Bezymyanny - the volcano of Kamchatka. Eruption

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

In our article we want to talk about the Nameless Volcano. It is interesting because it is considered active, its eruption was observed in 1956. So what is Bezymyanny volcano in Kamchatka? What else is interesting about him? Let's talk about it.

Location of the volcano

The Bezymyanny volcano is located in the center of the Klyuchevskaya group, not far from Klyuchevskoy. If we talk about what it is, then it is an elongated array with a destroyed top. In its eastern part there is a fragment of an older volcano, most of which was destroyed during the 1956 explosion. Only a small southeastern part has survived. The western section of the massif is Bezymyanny volcano. Its slopes are covered with wide lava flows, the earliest of which are located in the southwest and south. And at the foot are sixteen domes of completely different ages and composition. The collapsed peak is a large crater (diameter - 1.3 x 2.8 kilometers), in its center there is a new formation called a dome.

During the late Pleistocene, at the place where the Nameless (volcano) is now located,dacite domes. There were 16 of them. And ten or eleven thousand years ago, Bezymyanny formed on the slopes of the Kamen volcano. Stratovolcano began to form 5500 years ago. The activity of these places made itself felt for another two thousand years.

Activity periods of the Nameless One

Bezymyanny (volcano in Kamchatka) has been active for the last 2500 years. Conventionally, this period can be divided into three periods. Based on the indicators of ash masses, it can be assumed that the moments of activation fell on the following periods:

2400-1700 years ago.
13 500-1000.
From 1965 to the present.

Volcano eruption. Nameless, 1956

Scientists can judge earlier periods of volcano activity by the composition of volcanic rocks. But as for the last eruption, it was not so long ago, and therefore we can talk about it in more detail.

Before him, the height of the volcano was 3100 meters. At that time, there was a fairly well-defined crater on its top with a diameter of about half a kilometer. In the southern part of the crater there was a cinder cone (internal). Near the summit, the slopes were cut by volcanic ruts. At that time, the volcano was considered to be long extinct. No one even imagined that some kind of activity could go on inside him. The volcanic eruption changed everything. Nameless 1956 presented an unexpected "surprise", which can hardly be called pleasant. Its eruption is called catastrophic because it occurred after a very longa dormant period that lasted about a thousand years. It is no wonder that the volcano was considered extinct long ago. And so the eruption of 1956 opened a completely new period in the giant's life, which continues to this day.

Why was the Nameless One considered extinct?

It must be said that the absence of signs of activity at one time caused some disdain for the Nameless One, and completely in vain. But there were some scientists who suggested that this volcano is still capable of surprise. And so it happened. In a very short time, this assumption was fully justified.

In 1955, at the Klyuchevskaya station, seismographs recorded multiple tremors just in the direction of Bezymyanny. However, even these signs did not change the attitude of specialists towards him. For some reason, it was considered that the phenomenon is associated with the future appearance of another side crater of such a volcano as Kryuchevsky.

And on October 22, the Nameless Volcano came to life in the most unexpected way for everyone.

New life for an active volcano

The volcanic eruption (Nameless is very unpredictable) began with powerful ash emissions that rose to a height of up to five kilometers. But then suddenly the volcano began to subside. It seemed that this, in fact, was all over. However, everything turned out to be completely different…

Already in March 1956, a powerful explosion shook the entire neighborhood. Huge clouds of ash rushed to a height of thirty-five kilometers. The top of the volcano wascompletely destroyed. In its place, a crater with a diameter of one and a half kilometers formed. At the same time, its height instantly decreased by 250 meters.

The explosion itself was directed east.

The devastating effects of the eruption

He was so powerful that at a distance of up to 25 kilometers, all the trees were burned and felled. Hot sand, ash, debris covered an area of 500 km in a very thick layer 2. At the same time, almost all vegetation was destroyed. The snows that had accumulated during the winter melted instantly and rushed in dirty streams into the valley. The fragments of trees they captured were also rushing there. The water passed through the valley, bringing with it a lot of dirt, stones and wood, from which a completely impassable blockage was formed. The poisonous stream poisoned the water of Kamchatka for many days, making it completely unfit for consumption. In addition, sulfur impurities led to the death of fish. Such a surprise was presented by Bezymyanny volcano in Kamchatka.

