Kronotskaya volcano: a journey to the volcano

Kronotskaya Sopka is a layered volcano, which lies on the eastern coast of Kamchatka near the lake of the same name. It is assumed that the volcano received its name from the Itelmen language, namely from the words "cranak", "kranvan", "uach", which form the phrase "high mountain of stone". But these are only hypotheses, disputes are still being conducted about the origin of its name.

Kronotskaya volcano - active or extinct volcano?

The volcano is considered active, despite the fact that its activity has significantly decreased. The last strong activity of the volcano was noticed in 1942. His attempts to erupt were characterized by the release of ash. The volcano is relatively young. His maximum activity was several thousand years ago.

In modern days, the Kronotskaya Sopka occasionally gives noticeable "signs of life" in the form of fumarolic activity, which looks like the emission of gases and vapors on the top. Although the volcano has not erupted for a long time, scientists believe that it will not die out soon.

What does this layered volcano look like?

The Kronotskaya volcano is a volcano shaped like a regular cone. It is excised by barrancoses. So the slopes are called, which cut through the volcanic cones and radially diverge from the crater to the base of the volcano. Their formation is due to the erosive action of water, which flows down the slopes.

In the case of the Kronotsky Sopka, the barrancos become noticeable at about two and a half thousand meters, and somewhere at an altitude of one kilometer their depth is two hundred meters. The bottom of the barranques covers the snow.

Kronotskaya hill has a base diameter of sixteen thousand meters. The volume is about one hundred and twenty kilometers cubic. The absolute height of the Kronotsky volcano reaches three thousand five hundred twenty eight meters. The top of the majestic volcano is framed by a permanent glacier. At the top of the hill is a crater in the shape of a star, which is filled with a neck and a glacier.

The eastern slopes of the Kronotsky Hill reach the Pacific coast, and the western slopes of the largest freshwater lake of the same name in Kamchatka.

Slopes in the south and west are crossed by strong barrancos, and in the north and east slopes are covered with a shell of eternal ice.

On the slope from the south side there are other side craters, including seven slag cones and three funnels. In this place, fumarolic activity is noticeable.

In the lower parts of the slopes there are cedar and birch forests.

Kronotsky lake

The western coast of the Kronotsky Sopka touches this lake, which was formed because of the strong eruptions of Krasheninnikov and Kronotsky volcanoes. Lava flows, emitted from the vents of volcanoes, were able to block the river bed in the mountain. This so-called dam also helped to form the Kronotsky Lake, from which the river of the same name flows. The canal of the Kronotsky River is blocked by rapids. Although they prevent the movement of salmon during spawning, anyway, some species of fish safely reach the lake every year.

Kronotsky Lake is the center of the natural complex, which is surrounded by a mysterious and delightful nature. Many relict trees grow here, for example, such as Ayan spruce.

Travel to the volcano

A lot of tourists who love natural and unusual nature go every year to Kamchatka to see live on a majestic volcano called Kronotskaya Sopka.

But after tourists visit this wonderful place at least once, they will want to return. Kronotsky Reserve exists since 1934. Here, the Valley of Geysers, popularly called the valley of death, is particularly popular. Such an ominous name she received because of the fact that many animals died here from the effects on their body of hydrogen sulfide. In this region, many representatives of the animal world live, for example, wolverines, lynxes, sables and moose.

We brought in the reserve also musk oxen, who successfully settled down in a new place.

Kronotsky Reserve is a place where the reindeer survived, who live in freedom.

Kamchatka is a territory of beautiful nature, where there are such miracles as Kronotsky Reserve, the same lake and river, as well as the volcano Kronotskaya Sopka. The photo can not convey the beauty of these places.