Depicted area facts
Destination: Active volcanoes in the central part of Kamchatka Peninsula.
Travel direction: Russia -> the Far East -> Kamchatka -> Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk City -> travel by car and foot to Kamchatka’s central volcano complex. Shiveluch, Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Bezymianny, and Tolbachik.
Described, shown volcanoes: Shiveluch, Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Bezymianny, and Tolbachik.
Location: Check the map below.
How to get to Kamchatka? From major Russian cities by plane only. The cheapest rates might be found at SkyScanner.ru. No ground path between Magadan and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk.
Kamchatka volcano live webcams
Installed at the earthquake detection station “Klyuchi”
Shiveluch: Camera #1, Camera #2.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka: Camera #1, Camera #2.
Below photo credits: Ivan Dementievskiy Photography, Kamchatka-Krai.ru, RatBud, Kscnet.ru
Shiveluch Volcano in Kamchatka/Russia
The most northern active volcano and one of the biggest ones in Kamchatka Peninsula. 2444 m height. Consists of two tops, Old and Young Shiveluch (Staryj and Molodoj Shiveluch).
Its base is 40 and 50 km in diameter. During the 1964 eruption, tops were blown up and totally destroyed and the double crater was formed instead. The northern crater is 1.7 km in diameter and the southern around 2 km.
Shiveluch’s eruptions tend to be explosive. Convulsions took place in 1925, 1944, 1950, 1964, and 2010.
In 1964 Shiveluch’s eruption was short, but extremely strong. Explosive clouds went up at a height of 15 km and moved toward oceanfront. Explosive elements fell around at the distance of 15-16 km and covered the land with the ten-meter thick blanket of ashes.
Interesting facts: Water in the Shiveluch volcano crater has natural color. Usually, it happens when water contains remiss natural chemical components like sulfur. In this case, moraine has its additional effect.
The last eruption happened in 2010.
Shiveluch Coordinates: 56°39?12?N 161°21?36?E
Klyuchevskaya Sopka Stratovolcano in Kamchatka, Russia
Klyuchevskaya Sopka (known also as Klyuchevskoi Volcano and Kamchatskaya Gora) is a typical stratovolcano. Its cone is of regular shape. Its height varies between 4750 m and 4850 m and above-sea level. The highest active volcano in Asia and Europe.
Interesting facts: Grey steam and gas puffs over its top are a usual thing to observe. In calm weather, they might go up to the sky and stretch flatly when reached atmospheric streams. At the same time, sudden explosions can happen and illuminate surroundings with magic red color. Such state of Klyuchevskaya Sopka Volcano can last for one or two years even, but active phases take place once in 5-6 years.
Kluchevskaya Sopka attracts many climbers and tourists, but it also gathered the most victims as compared with other volcanoes of Kamchatka. The major fatality reason appeared to be people’s disregard of safety measures. One accident caused through other nature’s fault is known only. A young glaciologist, A. Ivanov, perished, when volcanic bomb landed on his tent at night in 1978.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka Coordinates: 56°03?22?N 160°38?39?E
Bezymianny Stratovolcano in Kamchatka, Russia.
Till 1955 Bezymianny Volcano had been sleeping as a baby calmly and motionless almost for 900 years. On March 30, 1956, its peak was blown by the mighty eruption and later replaced by the crater 1.5 km in diameter. As a result the volcano elevation decreased down to 2882 m.
The eruption of 1956 was the strongest. Afterwards a few small puffs happened in 1961, 1966, and 1977. The volcano activity resumed strongly in 1984 and the next year it brought a tremendous surprise. On June 29, 1985, it struck the northward-directed blow so strong that a group of volcanologists were caught unawares and got almost perished.
Bezymianny Coordinates: 55°58?42?N 160°35?12?E
Tolbachik Volcanic Complex in Kamchatka, Russia
A volcanic complex with two volcanoes, active Plosky (flat) Tolbachik and extinct Ostry (sharp) Tolbachik. The first one is respectively a flat-topped shield volcano 3000 m height, the second a peaked stratovolcano 3682 m. Together they remind one big flat mountain.
Plosky Tolbachik’s cone is 3.7 km broad, contains glacier inside and an active crater in the west side.
Tolbachik cones with many cinder cones provide splendid bird’s eye views. Those cones were the spots of the commonly known “The Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption” in 1975 and 1976.
Tolbachik Coordinates: 55.830°N 160.330°E
Travel services in Kamchatka
This Siberian region is the most advanced among others in travel business. Everything on the Peninsula appeared to be under travel companies’ control. Travelers are not allowed to trek to volcanoes without pro guides.
Besides, long-wished craters are located pretty far away from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk. Some spots might be reached by helicopters, others by cars, which drivers must know places pretty good. So it would be really hard to avoid travel companies’ services.
Helicopter excursion to central volcanoes might cost from 1000 USD per person. Drivers can set high rates.
Why is everything so expensive there? There are a few understanble reasons. Fuel costs fortunes, as it’s delivered to Kamchatka by ships. As a result, the life happens to be expensive. So no ground exists for low costs. Addiontally I think it’s locals’ mentality. They are like Italians, who would say, “Hey, even if we set high prices, tourists will come to our place in any case.” The same with Kamchatka.
However, if you are pro trekkers and climbers, get used to come to places and deal with locals easily on the spot, go ahead. Apart from travel companies, there are many other ordinary, but efficient residents, who might give you advices and even assistance at reasonable rates.
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