After the crater was formed, a red-hot dome of lava began to rise from its bottom. In 1966, ten years after its eruption, when climbing the volcano, the presence of life in it was felt. At times, quite strong shocks were clearly felt underfoot, which caused blocks to roll down the slopes, and from multiple crevices gas jets rose, smelling of sulfur. The ascent was not completed, it just had to be stopped.

New surprises from an active volcano

Now the Bezymyanny volcano is an active volcano in Kamchatka. The 1956 eruption was one of the largest on a global scale in the current historical period. After this event, the Nameless Volcano woke up twice more. But both eruptions were weak (in 1977, 1984). Its activity was observed in 1984. But already in 1985, the volcano presented a new surprise.

At the end of June, new aftershocks were registered. A group of volcanologists was sent to the site under the leadership of P. P. Firstov. And on June 29, Bezymyanny exploded again. And again there was a directed ejection to the east. The explosion was very powerful. He was second in strength after 1956. And again, no one expected this from the Nameless One. He was considered already sufficiently studied, they were already accustomed to his periodic shocks. The group that went to the place almost died and miraculously survived.

Imagine that a flaming cloud swept twelve kilometers and destroyed all the young vegetation that had just appeared on a deserted place after the last eruption. The houses of volcanologists built at the foot were also destroyed. Fortunately, they turned out to be uninhabited at that time. The dome, formed after the explosion of 1956, survived, but the crater has grown again.

An extraordinary sight

Volcanoes have a special property to always be in constant "alert". The same goes for the Nameless. As experience shows, you should always be on your guard with him. Even if he is perfectly calm today, it does not mean anything. He may come to life soon. Nameless has long periodically made itself knownknow. And every time it happens completely unexpectedly. Each eruption is something amazing, bewitching. Powerful fire element, hot hot lava flows, explosions and fireworks from stones. All this is a volcanic eruption. If someone had a chance to see such a natural phenomenon live, then a person forever changes his attitude towards them. All eruptions of the Nameless occur with serious explosions and rather strong destruction.

Type and shape of the Nameless One

According to its structure, a volcano is a geological formation on the earth's crust, through which liquid lava comes to the surface and forms volcanic rocks. According to activity, volcanoes are divided into active, dormant and extinct. And according to the form of formation, stratovolcanoes, thyroid, slag and others are distinguished. Nameless just refers to active volcanoes.

In addition, it is a stratovolcano by the type of formation.

The role of the Nameless in world volcanology

Volcanoes began to be explored and described only in the 18th century. The first book about Kamchatka volcanoes was published by P. Krashennikov back in 1756. It contained information about the hot springs and the giants of these places, including the Nameless. Later there were other works. In Soviet times, the Atlas of Volcanoes of the USSR was even published. And in 1991, a modern work appeared on active volcanoes in Kamchatka, where active giants were described in sufficient detail. Thanks to the eruption of 1956 Bezymyannyy went down in history forever. Since then inworld volcanology, a new type has appeared - "Nameless", or "directed explosion". Previously, there were no such terms in science.

Future Nameless

Volcanologists managed to restore the nature of the Bezymyanny's activity over the past 2500 thousand years. It is difficult to judge the earlier stages. So, it was found that the activity had a pulsating character. By analogy with previous periods, certain conclusions can be drawn regarding the future behavior of the volcano. Now we can safely say that at the present time the Nameless is in the middle of the road to the next period of strong activity. Taking into account the length of past periods, it is highly likely that the current cycle will last from 100 to 200 years.

Scientists have noticed one interesting feature of the Nameless One. The nature of its eruptions changed about 1400 years ago. Since then, it has been characterized by catastrophic eruptions. I must say that the eruption of 1956 was the most powerful of them. Since there is a periodic increase in this effect, it can be assumed that in the future the volcano will present another surprise in the form of even greater activity.