!!!Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka, Russia


Photos by Alexey Matveyev,
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

2 December 2021

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

The Russian peninsula of Kamchatka is the land of volcanoes. Around 30
of them are active and 160 are extinct. Mutnovsky volcano is considered
one of the most active in the southern part of Kamchatka. Its first
known eruption dates back to 1848, and the most recent occurred in 2013.
In total, 17 phenomena of this kind were recorded over the history of
observations.

[{Image src='01_Mutnovsky.jpg' caption='Mutnovsky Volcano. Misty weather\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='506'}]

This shield volcano rises at 2,322 meters and consists of four cones
merged together. Each of the cones is up to two kilometres in diameter.
Every summit does not look like the other: eruptions have affected the
terrain. Today, volcanic activity is concentrated in the northwestern
cone: gases and steam are released from its funnel measuring 440 by 100
meters. It causes the appearance of hot springs: they are called
"fumaroles", their temperature reaches +500 °C. Thanks to this,
Mutnovsky volcano is one of the largest geothermal fields in the world,
and this feature is used to the full extent. Nature lovers can admire
the beauty of the landscape, while the nearby Mutnovskaya geothermal
power plant runs on the steam it produces. Its capacity is about 60 MW,
and this is about a third of the total urban demands of Kamchatka.

[{Image src='02_Mutnovsky.jpg' caption='Mutnovsky Volcano. Crater\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='900'}]

The river Vulkannaya flows through a rift in the northwestern part of
the crater. It is also known as the "dead" river: there are no living
creatures in it since it carries sulfuric acid. The concentration of
harmful compounds is so high that even when it merges with the Mutnaya
River, the water is still poisoned for many miles afterwards.

[{Image src='03_Mutnovsky.jpg' caption='Mutnovsky Volcano. Sunset\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='599'}]

The river cuts through the slopes and forms a deep and steep canyon
called Opasniy ("dangerous''), where it collapses with an 80-meter
waterfall. The canyon appeared as a result of a tectonic rupture, and
this allows you to see with your own eyes the strata of volcanic
deposits. They are arranged in horizontal layers with different
structures and colours. Here, ancient lava alternates with looser slags,
and this picture seems to have just stepped out of the pages of a
geology manual. Lava is mainly black and grey, while the friable layers
have acquired a bright colour due to exposure to volcanic gases.

[{Image src='04_Mutnovsky.jpg' caption='Mutnovsky Volcano. Storm\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='506'}]

There are also two fumarole fields near the northern crater, and a
massive glacier creeps onto them: this is a real struggle between the
elements of ice and fire. In addition to fumaroles, there are seething
water and mud pots with gushing hydrothermal emissions.

[{Image src='05_Mutnovsky.jpg' caption='Mutnovsky Volcano. Caldera\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='420'}]

Due to emissions, the slopes are covered with coloured ash and dust.
Although this is a fascinating place, it is difficult to breathe here in
windless weather, and rubber boots are needed at any time of the year.
But in this AirPano photo tour, you can admire these stunning phenomena
without the slightest difficulty!

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[8 panoramas of Kamchatka-Mutnovsky Volcano|Geography/Asia/Russia/Pictures/Mutnovsky]

[{SET customtitle='Kamchatka-Mutnovsky Volcano (AP)'}]












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