Klyuchevskoy Volcano
🔹 Basic Overview
- Name: Klyuchevskoy Volcano (also spelled Kliuchevskoi)
- Location: Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
- Coordinates: 56.06°N, 160.64°E
- Elevation: Approx. 4,750 meters (15,584 feet)
- Type: Stratovolcano (composite volcano)
- Status: Active (one of the most active volcanoes in the world)
🔹 Key Features
- Tallest Active Volcano in Eurasia:
- It is the highest volcano in the Kamchatka Peninsula and in all of Asia.
- Symmetrical Cone:
- Klyuchevskoy has a classic, symmetrical conical shape, making it visually striking.
- Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire:
- It lies on the Pacific Plate’s edge, which is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
- Eruption Style:
- Mostly explosive and strombolian eruptions (moderate to strong blasts with lava fountains and ash).
- Age:
- Estimated to be about 7,000 years old, though the volcanic range is older.
🔹 Eruption History
- Extremely Active:
- It has erupted more than 100 times in recorded history.
- Recent Eruptions:
- Major eruptions occurred in 2013, 2016, 2020, and 2023.
- 2023 Eruption: Sent ash plumes over 10 kilometers high, disrupting aviation routes.
🔹 Geological Importance
- Located in a volcanic belt with over 160 volcanoes in Kamchatka.
- It contributes to the Kamchatka Volcanic Arc, formed by subduction of the Pacific Plate under the North American Plate.
🔹 Scientific Studies & Monitoring
- Studied for its continuous and powerful volcanic activity.
- Monitored by:
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT)
- Satellites and seismographs are used to track its activity.
🔹 UNESCO Recognition
- Part of the “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its geological and ecological significance.
🔹 Climbing & Tourism
- Popular among mountaineers and volcanologists.
- However, climbing is dangerous due to frequent eruptions and harsh conditions.
- Access is typically via the town of Klyuchi or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
🔹 Hazards & Risks
- Lava flows, ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, and volcanic bombs.
- Ash plumes can affect air travel, agriculture, and local settlements.
Summary Table
Feature | Details |
Type | Stratovolcano |
Height | ~4,750 m (15,584 ft) |
Location | Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia |
Last Major Eruption | 2023 |
Volcanic Belt | Pacific Ring of Fire |
First Recorded Eruption | 1697 (documented) |
Nearby Settlements | Klyuchi, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky |
Klyuchevskoy Volcano