zavoritsky has an attractive group of calderas, which are located at the very peak of the volcano. There are three of them, ten, eight and three kilometers in diameter. In the smallest recess, Lake Turquoise was formed. Its depth reaches in some places up to 70 meters.

As for eruptions, the Zavoritsky volcano exploded several times in the 20th century. The first was around 1931. Then, powerful tremors on the lake underwater caused a displacement of the rock, and a small island appeared. The second eruption in 1957 reduced the area of ​​Turquoise. Today the volcano shows little activity. Mainly thermal emissions.

The volcano received its name from geologist A.N. Zavaritsky, who repeatedly assembled expeditions to the volcano.

Vulcan Mining Institute

The volcano got its name from the famous St. Petersburg State University of Mining, founded by Catherine the Great herself. It so happened that this volcano was one of the first objects studied by the institute’s workers.

The Mountain Institute Hill is a huge cone-shaped mound that consists of a variety of rocks. In most cases, basalt is found. The top of the volcano ends with two craters with a diameter of about five kilometers. The height of the volcano itself is approximately 2000 meters.

Several dozen eruptions of the Mining Institute volcano have been recorded in history. Most of them took place in the modern period. The last explosion occurred approximately 750 years ago.

Volcano Zimina

The Zimin group of volcanoes are located in the western part of Kamchatka. They can be seen from any point on the edge. The highest of them is Oval Zimina. Its height reaches almost 3000 meters. This cone looks much better than its other two siblings.

Zimin Hill consists of a huge amount of rocks. They are all diverse in their own way. Andesites, dacites, and basalt are found there. Everything would be fine, but along the slopes of the volcanoes, muddy streams constantly flow from the top, emerging from under the rocks. They give the hill an ugly or even dirty look. Among local climbers, the Zimin Group is jokingly called “untidy volcanoes.”

In addition, the slopes of the hill are dotted with small crevices, gorges and glacial carts. All of them are periodically eroded, forming new ones. Therefore, volcanoes are constantly changing in appearance.

Volcano Krenitsyn

Krenitsyn Volcano is an unusual shape - a volcano within a volcano. Its height is slightly more than 1000 meters. At the top of the main hill there is a smoothly cut crater. Its cavity is occupied by Lake Koltsevoye, which is filled with water with the help of natural precipitation and small mountain streams. The diameter of the reservoir is about seven kilometers. Along the edges it is surrounded by the remains of an ancient destroyed volcano. In the center of the Ring, another sharp cone rises a little more than 500 meters high. The diameter of the cone platform is approximately 17 kilometers.

The structure of the volcano consists of a variety of rocks: basalt and andesite. Along the slopes of the main cone, frozen streams of burning lava have been preserved, which are hundreds of years old. At the foot of Krenitsyn, the territory was filled with dwarf cedar and stone birch.

Volcano Golovnina

This volcano is beautiful not for its size, but for its multiple craters. The height of Golovnin is only about 500 meters. One of the calderas has a diameter of approximately five kilometers. The edges are surrounded by high sides. There are four domes in the depression. One of them is occupied by Boiling Lake. In another part of the caldera there is Lake Goryachee.

In Boiling Lake, life is in full swing, despite the fact that chemical elements predominate there - hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and carbon dioxide. During the reactions, a permanent deposit of sulfur occurs, which is found throughout the crater. It is in the film of the reservoir, and in the sand on the shore, and even settles on the bottom. This does not harm small fish at all. They live well in hot springs, mud pots and steam-gas jets.

Sredinny Ridge, Kamchatka, Russia Two-Hurt Lake, Kamchatka, Russia

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The volcanoes of Kamchatka are an unforgettable sight. On Kamchatka there are approximately 30 active and about 1000 extinct volcanoes (figures differ in different sources), which occupy about 40% of the peninsula’s territory. Active volcanoes mean not only active ones that emit magma, but also those exhibiting fumarolic activity. In general, during the historical period there were not many eruptions that were dangerous to human life. Volcanoes and the areas around them are constantly changing.

In total, there are currently about 600 active and many thousands of extinct volcanoes on Earth. No one can give the exact figure.

