Top 10 largest volcanoes in Russia

Volcanoes are solid natural formations that appeared on the surface of the earth’s crust as a result of natural phenomena. Ashes, gases, loose rocks and lava are all products of natural volcanic construction. At the moment, there are thousands of volcanoes all over the planet. Some of them are active, while others are considered extinct. The largest of the extinct, Ojos del Salado is located on the border of Argentina and Chile. The height of the record holder reaches 6893 meters.

Russia also has large volcanoes. In total, there are more than a hundred natural buildings that are located in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands.

Below is the ranking – largest volcanoes in Russia.

10 Volcano Sarychev | 1496 meters

Volcano Sarychev opens the ten largest volcanoes in the territory of the Russian Federation. It is located on the Kuril Islands. It got its name in honor of the domestic hydrographer Gavriil Andreevich Sarychev. It is one of the most active volcanoes today. Its feature is short-term, but strong eruptions. The most significant eruption occurred in 2009, during which ash clouds reached a height of 16 kilometers and spread over a distance of 3 thousand kilometers. Currently, strong fumarolic activity is observed. The Sarychev volcano reaches a height of 1496 meters.

9. Karymskaya Sopka | 1468 meters

Karymskaya sopka is an active and one of the most active stratovolcanoes of the Eastern Range. Its height reaches 1468 meters. The diameter of the crater is 250 meters and the depth is 120 meters. The last eruption of Karymskaya Sopka was recorded in 2014. Simultaneously with an active stratovolcano, as a rule, erupt – Shiveluch, Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Bezymyanny. This is a fairly young volcano, which has not yet reached its maximum size.

8. Shishel | 2525 meters

Shishel referred to as extinct volcanoes, the last eruption of which is unknown. He, like Ichinskaya Sopka, is part of the Sredinny Range. The height of Shisel is 2525 meters. The diameter of the crater is 3 kilometers and the depth is about 80 meters. The area occupied by the volcano is 43 sq.m., and the volume of erupted material is approximately 10 km³. In terms of height, it is classified as one of the largest volcanoes in our country.

7. Volcano Avacha | 2741 meters

Volcano Avacha – one of the active and large volcanoes of Kamchatka. The height of the peak is 2741 meters, and the diameter of the crater reaches 4 kilometers, and the depth is 250 meters. During the last eruption, which occurred in 1991, two powerful explosions occurred, and the crater cavity was completely filled with lava, a so-called lava plug formed. Avacha was considered one of the most active volcanoes in the Kamchatka Territory. Avachinskaya Sopka is one of the most rarely visited by geologists due to its relative accessibility and ease of climbing, which does not require special equipment or training.

6. Volcano Shiveluch | 3307 meters

Volcano Sheveluch – one of the largest and most active volcanoes, whose height is 3307 meters above sea level. It has a double crater, which was formed during the eruption. The diameter of one is 1700 m, the other is 2000 m. The strongest eruption was noted in November 1964, when ash was thrown to a height of 15 km, and then volcanic products spilled over a distance of 20 km. The 2005 eruption was devastating for the volcano and reduced its height by more than 100 meters. The last eruption was January 10, 2016. Shiveluch threw out a column of ash, the height of which reached 7 kilometers, and the ash plume spread to 15 kilometers in the area.

5. Koryakskaya Sopka | 3456 meters

Koryakskaya Sopka one of the ten largest volcanoes in Russia. Its height reaches 3456 meters, and the peak is visible for several tens of kilometers. The diameter of the crater is 2 kilometers, the depth is relatively small – 30 meters. It is an active stratovolcano, the last eruption of which was observed in 2009. Currently, only fumarole activity is noted. For the entire time of existence, only three powerful eruptions were noted: 1895, 1956 and 2008. All eruptions were accompanied by small earthquakes. As a result of the earthquake in 1956, a huge crack formed in the body of the volcano, the length of which reached half a kilometer and a width of 15 meters. For a long time, volcanic rocks and gases were ejected from it, but then the crack was covered with small debris.

4. Kronotskaya Sopka | 3528 meters

Kronotskaya Sopka – volcano of the Kamchatka coast, the height of which reaches 3528 meters. The active stratovolcano has a top in the form of a regular ribbed cone. Cracks and holes to this day exude hot gases – fumaroles. The last most active fumarole activity was recorded in 1923. Eruptions of lava and ash are extremely rare. At the foot of the natural structure, the diameter of which reaches 16 kilometers, there are majestic forests and Kronotskoye Lake, as well as the famous Valley of Geysers. The top of the volcano, covered with a glacier, is visible at a distance of 200 km. Kronotskaya Sopka is one of the most picturesque volcanoes in Russia.

3. Ichinskaya Sopka | 3621 meters

Ichinskaya Sopka – The volcano of the Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the three largest volcanoes in Russia in terms of height, which is 3621 meters. Its area is about 560 square meters, and the volume of erupted lava is 450 km3. Ichinsky volcano is a part of the Sredinny Ridge, and is currently showing low fumarolic activity. The last eruption was recorded in 1740. Since the volcano has undergone partial destruction, the height in some places today is only 2800m.

2. Tolbachik | 3682 meters

The Tolbachik volcanic massif belongs to the group of Klyuchevskiy volcanoes. It consists of two merged stratovolcanoes – Ostry Tolbachik (3682 m) and Plosky Tolbachik or Tuluach (3140 m). Ostry Tolbachik is classified as an extinct stratovolcano. Plosky Tolbachik is an active stratovolcano, the last eruption of which began in 2012 and continues to this day. Its feature is a rare, but prolonged activity. In total, there are 10 eruptions of Tuluach. The diameter of the crater of the volcano is about 3000 meters. The Tolbachik volcanic massif occupies the second place of honor in terms of height, after Klyuchevskoy volcano.

1. Klyuchevskaya Sopka | 4900 meters

Klyuchevskaya hill – the oldest active volcano in Russia. Its age is estimated at seven thousand years, and its height ranges from 4700-4900 meters above sea level. Has 30 side craters. The diameter of the summit crater is about 1250 meters, and its depth is 340 meters. The last giant eruption was observed in 2013, and its height reached 4835 meters. The volcano has 100 eruptions of all time. Klyuchevskaya Sopka is called a stratovolcano, as it has a regular cone shape. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-SegtkEwU