The tragedy that occurred in April 2017 on the slope of the Vilyuchinsky volcano in Kamchatka riveted the attention of the public. An avalanche that claimed the lives of a man and a child makes us think about the safety of outdoor activities. So what is this volcano and how dangerous is it? About this - in our article.
Kamchatka – land of contrasts
The place where the Vilyuchinsky volcano is located is Kamchatka. The land of volcanoes (there are 160 of them) and glaciers (414), boiling springs and swift rivers with waterfalls and lakes. Kamchatka is the territory of the Kamchatka Peninsula, the adjacent mainland and the Commander Islands. It is washed by cold stormy seas (Berinog and Okhotsk), and from the northeast its coast sinks into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. This is a favorite place for tourists, especially active and extreme ones. Here you can organize a tour with river rafting, boat trips and diving. Adventure and ecological tourism, hunting and fishing, ski and mountaineering tourism are developed.
Kamchatka: VilyuchinskyVolcano
In 50 kilometers to the south-west in a straight line from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky rises above the Avacha Bay the Vilyuchik volcano, surprisingly regular in shape, as it is called by the locals. In winter, the Vilyuchinsky volcano has a dazzling white cap and is an adornment of the panorama of the bay. It is a favorite destination for snowboarders and is suitable for skiing and snowmobiling. Its correct cone is clearly visible from the city. The height of the Vilyuchinsky volcano is 2175 meters above sea level. It is surrounded on three sides by the valleys of the Vilyucha, Paratunka and Bolshaya Sarannaya rivers.
The right volcano
The top of the Vilyuchinsky volcano has a cut on the north side, where a small crater is located. Deep and almost flat barrancos are almost completely filled with ice. In the past, fumaroles gave the lower part of the volcano a variegated appearance. Photos of the Vilyuchinsky volcano are striking in their beauty, which in 1996 was noted by UNESCO by being included in the list of World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites in the Volcanoes of Kamchatka category.
Extinct Giant
Vilyuchinsky is considered an extinct stratovolcano, the eruption of which was 7 thousand years ago. And although today there is no seismic activity on it, gas and steam emissions have been repeatedly recorded at its top. Climbers who have been to the top talk about the smell of hydrogen sulfide. There are numerous hot springs on the eastern slope of the volcano, and in the lower part there is a waterfall of the same name with a height of about 40 meters. From the north of the foot - cones and domes of slag and lava. Among them are the lava lakes Zelenoe andPoplar, which are rich in fish and interesting for anglers.
Tourist facility
Vilyuchinsky Volcano is part of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Natural Park and is a popular place for recreation. Topolovoye and Zelenoe lakes at the foot and the developed infrastructure of the Termalnoye village make it possible to go skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. Ice fishing in winter and summer will please fans. And hot springs, which can be reached on foot, are considered one of the best wild springs in terms of accessibility.
Scenic Pass
A favorite walking route. The crossing of the Vilyuchinsky pass opens up magnificent views. Its height in some places reaches 1 kilometer above sea level. This winding road offers a view of the Mutnovsky plateau from the south side and the Vilyuchik volcano in the east. After the pass, tourists enter the valley, where the Vilyucha River and the Spokoyny stream flow into the Vilyuchinsky Bay.
Vilyuchik Extreme
Extreme freeride and backcountry attract tourists. There are no lifts, and getting to the top by helicopter or snowmobile only adds to the adrenaline sensation. Climbing a volcano to a small height is possible even for beginners. The route runs along the path on the southwestern slope. Climbing becomes quite difficult when the steepness of the slope reaches 35 degrees and requires special training and reliable equipment. Several classified routes lead to the summit.difficulty categories from 1B to 2B.
Sil 1981
Typhoon Elsa, which unleashed its power of heavy rains all over the world that year, also hit Kamchatka. Rain streams eroded the slope and formed powerful mudflows. The surrounding residents and residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky heard a rumble from the peaks. A storm warning has been issued. Then three climbers who were returning from the ascent to the volcano died in a mudflow. Their car was simply blown away by a mudflow, according to the only surviving participant.
Tragedy of 2017
Volcano has always been an avalanche. Relevant services conduct observations and warn tourists about the possibility of avalanches. That tragic avalanche of the Vilyuchinsky volcano, the photo and video of which was distributed by the media, occurred on April 9th. At that moment, there were about 40 tourists on the slope, who saw how 2 people disappeared in the snow mass on the northern slope. The lack of communication delayed the search work. Witnesses had to get to the foot to call for help. 40 pieces of equipment and more than 100 rescuers took part in the rescue of the victims. The bodies of the father and child were found by the end of the day on April 10 at a depth of 8 meters, which did not give a chance for survival. According to the commission for the investigation of the accident, the avalanche on the northern slope of the Vilyuchinsky volcano could not have been provoked by the dead themselves, riding a snowmobile. They were fifth in the snowmobile column, and the four previous ones covered a rather narrow section of the route in the normal mode. There were no avalanches on the deadsensors, and rescue work was carried out with probes over the entire area of the avalanche. The avalanche was most likely caused by temperature changes, because it was warm that tragic day.
![height of Vilyuchinsky volcano [1]](https://i.fashionrebelsbook.com/images/056/image-165399-6-j.webp "height of Vilyuchinsky volcano [1]")
Avalanche zone
Every year, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Kamchatka Territory announces an avalanche danger in the mountainous areas of the Paratunka River basin, the Vilyuchinsky, Koryaksky, Avachinsky, Kozelsky and Klyuchevskaya volcanoes. Tourists, hunters, extreme sports enthusiasts are warned about the danger, and they are advised to refrain from hiking in the mountains. But invariably there are people who neglect the safety rules. So, in 2010, during the declared avalanche danger, a teenager died while snowboarding near the northern slope of the volcano. And in February 2017, two people fell under an avalanche - a German citizen and a Russian tourist. They were skiing as part of a group of 18 and were caught in a sudden avalanche. Unfortunately, the life of the 40-year-old German tourist could not be saved.
What to do in case of an avalanche
Going to the mountains to ski, especially in avalanche areas, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Don't go to the mountains if there is an avalanche danger.
- If the avalanche is high, use the opportunity to get out of its path.
- If it is impossible to avoid an avalanche, take a horizontal position and orient your body in the direction of the snow mass.
- If you are in an avalanche,close your nose and mouth, and then swim your way to the edge of the avalanche. Breathing should be shallow.
- Don't panic, they are looking for you!
And in conclusion, I would like to say the following. You can even fall out of the window, but the probability of such a fall increases many times over if you stand on a stool or window sill. Take care of your he alth and life, do not take unnecessary risks, follow the safety rules - and memories of your vacation will delight you for the rest of your life.