The Kamchatka Peninsula is part of the Pacific volcanic ring. To the east of it there is a subduction zone - the subduction of the Pacific plate under the continental one. In Kamchatka, it’s as if you are transported into the geological past of our planet - similar processes took place everywhere millions, billions of years ago. However, the subsoil of the peninsula is geologically young.

Over the course of geological history, volcanic activity in Kamchatka shifted from west to east, as a result of which two volcanic belts were formed, running almost parallel to each other: the older Middle and the younger East Kamchatka. The Middle volcanic belt was formed in the Pleistocene (2.5 million - 11.7 thousand years ago), and the East Kamchatka - in the Pleistocene and Holocene (11.7 thousand years ago - to the present). Most volcanoes are concentrated in the East Kamchatka belt. In Kamchatka, volcanoes are called “hills”, and sometimes simply mountains.

In 1996, the volcanoes of Kamchatka were included in the list of natural sites of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in 2001 it was supplemented. The “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” include not only the volcanoes themselves, but also the territories adjacent to them, as well as more than 150 mineral and thermal springs. “Volcanoes of Kamchatka” is divided into 6 sections with a total area of ​​3.7 million hectares.

Maly Semyachik- a volcanic ridge that stretches for 3 thousand meters. It contains three craters. Yuzhny (Troitsky crater) is filled with an acidic lake - a solution of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. Solution temperature from +27°C to +42°C.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, view of the “home” volcanoes

Volcano Koryaksky (Koryak Hill)- one of the most beautiful stratovolcanoes, whose height is 3456 m above sea level. Its slopes are cut through by barrancos, and even in summer glaciers do not melt. It is located just 35 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The last eruption occurred at the end of December 2008.

Avachinsky volcano, Avacha- symbol of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The height of this active volcano is 2751 m. Previously, there was a crater at its top, which after the 1991 eruption was filled with lava. Active processes continue: fumaroles deposit sulfur.

Kamchatka, Nalychevo, travertines on the Goryachaya River

Along Vilyucha there is a road to the Mutnovskaya geothermal station. Further on there are two interesting volcanoes - . Gorely Volcano is a chain of 11 craters. There are lakes, fumaroles, side cones.

Kamchatka, Gorely volcano and the caldera in front of it

Mutnovsky volcano called the “small valley of geysers” because fumarole fields and sulfur deposits are concentrated in it. When I was in Kamchatka, the volcano was active, the top was covered with a cloud of steam.

At the foot of Mutnovka - Canyon Dangerous, where a waterfall falls from a height of 100 meters.

I talked about a small part of the volcanoes of Kamchatka - only those that I personally had the opportunity to see, and even then, not all. Each of them has their own temper. Volcanoes give us the opportunity to look into the depths of our planet, to understand what processes take place in the mantle, under a thin layer of the earth’s crust. We owe the appearance of life on Earth to volcanoes: they are the creators of the continents and the ocean, the creators of the air. Volcanic gases containing carbon are the starting material for the formation of coal, oil and combustible gas. The basis of all living organisms is carbon, the primary source of which on the surface of the Earth is volcanoes. Ultimately, we are children of volcanoes.

I would like to complete my story about the volcanoes of Kamchatka with a quote from E.K. Markhinin’s book “Pluto’s Chain” (Moscow, 1973. P.324):

... we cannot help but come to the following conclusion: the entire geochemical evolution of the current layers of the Earth - the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, as well as the emergence and development of life, is ultimately the transformation of primary volcanic products.
Mighty Pluto - the ruler of the underworld - appears before us as a great creator. And the words of the great philosopher of Ancient Greece, Heraclitus of Ephesus, which he said almost 2500 years ago, take on a new meaning: “The origin of all that exists is Fire.”

If you have the opportunity, be sure to go to Kamchatka. I talked about how to save on air tickets in the article ““.

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The concept of an active volcano from a scientific point of view is relative, because some of them, thought to be extinct, brought some of the most catastrophic consequences in world history. For example, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, El Chichon in 198, Pinatubo in 1991, and Unzen 1990-1993 in Japan. In Kamchatka, an indicator of such activity was the eruption of the Bezymyanny building in the middle of the 20th century.

