The peninsula’s 29 active volcanoes comprise 10 % of the world’s volcanic activity.
Avachinsky-Koryaksky volcano group
Is situated in the southeast of Kamchatka, 25 km from the Pacific coast and 30 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It consists of 5 volcanoes that stretch in the NW direction. The extinct Kozelsky volcano is the easternmost, then come Avacha and Koryaksky volcanoes, both active, then there are extinct Aag and Arik volcanoes. Avacha, Koryaksky and Kozelsky are the most often-visited and admired volcanoes.
Avachinsky Volcano
Avachinsky Volcano (over 2750 m.), witch overlooks Petropavlovsk, has erupted at least 16 times since 1737. In 1787 the French explorer Jean-Francios de Galaup La Perouse become the first person to climb Avachinsky Volcano. The most recent eruption in 1991 produced lava flows, a dome, and mudflows. The volcano has a compound structure of the Somma-Vesuvius type: it consists of two parts: somma (the main part of the volcano, the remains of the ancient exploded volcano) and the cone. The diameter of the somma is more than 4 km. It is destroyed and opened in the southwest. Its eastern, undestroyed part has the absolute height of 2317 m. The modern cone has the regular shape; there is a crater on the top whose fumarolic work is very active. At the foot of the volcano at an altitude of 800 m there is the base camp. A little higher a mountain ski base is situated. The volcano is interesting from the point of view of alpinism and mountain skiing. The ascending route is very easy (type 1), i.e. to ascend it in summertime there is no need of special equipment. With weather permitting, any one in reasonably good shape can ascend Avacha volcano and it is very popular among the Russians as well as foreign visitors.
Plosky and Ostry Tolbatchik Volcanoes.
These are two volcanoes fused together. As a single massif they are a part of Klutchevskaya Volcanoes Group being the southernmost ones in the Group. Plosky Tolbatchik (PT), 3085 meters high, is active. Ostry Tolbatchik (OT) is higher - 3682 meters. Their names speak about their shape: in Russian 'Plosky' stands for 'flat', and "Ostry' stands for 'sharp'. The sharp top of one volcano towers over the flat one of the other. Tourists don't often climb OT as it requires quite a good preparation. The western slopes of the volcano are interspersed with fanciful constructions of frozen lava shaped like pointed shafts and dented walls. Beside that the northern and western slopes are covered with ice fields. It is easier to ascend PT. The route usually starts from south or south-east at the height of 1000 meters. There are no steep slopes and dangerous glaciers on the way. But the very top of the volcano is almost completely covered with armour of ice which makes it look like a mountain plateau.Eruptions of PT do not happen very often; only 10 eruptions have been recorded. The Great Break Eruption, that took place in 1975-76, formed the present crater at the top of the volcano in the ice field. The crater diameter is about 1800 meters and the depth is over 400 meters.
Klyuchevskoy volcano (4850 m.)
-One of the biggest volcanoes of the world. The highest volcano of Asia and Europe. The age of this volcano is about 7 thousand years. The slopes of it are cracked, lavas' streams allover, the top is covered with ice. Often eruptions occur not through the main crater but through lateral craters.
Till 197 8height of Klyuchevskoy volcano was 4750 m. After the eruption of 1978 the crater was completely filled with lava. In the center of volcano the slag cone started to grow. By 1990, the cone has blocked the edges of the basic hole and after it the height of volcano increased about 100-150m.Those year’s volcano was constantly erupting and burning hot lava with the mud streams constantly flew down to the foot of the mountain.
Later, strongest eruptions of a topmost crater with lateral breakouts were observed 1978-1993. Eruptions of Klyuchevskoy volcano proceed now too. The sources of its power (abyssal centers) are multistage structures, located on different depth levels (form 70 to 100 m.) The structure of eruption products is - alumina and magnesia basalts.
Mutnovsky Volсano.
Mutnovsky is one of the most active volcanoes of the southern Kamchatka. Principal hazards are ash plumes, ash falls, and lahars. Ash falls possible at: Paratunka(50kmtothenorthfromthevolcano)Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (70 km to the northeast) The volcano is a volcanic complex consisting of four overlapping stratovolcanoes capped by a number of summit craters up to 1.3 km wide. The most of the active vents is on the southwestern slopes.
Gorely Volcano
Gorely is one of the most active volcanoes of the Southern Kamchatka. Principal hazards are ash plumes, ash falls, phreatic blasts and lahars. Ash falls possibl eat: Paratunka (45 km to the north from the volcano) Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (65 km to the northeast) Yelizovo (70 km to the north). The present structure of the volcano occupies the central part of the caldera (13x12 km) and comprises three merged cones that stretch in a ridge of the west-north-west-wards. There are 11 superimposed craters at the summit. And about 40 adventive vents with lava flows on the slopes
Viluchinsky Volcano.
Perfect rocky cone of Viluchinsky Volcano above Avachinskaya Bay. The panorama is a classic for citizens of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. This volcanic cone is well seen from vessels in one hundred fifty kilometers in the sea. The cone is elevated in more than one thousand meters above the summits situated around. Dazzled white in winter or decorated by white and black stripes of snow and rocks in summer the volcano is always dominating in the panorama of the bay. The ascent has been started near the waterfall situated at the foot of volcanic slope. people use to visit the place in especial order to enjoy close view of the volcano and the waterfall. Reaching the place where the waterfall is situated from the road takes 40 minutes. Voluchinsky Volcano is reckoned as extinct, although poor gas activity might be seen time to time what rather indicates of insufficient activity of the volcano.
On finishing the ascent one can see gorgeous panorama of ridges and volcanoes, inlets and endless Pacific Ocean skyline. That is what to make you forgot any difficulties met during the ascent. The ascent, nevertheless, is available for mostly health people guided by experienced guides. Special boots (Vibram sole) and crampons are required.
