Where is the Vilyuchinsky Volcano? Description, photo

The tragedy that occurred in April 2017 on the slope of the Viluchinsky volcano in Kamchatka, riveted the attention of the public. Avalanche, which took the life of a man and a child, makes you think about the safety of outdoor activities. So what is this volcano and how dangerous is it? This is in our article.

Kamchatka is the land of contrasts

The place where the Vilyuchinsky volcano is located is Kamchatka. The edge of volcanoes (there are 160 of them) and glaciers (414), boiling springs and swift rivers with waterfalls and lakes. Kamchatka is the territory of the Kamchatka Peninsula, the adjoining mainland and the Commander Islands. It is washed by cold stormy seas (Berinogov and Okhotsk), and from the northeast its shore sinks in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. This is a favorite place for tourists, and especially active and extreme. Here you can organize a tour with rafting on the river, sea walks and diving. Develops adventure and ecological tourism, hunting and fishing, mountain skiing and mountaineering tourism.

Kamchatka: Vilyuchinsky Volcano

At 50 kilometers to the south-west in a straight line from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky towers over the Avachinsky Bay surprisingly correct in form Vuluchik volcano, as it is called local. In winter, the Vilyuchinsky volcano has a dazzling white hat and is an adornment of the panorama of the bay. This is a favorite place for snowboarders, it is suitable for skiing and snowmobiling. Its right cone is clearly visible from the city. The height of the Vilyuchinsky volcano is 2175 meters above sea level. On three sides it is surrounded by valleys of the rivers Vilyucha, Paratunka and Bolshaya Sarannaya.

The correct volcano

The peak of the Vilyuchinsky volcano has a cut on the north side, where a small crater is located. Deep and almost level barrancodes are almost completely filled with ice. In the past, fumaroles gave the lower part of the volcano a mottled color. The photo of the Vilyuchinsky Volcano is struck by the beauty, which in 1996 was marked by UNESCO by listing the World Natural and Cultural Heritage in the category "Volcanoes of Kamchatka".

The extinct giant

Vilyuchinsky is considered an extinct stratovolcano, the eruption of which was 7 thousand years ago. And although today there is no seismic activity on it, gas-vapor emissions at its summit have been repeatedly recorded. Mountaineers who have visited the summit speak of the smell of hydrogen sulfide. On the eastern slope of the volcano there are multiple hot springs, and in the lower part there is a waterfall with the same name, about 40 meters high. From the north from the foot - cones and domes of slag and lava. Among them are lava lakes Zelenoye and Topolovoe, which are rich in fish and interesting for anglers.

Tourist object

Vilyuchinsky volcano is a part of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Nature Park and is a popular place for recreation. Lakes Topolovoe and Green at the foot and developed infrastructure of the village of Thermal give the opportunity to ride on skis, snowboards and snowmobiles. Ice in the winter and summer fishing will please fans. And hot springs, which can be reached on foot, are considered one of the most optimal wild sources in terms of accessibility.

Picturesque pass

A favorite hiking trail. Opens the magnificent views of the crossing of the Viluchinsky pass. Its height here and there reaches 1 kilometer above sea level. This meandering road opens a view of the Mutnovsky plateau on the south side and the volcano Vilyuchik in the east. After the pass the tourists get to the valley, where the river Vilyucha and the stream Spokoiny flow into the Viluchinsky bay.

Extreme Vilyuchik

Extreme freeride and backcountry attract tourists. There are no lifts, and the delivery to the top by helicopter or snowmobile only adds adrenaline sensations. Climbing a volcano to a small height can even beginners. The route runs along the path on the south-western slope. Quite complex climbing becomes when the slope of the slope reaches 35 degrees and requires special preparation and reliable equipment. To the top are also several classified routes of complexity categories from 1B to 2B.

Sel 1981

The typhoon "Elsa", which in that year brought down its power of torrential rains all over the world, caught Kamchatka as well. The rain streams blurred the slope and formed powerful mudflows. Nearby residents and residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky heard the buzz from the peaks. A storm warning was announced. Then died in the mudflow of the three climbers who were returning from the ascent to the volcano. Their car just took away the sel, as the only survivor said.

The tragedy of 2017

The volcano has always been an avalanche. The relevant services conduct observations and warn tourists about the possibility of avalanches. That tragic descent of the Avalanche volcano avalanche, the photo and video of which was spread by the media, occurred on April 9. At that time on the slope were about 40 tourists who saw how on the northern slope in the snow mass disappeared 2 people. Lack of communication delayed the search. Witnesses had to get to the foot to call for help. 40 units of equipment and more than 100 rescuers took part in rescuing the victims. The bodies of father and child were found at the end of the day on April 10 at a depth of 8 meters, which did not give chance for survival. According to the commission for the investigation of the accident, an avalanche on the northern slope of the Viluchinsky volcano could not be provoked by the dead themselves, riding a snowmobile. They walked fifth in a column of snowmobiles, and the four previous ones passed a rather narrow section of the route in normal mode. There were no avalanche sensors for the dead , and rescue operations were conducted with probes all over the area of the avalanche. The descent of the avalanche was most likely caused by temperature changes, because on that tragic day it was warm.

Avalanche Zone

Every year the EMERCOM of Russia in Kamchatka region declares avalanche danger in the mountainous territories of the Paratunka river basin, volcanoes of the Vilyuchinsky, Koryaksky, Avachinsky, Kozelsky and Klyuchevsky volcanoes. Tourists, hunters, lovers of extreme sports are warned of danger, and they are advised to refrain from hiking in the mountains. But invariably there are people who neglect safety rules. So, in 2010, during the declared avalanche danger, in the area of the northern slope of the volcano, a teenager was killed, riding on snowboard. And in February 2017 two people fell under the avalanche - a German citizen and a Russian tourist. They skied in a group of 18 people and fell under the sudden descent of an avalanche. Unfortunately, the life of a 40-year-old German tourist could not be saved.

What to do when the avalanche comes down

Going to the mountains to ski, especially in the avalanche areas, you must follow the following rules:

• Do not go out into the mountains if an avalanche hazard is declared.
• If the avalanche comes down high, use the opportunity to leave the route of its following.
• If it is impossible to escape from the avalanche, occupy a horizontal position and orient the body in the direction of snow mass movement.
• If you are in an avalanche, close your nose and mouth, and then swim to the edge of the avalanche by swimming movements. It is not necessary to breathe.
• Do not panic - they are looking for you!

And in conclusion I would like to say the following. Even from the window you can fall out, but the probability of such a fall increases many times, if you stand on a stool or a window sill. Take care of your health and life, do not risk in vain, observe the safety rules - and memories of rest will please you the rest of your life.