At the moment, among volcanologists there is a definition of an “active volcano” as a certain formation characterized by eruptions documented by history, as well as those that exhibit fumarolic or solfataric activity. In connection with this definition, an international Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World was compiled, including solfataric fields/solfatar activity.

However, the definition of a historical eruption is also relative, because The "historical record" appeared in different regions of the world at different times. Sometimes this statement is true even for regions of the same country.

Active volcanoes of Kamchatka

Regarding Kamchatka, of the existing ones, the first and only one opened at the end of the 17th century was Klyuchevskaya Sopka. Thanks to the works of Krasheninnikov and Steller, the description of the number of active volcanic massifs in Kamchatka has increased. In the 40s-50s of the 18th century, such giants as Avacha Sopka, Tolbachik, Zhupanovsky and Shiveluch, Kambalny and Koshelevsky were discovered. These scientists also described the eruptions of some of them: Avachinsky, Klyuchevsky and Plosky Tolbachik.

Later, “Map of Kamchatka Volcanoes” compiled by N.G. Kellem included Kizimen, Kikhpinych, Shtyubel and Karymsky among the active ones. There were 12 of them in total.

Catalog P.T. Novograblenova numbered 19 in 1931. He was the first in Kamchatka to formulate the concept of an active volcano, describing it as periodically active and in the stage of solfataric activity.

I.I. Gushchenko, in turn, divided mountain ranges into 3 categories: active with exact dates of eruptions in history; potentially active, with an approximate eruption date not exceeding 3500 years; as well as those in the stage of solfataric activity. The list of active volcanoes has been expanded to 32.

Subsequent changes in the number of active volcanoes in Kamchatka remain a mystery, because... An exact definition of this concept has not yet been found.

List - how many active volcanoes are in Kamchatka

• Avachinsky. Part of the group of domestic volcanoes. Beautifully built, with a regular cone, it rises near the capital of the Kamchatka Territory. Fumaroles and sulfur deposits have now been found in different areas and slopes. During moments of activity, its crater is filled with lava. Dates of last manifestations: 1909, 1926, 1938, 1945, 1991, 2001. The volcano poses a danger during periods of activity for both local and international airlines. Ash falls are possible in the following settlements: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Yelizovo, Vilyuchinsk.
• Nameless. He confirmed the title of the active one with his catastrophic emission of 1955-1956, after a rest period of 1000 years. In connection with this, it is currently under constant monitoring.
• Gachmen. No historical eruptions have been recorded. Located on satellite monitoring.
• Burnt. It is represented by three cones merging together and elongated in the western and northwestern directions. There are 11 craters at the top. The last eruptions occurred in 1931, 1932, 1947, 1961, 1980, 1984, 2010-2014. Ash falls are possible in Paratunka, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Yelizovo.
• Wild Comb. This giant is located in Southern Kamchatka. The largest extrusive structure within the borders of the Kuril-Kamchatka region. The last statement about itself dates back to 1.5 thousand years ago. It was in the activity of this volcano that the longest periods of peace were discovered - 3500 years.
• Zheltovsky. Emissions were observed in 1923. Located on satellite monitoring.
• Zhupanovsky. The last manifestations of activity were noticed in 1929, 1940, 1956, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. The emissions pose a hazard during the period of operation for local and international airlines. Ash fallout is possible in nearby settlements: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Yelizovo, Paratunka.

