!!!Death Valley, Kamchatka
Photos by Sergey Semenov and Stas Sedov
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\
13 June 2018
with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]
There is the so-called Death Valley in Kamchatka, and this name was not
given by accident. It lies in the upper Geyzernaya river at the foot of
Kikhpinych volcano on the territory of the famous Kronotsky Reserve.
This small area, being no longer than 2 kilometres and no wider than
100-500 meters, regularly kills animals and birds.
The Reserve was created in 1934, but some parts stayed unexplored for
quite a long time. So was the discovery of the Valley, which turned out
to be exceptionally unusual: a popular tourist route laid nearby, and
the local geysers were regularly researched by geologists at that time.
But the anomaly was detected only in 1975.
[{Image src='01_Death Valley.jpg' caption='Death Valley, Kamchatka, Russia\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='278'}]
Since then the exploration of the Valley has begun. During the first
several years biologists collected more than 200 bodies of different
fauna representatives: 12 mammals species, 15 birds species, and a lot
of insects species. The majority of the victims were small rodents and
sparrow birds, but bears, foxes, wolverines, ravens and Steller's sea
eagles were among them, as well. Nowadays the golden eagle, lynx and dog
have also entered this list.
[{Image src='02_Death Valley.jpg' caption='Death Valley, Kamchatka, Russia\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='566'}]
It was identified that all the deaths occurred from May till October -
the period when this part of the reserve is not covered by snow. The
scientists themselves felt a headache, fever at the nape, vertigo and
weakness during the research. Hopefully, people had enough time to go
higher to a ventilated uphill and felt better.
[{Image src='03_Death Valley.jpg' caption='Death Valley, Kamchatka, Russia\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='394'}]
Volcanic experts finally managed to explain this phenomenon: the Valley
is located on the way of the concentrated gas emission that fills the
basin with hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, carbon sulphur and other
poisonous fumes. The area is full of thick layers of sulphur and that's
why the bodies of animals do not decay for so long: even the bacterial
activity is suppressed due to the poisonous atmosphere.
[{Image src='04_Death Valley.jpg' caption='Death Valley, Kamchatka, Russia\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='305'}]
The death of the local living beings occurs in a certain order. With the
coming of spring, small animals and birds begin to expand the territory
of their habitation, and when their path lies through the Death Valley
they start suffocating. Their bodies attract bigger animals, such as
foxes or golden eagles, which, in their turn, become an alluring prey
for bears and wolverines.
[{Image src='05_Death Valley.jpg' caption='Death Valley, Kamchatka, Russia\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='566'}]
Biologists have found out that the interference in this food chain in
the very beginning by taking away the first victims lessens the final
number of dead animals.
Despite such a tragic story, the Death Valley is as exceptionally
beautiful as any other part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. Look at and
admire the place reigned by nature which has its own laws of survival.
AirPano team would like to express our gratitude to the admistration of
the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve for perfect organization of the photo
shoot, and warm welcome.
\\ \\
[5 panoramas of Death Valley, Kamchatkat|Geography/Asia/Russia/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Death_Valley_Kamchatka]
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