Not far from the regional center of the Kamchatka Territory stands this fiery mountain called Avachinsky Sopka. It is clearly visible from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It got its name thanks to the Avacha River, which flows near the foot.
general characteristics
Avachinsky Sopka (Avachinsky volcano) - one of the active volcanoes of Kamchatka. Cone-shaped, height is 2741 meters above sea level. Belongs to the Somme-Vesuvius type. This is a classic type, they are also called double, as a young cone is built into the older one. The diameter of the crater Avachinsky volcano is about 400 meters. The height of the eastern part of the base of the volcano reaches 2300 meters.
Geographical coordinates: 53.15 north latitude, 158.51 east longitude. Avachinsky Sopka on the map is located closer to the Pacific coast and very close to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The upper part of the volcano is covered with a glacier. Ice and firn gradually slide down to the foot. Creeping cedar and stone birches grow on the slopes. At the foot of the volcano station is the Russian Academy of Sciences, which study the active volcanoes of Kamchatka.
Volcano formation
The structures of Avachinsky volcano formed gradually over a long period of time. His education lasted 30 thousand years. The beginning of this process falls on the Pleistocene. About 11 millennia ago, a powerful explosion occurred, which formed the somma of the hill. During this catastrophic eruption in the vicinity of Avachinsky volcano threw about 12 cubic kilometers of volcanic rocks.
The diameter of the resulting somma exceeded 4 kilometers.
Further periods of rest were replaced by subsequent eruptions that formed the body of the volcano. The modern Avachinsky cone began to grow about 5 millennia ago.
Eruptions of the twentieth century
Avachinsky Sopka is a volcano, active, and 6 eruptions were recorded in the last century. The penultimate awakening occurred in 1945. The ash column then rose to a height of about 8 kilometers, then rushing down the slopes and evaporating the lying snow. The ash cloud was dotted with numerous sparkling lightning. Then volcanic bombs flew , which reached a kilometer high.
The eruption roar reached Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where at that time the earth trembled and utensils and glass rattled. The ash layer in some places reached half a meter, roads were filled up, and a lot of vegetation died. Not without casual victims.
January 13, 1991 was the last, at the moment, volcanic eruption. And this is after 46 years of hibernation. In the process there were two fairly large explosions, and the rising lava flow first filled the crater, and then overflowed to the southern part of the cone.
The current state of the volcano
The Avachinsky somme (base) is composed of basalt and andesitic rocks, and the cone is only basaltic.
If before the last awakening the crater looked like a bowl, then as a result of the eruption in 1991, the mouth of the Avachinsky Sopka volcano is now sealed with a lava plug. According to volcanologists, this means that the next eruption will be accompanied by a powerful explosion.
The cork contains fumaroles that periodically emit red-hot vapors and gases. The lava field constantly soars, at the top there is a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide. You can stumble on pieces of crystalline sulfur. Due to internal heating, the cork gradually sags, so moving along the lava field without the accompaniment of volcanologists is a serious danger.
Tourism Object
The first historically recorded ascent to the hill was made on July 14, 1824 by a group of travelers in the following composition: G. Zivald, E. Hoffmann, E. Lenz. Three researchers managed not only to climb the Avachinsky Sopka volcano, but also to take rock samples for study.
Currently, every year several thousand tourists follow the path of researchers, discovering the Avachinsky volcano. The special popularity of Avachinsky among other, no less picturesque volcanoes of Kamchatka, is explained by its availability.
In addition to the fact that Avachinsky Sopka is close to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (less than 30 kilometers), climbing to the summit does not require climbing equipment or special training. From the foot to the top of the mountain, a trail is laid, the path along which the average traveler overcomes in 6-8 hours. In addition, before climbing to the hill, there is a special shelter (Avachinsky). Travel to the top of the mountain takes place in the period April-December (the best time is July-August) along the northwestern part of the cone.
Safety precautions
Despite the rather uncomplicated nature of climbing the Avacha hill (a marked trail equipped with rope handrails in the most difficult sections), simple safety rules cannot be neglected, as this can lead careless tourists to death.
Avachinsky volcano in its history of ascents has also been fatal. Such an incident occurred on June 20, 1968. That day there were extremely unfavorable conditions for the rise. A strong wind blew, a cloud covered the top of the mountain. Despite this, unfamiliar with the route scheme, two Leningrad tourists began to climb. The slope is very icy. Although the travelers took ice axes, they could not stay on the cone of the volcano. Their severely damaged and frozen bodies were found only after two days at the foot of the hills.