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Koryaksky Volcano | John Seach
Koryaksky sopka, Streloshnaya sopka, Koryakski
Kamchatka, Russia
53.32 N, 158.68 E
summit elevation 3456 m
stratovolcano
Koryaksky is a tall conical stratovolcano located NW of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. The volcano is considered one of the most beautiful in Kamchatka. It can be climbed in 4-8 day trips from Petropavlovsk. Crampons and ice axe are needed for this snow climb, as well as experience in mountaineering. There are two glaciers on the eastern slope; 4.2 and 1 km in length.
Koryaksky volcano is grooved by deep radial ravines. The slope of the lower cone is 20 deg rising to a maximum of 30-35 deg in the upper cone. The absolute height of the volcano is 3456 m, and a relative height of 2300 m in the north and 3300 m in the south.
The western part of the summit ridge contains a crater 180-200 m diameter, with walls 20-30 m high. The crater is breached to the south, with a short lava flow.
Fumaroles of the volcano are located on the northwest slope at an elevation of 3000 m. The main gas jets discharge from the fissure that formed during the 1957 phreatic eruption. There are some low temperature fumaroles in a glacier covered, summit crater.
Future eruptions at Koryaksky volcano have the potential to be highly explosive. Probable location for eruptions are the northwestern side which is weakened by transecting faults.
2009 Eruption
An eruption occurred at Koryaksky Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia on 17th August. Ash emissions reached a height of 4000 m above sea level and extended 20 km from the volcano. Koryaksky volcano is located 28 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the administrative centre of Kamchatka peninsula. Elevated volcanic tremor began on Saturday 15th August 2009. Koryaksky resumed eruptions in 2008 after a 51 years of inactivity.
2003 Earthquakes
An increase in seismic activity occurred at Koryaksky Volcano in December 2003. A magnitude 3.6 earthquake occurred in the crater, followed over the next 2 hours by a series of 6-km deep tremors.
1994 Earthquakes
Between 6th March and 8th April 1994 there was a significant increase in seismic activity at the volcano, with 43 earthquakes a depth of 5 km.
1956-57 Eruption
Weak eruptions occurred in 1956-57 at the volcano. A 400-500 m long fissure formed on NW slope of the volcano at 3000-3100 m elevation, which erupted gas and ash. Emissions reached a relative height of 350 m and erupted at a rate of 150 m/s. Some ashfall was reported 18 km from the volcano.
Koryaksky Volcano Eruptions
2009, 2008, 1956-57, 1926, 1895-96.