Natural sights of Kamchatka, no doubt, are numerous volcanoes. One of the most famous of them is Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest active volcano in Russia and Eurasia.
Volcano Legends
For the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka, this mountain is sacred. Some peoples believe that when the Lord created the world, it was in this place that he held the Earth in his hands. For this reason, he failed to carefully close the mountain. Since then, she has been constantly active.
Other nations retell the more romantic story of the fire-breathing mountain. The father of the beloved girl of the hero Tomgirgin set a condition: Tomgirgin will be able to marry Itateli only if he builds a huge yurt on the Klyuchevskaya Plain, so big that it can be seen from the coast. The problem was that there were mountains between the ocean and the valley. But the hero coped with the task - a yurt was built and the beautiful Itatel became the wife of Tomgirgin.
Immediately after the wedding, the newlyweds kindled the hearth, and a pillar of fire shot up high into the sky. Since then, alwayswhen guests came to them, the couple kindled a fire.
Where is Klyuchevskaya Sopka?
Like most of the fire-breathing mountains of the peninsula, Klyuchevskaya Sopka is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano is located in the east of the peninsula. More than five hundred kilometers separate it from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and sixty kilometers from the Pacific coast.
History
The highest volcano in Russia arose six to seven thousand years ago. It is a stratovolcano complicated by cinder cones. Their height varies from tens to two hundred meters. The volcano consists of lava flows and layers of ice. As a result of numerous eruptions, the volcano acquired the shape of a truncated cone. At the top, the crater is seven hundred and fifty meters in diameter.
From the 17th century until 1932, the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano in Kamchatka was formed exclusively due to summit eruptions. Its volcanic activity changed in 1932: additional side eruptions intensified near the slope of the volcano. In 1697, the explorer of Kamchatka, V. Atlasov, mentioned in his work the eruptive activity of the volcano. Since September 1935, the volcanoes of the Klyuchevskaya group, including Sopka Klyuchevskaya, have been observed at the scientific station of the peninsula.
Volcano today
The height of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano is rather arbitrary. This is due to constant eruptions. It fluctuates within a hundred meters. According to official figures, the heightKlyuchevskaya Sopka volcano does not exceed 4750 meters, however, it has increased significantly in size - up to 4835 meters after the eruption that occurred in 2013. Researchers are confident that this figure will change more than once.
This is an active stratovolcano that rises near the village of Klyuch, which gave it its name. For many years, it has been captivating not only local residents, but also specialists with its austere beauty. At the foot of the mountain, the most abundant river of the peninsula flows to the east, bearing the same name - Kamchatka. To the south of the volcano there is a unique meadow of edelweiss, the only one on the peninsula. A coniferous forest grows at the foot of the highest volcano in Russia.
The mountain looks like a regular-shaped snow cone, which is formed by lava flows, as well as bombs, slag, ash, pumice. The entire hill is covered with deep furrows that stretch from top to bottom. They narrow at the foot of the mountain. More than 15 km is the base of the volcano. A column of smoke constantly rises above the central crater, and ash and volcanic bombs are not uncommon in the center.
On the slopes of Klyuchevskoy, you can often see the release of volcanic gas jets (fumaroles) and solfatara - steam and gas with sulfur content come out through cracks to the surface. In addition to the main crater, the highest volcano in Russia has almost eighty cinder cones and side craters. They are no less active than the main crater. The highest volcano in Russia with nearby fire-breathing mountains is connected by a snow cover,consisting of thirty glaciers with a total area of 220 km.
Unusual cloud
Often, experts observe an unusual natural phenomenon above the mountain - an unusual cloud covers the top of the mountain, which looks like a mushroom cap. Researchers attribute its appearance to the accumulation of a large amount of moist air.
Eruptions
Klyuchevskaya Sopka is still a very young volcano. It was formed only seven thousand years ago. This volcanologists explain its excessive activity. Over the past three centuries, about fifty rather powerful eruptions have been recorded. It erupted fifteen times in the last century. The indigenous inhabitants of the peninsula claim that in the history of the mountain there were cases when it continuously spewed out flames and ashes for three years. In terms of its activity, Klyuchevskoy is second only to Karymskaya Sopka, also located in Kamchatka.
When Klyuchevskoy's eruptions are too strong, huge lava flows down the valley reach the nearest villages. An active volcano is dangerous for airlines, as the ash column reaches fifteen kilometers, and ash plumes stretch for several thousand kilometers. Volcanologists say it's almost impossible to determine their direction before the eruption begins.
Active, the highest volcano in Russia could not go unnoticed by scientists. It began to be studied from the end of the 17th century. In 1935, the volcanologicalstation in the village of Klyuchi, which is located 30 km from the volcano. The last eruption of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano occurred in April 2016.
In the weeks before the eruption, the number of minor earthquakes increased to hundreds. In addition, an increase in the internal noise that usually accompanies driving magma was found. For five months, the volcano threw ash to a height of up to 11 km.
Climbing
Many amateur researchers know very well where Klyuchevskaya Sopka is located. The mountain was first conquered in 1788 by a group of three people led by naval officer Daniel Gauss. It should be noted that the participants of this expedition had practically no experience in climbing, moreover, they climbed without guides and special ammunition.
No other climbs were known until 1931, when a group of climbers died here during an avalanche. Today, this active volcano in Kamchatka is increasingly attracting the attention of tourists. This happens despite the fact that the treacherous fire-breathing mountain leads in the number of climbers who die on its slopes. Most often, the cause of tragedies is non-compliance with safety regulations. The volcano itself also poses a threat. A case was recorded when at night, with a strong explosion, a volcanic bomb flew out of the depths of the mountain and hit a nearby tent.
