Famous volcanoes of Kamchatka

*** Kamchatka has several hundred volcanoes, including active and extinct ones. They form two volcanic belts stretching along the peninsula, the Sredinny Ridge and the East Kamchatka Range. Visiting volcanoes is a mandatory part of the tourist program. We tell you which volcanoes attract the most attention.

Uzon Caldera

*** The Uzon caldera was formed due to the collapse of the tip of an extinct volcano. It is a flat—bottomed depression, one of the largest in Kamchatka. The width of the depression reaches 12 kilometers, and its area is more than 100 square kilometers. Hundreds of thermal lakes have formed in the caldera, the water in which is rich in ore minerals. Scientists say that here you can observe all the stages of the formation of hydrocarbons and the process of the origin of life.

Klyuchevskaya Volcano

*** Klyuchevskaya volcano, also called Klyuchevskaya Sopka, rises 4,850 meters above the sea. It is the highest active volcano in Eurasia. It is located in the eastern part of the peninsula in the Valley of the Giants (also known as the Valley of the Giants), belongs to the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes. The average frequency of Klyuchevsky eruptions is 5 years, but periods of calm can be longer or shorter. The last eruption was observed in the winter of 2021 on the north-western slope.

Karymsky Volcano

Another active volcano that erupts more often than other volcanoes in the world. It is located in the central part of the Eastern Belt. The volcano belongs to the Karym group. Hot gas emissions are constant, and there have been two lava eruptions in the last 10 years. A lake and a river have formed at the foot of the volcano, the area is seismically active, so the tourist flow is limited.

Maly Semyachik volcano

Maly Semyachik belongs to the Karym group. The volcano is active, but it is inferior in activity to the Karymsky volcano. The Maly Semyachik Ridge is formed from three fused cone-shaped stratovolcanoes. In one of the craters there is a lake with bright turquoise water and yellow streaks of sulfur on the surface. The volcano can be seen during a helicopter tour to the Valley of Geysers.

Gorely Volcano

This is an active volcano in the southern part of the peninsula, the second name is Gorelaya Sopka. It is relatively easy to get to this natural site — almost to the foot there is a highway. The Gorely ridge has a length of about 3 km, it unites 11 craters. There are acid lakes in several craters, including a blue lake with bright blue water.

Koryak volcano

Koryak volcano, or Koryakskaya Sopka, refers to "home" volcanoes. It is clearly visible from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and the volcano is located about 20 km from the city. Koryakskaya Sopka is the highest among the volcanoes in the south of the peninsula, which makes it stand out from the rest. The volcano is active, in 2008 a powerful emission of smoke and ash was recorded. Koryak volcano is considered difficult to climb, the route is not always manageable even for experienced climbers.

Avachinsky volcano

This is the second volcano of the "home" group, located next to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The volcano is active, the last eruption was recorded in 2001. Avachinskaya Sopka is one of the symbols of the regional center and, due to its easy accessibility, is very popular with tourists. Hiking and all-terrain vehicle tours are organized here. There are routes for trained climbers and routes for people without training. Annual mass ascents are organized for residents and guests of Kamchatka.

Kozelsky Volcano

Kozelsky volcano is another representative of the "home" volcanoes, located next to Avachinskaya Sopka. Due to volcanic activity in the past, the top of the volcano collapsed and several side cones formed. Eight months a year (from November to June) The slopes are covered with snow, so Kozelsky attracts fans of skiing and snowboarding. There are equipped skating areas and freeride areas.

Dzenzur Volcano

Dzenzur is a volcano of the Dzenzur—Zhupanov group in the south of Kamchatka in the Nalychevo Park. The length of the Dzenzura volcanic ridge is more than 6,000 km, and the height reaches 2285 m above sea level. There is high geothermal activity in the southeastern part of the ridge, where there are hot springs and fumaroles. A visit to Dzenzura is possible as part of guided tours of Nalychevo.

Vilyuchinsky volcano

Vilyuchinsky volcano is located in the upper reaches of the Paratunka River in one of the most beautiful places in Kamchatka. The second name of the volcano is Vilyuchinskaya Sopka. This is a place of tourist activity, where tours are conducted throughout the year. Climbing to a certain height is not difficult, children and elderly tourists will be able to climb. During the ascent, you can admire the numerous streams and see traces of lava flows. One of the attractions is the waterfall, which freezes completely in winter. Fans of freeride and heli-skiing come here during the ski season.

Ksudach Volcano

Ksudach is a volcano in the south of the peninsula. It has several calderas, in one of which a new volcanic cone is forming — the Stubel cone. Two lakes were formed in the same caldera: Stubel and Klyuchevoe. The key lake has a unique feature — the water temperature in the lake is cool, and if you dig up the beach sand a little, the water in the sand is scalding hot. Due to this, steam rises above the beach strip. You can get to the Ksudach volcano during a helicopter tour to Kuril Lake.

Mutnovsky Volcano

Mutnovsky volcano is located 80 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, not far from Gorely volcano. The volcano is active, steam-gas jets are beating in its crater at the thermal site, mud and water boilers are located at the bottom, there is also an eighty-meter waterfall and a deep canyon.