• Ilyinsky. The latest activity dates back to 1907. Located on satellite monitoring. The eruption and its debris avalanches pose a particular danger to Kuril Lake due to its close location.
• Ichinsky. It is the largest volcanic structure in Central Kamchatka. The date of the last eruption is approximately 1650. The volcano poses a danger to local and international airlines during its active phase.
• Flounder. The last activity dates back to 1769. Located on satellite monitoring.
• Karymsky. The most active construction in Eastern Kamchatka. The last eruptions date back to 1955, 1960, 1970, 1976, 1996. It is under satellite and seismic monitoring. When emitted, the ash rises mainly 3 km, and its plume usually stretches in a southerly direction. Poses danger for local airlines.
• Kizimen. The date of the last eruption was 2013. A conical stratovolcano with a small lava dome at the top. The height of the ash emission can reach 10 km. The volcano poses a danger during periods of activity for both local and international airlines.
• Kikhpinych. The last emissions were approximately 600 years ago.
• Klyuchevskaya Sopka. Age 7000 years. The most famous volcano not only in Kamchatka, but throughout Eurasia. Due to its close location to the village of Klyuchi, it poses a serious threat when active. Eruptions are characterized by ash clouds, mud and lava flows. Their duration can reach from several months to a year and a half, and ash plumes stretch for thousands of kilometers in different directions. The volcano poses a danger to local and international airlines during periods of activity.
• Komarova. No historically dated eruptions have been found. The volcano is classified as active due to solfataric activity discovered in the crater.
• Koryak. The last time this giant showed itself was in 2009. The volcano poses a danger during periods of activity for airlines of any level. Seismic, webcam, satellite and visual monitoring is carried out.

• Kosheleva. The last activity dates back to 1690. Located on satellite monitoring.
• Krasheninnikova. Historical eruptions date back to 1,100 years ago, while the most recent eruptions have been dated to 600 and 400 years ago. The age of the building is approximately 11,000 years. There is a high likelihood of emissions, ash clouds and lava flows in the future.
• Kronotsky. The last activity took place in 1922-1923. Ideal cone shape. All activity of the volcano is confined to its southern slope. Ash clouds, ashfalls, and lava flows are possible.
• Ksudach. The last manifestations were observed from 1907. Located on satellite monitoring.
• Maly Semyachik. The last eruptions occurred in 1851, 1852, 1945, 1952. This is a volcanic ridge, 3 km long. The crater of the youngest cone contains a thermal lake. Located on satellite monitoring.
• Mutnovsky. Complex construction of 4 formations. Recent eruptions from 1945, 1960, 1996, 2000, 2007, 2013. It is under visual and satellite monitoring.
• Opal. Last activity 1776. The volcano is under satellite monitoring.
• Flat Tolbachik showed his worth in 2013. Its height is 3085 m. Flat Tolbachik and the nearby sharp Tolbachik together form a separate massif. Terminal and explosive eruptions are dangerous. The volcano poses a danger to airlines of any significance during periods of activity.

• Townschitz, located within the boundaries of the Eastern Volcanic Zone. Its activity was noted back in the early Holocene; approximately 8.5 thousand years ago, a strong eruption occurred on it, as a result of which the slope of the cone collapsed and the formation of a crater 1.5 km in diameter, as well as an extrusive dome in it. 2400 years ago another equally strong manifestation of activity is associated with this dome.
• Ushkovsky. Together with the Krestovsky volcano they form one mountain range. The age is 60,000 years. Its eruptions are similar to those in Iceland. When ice melts, mud flows with catastrophic consequences are possible, because... they open into the valleys of the Bilchenok, Kozyrevskaya and Kamchatka rivers. The volcano poses a danger to local and international airlines during periods of activity.
• Hangar. The youngest eruptions date back 400 years ago. Due to its long dormancy, its subsequent activity can be catastrophic, so it will pose a danger to airlines of local and international importance.
• Walker. It is also known for its eruption that occurred 2-2.5 thousand years ago. With such a long period of calm, there is an assumption that subsequent eruptions will be of an explosive, catastrophic nature, and therefore, it will be a danger to airlines of local and international importance.
• Shiveluch. The largest volcano in Kamchatka. It includes 3 main buildings, one of which, Young Shiveluch, is operational. The age reaches 70,000 years. The height of ash emissions can reach from 3 to 20 km, ash clouds stretch for hundreds of kilometers. In this regard, this giant poses a danger during periods of activity for local and international airlines.

Watch our new video from the unique tour "Legends of the North"

Coming to Kamchatka. Be sure to take a tour to one of the active volcanoes - it will be an experience of a lifetime!