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AVACHINSKY VOLCANO (AVACHA VOLCANO)

In itss modern form Avachinsky Volcano – a classic example of a volcanic of Somma-Vesuvius type. The volcanoes of this type are also called double, because they are composed of young cone embedded in the destroyed massive of a larger ancient volcano. The remains of the ancient volcano in the form of an arcuate ridge are called the Somme, and a ring valley between it and the new cone – atrio.

Somme of Avachinsky Volcano has a diameter of more than 4 km and was formed more than 30 thousand years ago. It is destroyed and opened in the southwestern part. In the eastern part of undestroyed massive, the altitude of the edge reaches 2317 m. The atrio between the edges is filled with ice and firn, which descend down the slopes of the volcano. The active young cone began to form about 3800 years ago. It has a regular shape and is located in Sommer asymmetrically. Its altitude – 2741 m, the relative height of 400-1000 meters. The top is crowned with a volcano crater.

Since 1737 there were about 15 volcanic eruptions of varying strength and type, of which the most powerful eruptions occurred in 1737, 1779, 1827, 1855, 1894-1895, 1928 and 1945. After 46 years of peace volcano eruption resumed on 13-26 January, 1991. Despite the fact that the eruption was weak during its development all the main types of hazardous volcanic processes were noted (in weak form): ash falls, lava flows, hot avalanches, small mudslides, pollution of water and air, etc. The Avachinsky volcano crater, which until 1991 was a bowl with the diameter of 400 meters and depth of 200 meters, has always shown an intense fumarolic activity. After the eruption in 1991 the crater was sealed with a lava stopper. Then fumaroles focused mainly on contact with the edge of the lava plug of the crater.

In October 2001 it was marked that Avachinsky Volcano was active again. There was a small heat output (to the height of about 900 meters), lava went out through cracks and on its north-western area there formed new powerful and relatively high temperature fumaroles.

Avachinsky Volcano is located in 2 hours from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The ascent to the volcano takes place along the trail and is technically simple. However, it requires serious physical effort, since it starts from a height of 900 m, and ends at the top of the volcano, which is 2741 m. Conventionally, the ascent can be divided into two parts. The first part (up to a height of 2150 m) passes over a solid surface with a relatively small slope and lasts 3,5-4 hrs. The second part is the ascent along the cone of the volcano, where the slope increases, and the surface consists of slag, which makes it difficult to move. This, the most difficult part of the ascent, takes about 2-2,5 hrs. It takes about 1 hour to inspect the crater of the volcano. The descent from the volcano usually takes 3-4 hrs. and the first half of it goes along the path of ascent to the cone. Then the trail goes in the direction of the Verblyud (Camel) mountain and the descent along it is not difficult.

An alternative to climbing the Avacha volcano can be a walk to the Verblyud Mountain with a total duration of about 3 hours.