Koryaksky

Koryaksky[2] or Koryakskaya Sopka (Russian: Коря́кская со́пка) is an active volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. It lies within sight of Kamchatka Krai's administrative center, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Together with neighbouring Avachinsky, it has been designated a Decade Volcano, worthy of particular study in light of its history of explosive eruptions and proximity to populated areas.

Koryaksky
Koryaksky volcano towering over Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in 2014.
Highest point
Elevation3,456 m (11,339 ft) [1]
Prominence2,999 m (9,839 ft) [1]
Ranked 91st
Isolation199 km (124 mi) 
ListingUltra
Coordinates53°19′15″N 158°42′45″E [1]
Geography
Koryaksky
Location in Kamchatka Krai, Russia
LocationKamchatka, Russia
Parent rangeEastern Range
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption2008 to 2009
Climbing
Easiest routeBasic rock/snow climb

Geological history

Koryaksky lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at a point where the Pacific Plate is sliding underneath the Eurasian Plate at about 80 mm (3 in) per year. A wedge of mantle material lying between the subducting Pacific Plate and the overlying Eurasian Plate is the source of dynamic volcanism over the whole Kamchatka Peninsula.

The volcano has probably been active for tens of thousands of years. Geological records indicate that there have been three major eruptions in the last 10,000 years, at 5500 BC, 1950 BC and 1550 BC. These three eruptions seem to have been mainly effusive, generating extensive lava flows.

Recent activity
Clouds forming over Koryaksky (1936)
Koryaksky seen from neighbouring Avachinsky's peak, in 1985

Koryaksky erupted for the first time in recorded history in 1890. The eruption was characterised by lava emissions from fissures that opened up on the volcano's southwestern flank, and by phreatic explosions. It was thought to have erupted again five years later, but it was later shown that no eruption had occurred; what was thought to be an eruption column was simply steam generated by strong fumarolic activity.

Another brief, moderately explosive eruption occurred in 1926, after which the volcano lay dormant until 1956. The 1956 eruption was more explosive than the previous known eruptions, with VEI=3, and generated pyroclastic flows and lahars. The eruption continued until June 1957.

On December 29, 2008, Koryaksky erupted with a 6,000 m (19,685 ft) plume of ash, the first major eruption in 3,500 years.[3]

In light of its proximity to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Koryaksky was designated a Decade Volcano in 1996 as part of the United Nations' International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, together with the nearby Avachinsky volcano.

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Kamchatka and Russian Pacific Islands Ultra-Prominence Page" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  2. Koryaksky volcano, Russia Archived March 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Russian volcano erupts". BBC NEWS. December 30, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2010.

Sources
  • Droznin D., Levin V., Park J., Gordeev E. (2002), Detailed Mapping of Seismic Anisotropy Indicators in Southeastern Kamchatka, American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002.
  • Levin V., Park J., Gordeev E., Droznin D. (2002), Complex Anisotropic Structure of the Mantle Wedge Beneath Kamchatka Volcanoes, American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002.
  • Taran Y.A., Connor C.B., Shapar V.N., Ovsyannikov A.A., Bilichenko A.A. (1997), Fumarolic activity of Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, Kamchatka, from 1993 to 1994, Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 58, p. 441-448.

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