Mutnovsky Volcano: description, history, reviews and routes

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The list of places in Russia worth visiting by tourists is endless. In addition to various cultural and historical sights, our country also has very interesting natural sites, which people who love to travel should definitely see. One of these unusual places is the Mutnovsky volcano in Kamchatka.

Where is located

This mountain is located in the south of the peninsula. Three more volcanoes are located nearby - the picturesque Vilyuchinsky, Asacha and Gorely. To get to Mutnovsky from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (from the territory of which this mountain, by the way, is quite visible), you should move south along the off-road for about 80 km.

In principle, this volcano is located not too far from the city. However, experienced tourists do not recommend visiting it without a guide. Climbing Mutnovsky Volcano on your own can end badly.

The beautiful, but inhospitable land of Kamchatka is fraught with a lot of dangers. For example, literallyin 30 seconds, everything around can be enveloped in thick impenetrable fog. If a person moves along the path, there will most likely not be much trouble. But in the event that the ground is covered with snow, you can get lost just instantly.

In addition, there are many bears in these places. Moreover, in most cases, these animals behave extremely aggressively towards humans. According to local residents, a bear lives on the volcano itself, which is often seen with cubs. Wandering the slopes of this mountain and a huge connecting rod.

Unaccompanied to the volcano is not worth going even by car. You can get to the Mutnovsky volcano (Kamchatka) through the village of Termalny. Behind this small settlement, the asph alt ends, and terrible off-road begins, which is unlikely to be overcome without proper experience.

What is a mountain

The height of the Mutnovsky volcano is 2322 m above sea level. I mean, this mountain is pretty big. The volcano is popular among tourists primarily because it is one of the most restless and lively in Kamchatka. In any case, columns of steam rising from its summit to a height of up to a kilometer can be seen constantly.

It is a volcano Mutnovsky mountain with a very complex structure. Its array is formed by four cones at once. Its northwestern and southeastern craters are most pronounced. They appeared in several stages and by now reach two kilometers in diameter. The southwestern crater of Mutnovsky is completely filled with ice. The slopes of the volcano themselves are picturesquely covered with frozen lava flows andcinder cones.

Slightly west of the craters is the so-called Active funnel. Here you can see the most violent manifestation of volcanic activity.

History of eruptions

As already mentioned, the Mutnovsky volcano is still active. Over the past hundred years, eruptions have occurred here about ten times. Moreover, the source of the exit of the hot mud stream was mainly the Active Funnel. The last eruption was observed in 2000.

A huge mass of gases, solid rock and ash then escaped to a height of 2.5 km. At the same time, a hot mud stream descended in a northeasterly direction. Its total length was 600 m. As a result of this eruption, another funnel was formed on the volcano, which was subsequently filled with water from the melted glacier.

Why the volcano attracts tourists

Kamchatka is a harsh, inhospitable land, but at the same time unusually beautiful. In most cases, people climb volcanoes, just like ordinary mountains, to enjoy the views. Mutnovsky is an exception in this regard. Since the volcano is very restless, people come here mainly to look at the manifestations of its activity.

The slopes of the Mutnovsky volcano - the place is actually very dangerous. It is not worth moving along them without a guide, as the activity of this volcano is manifested in the form:

Fumarole - cracks that are the source ofrelease of steam and volcanic gases. Because of them, Mutnovsky stinks very strongly of rotten eggs. The slopes of these cracks are covered with sulfur deposits. Guides advise tourists caught in the gas emission to hold their breath. Otherwise, you can simply get poisoned by hydrogen sulfide vapors.
Puddle of boiling mud. Too close to such boilers should not be approached. The fact is that they sometimes "spit" hot liquid over quite long distances. It also happens that these puddles are hidden under the snow. In this case, they do represent a deadly trap.

You need to walk a few kilometers to climb the Mutnovsky volcano. Of course, there is no automobile track on its rather gentle slope. Skis are a must. Even in summer, in some places, the slopes of the volcano are covered with impassable snow.

River

From one of the Mutnovsky craters a large stream of melted glacial water flows out. Throughout its length, this river, called Vulcanna, dissolves just a huge amount of minerals and arsenic. In addition, its waters contain sulfur. Vulkannaya flows into the Mutnaya River. Hence, most likely, the name of the volcano itself came from. By the way, the water in Mutnaya is so polluted with sulfur and arsenic that it is absolutely lifeless along its entire course, right up to the ocean.

What else to see

Fumaroles and boiling puddles are, of course, an unusually interesting sight. However, having climbed the Mutnovsky volcano, you can admire other naturalAttraction. These include, for example, a truly bewitching, very deep failure with absolutely vertical walls - Dangerous. From one of its edges, the Vulkannaya River erupts down like a waterfall.

Streams flowing down from Mutnovsky, heated by volcanic activity, form very beautiful bizarre labyrinth grottoes in the glacier on the slopes. If you go into one of these tunnels, you can admire the multi-colored sunbeams penetrating through the frozen water.

Most Popular Routes

There are several ways to get to the mountain. The most popular are routes to Mutnovsky volcano by off-road vehicles. Such an excursion costs only about 5-6.5 thousand rubles per person. On such routes, the services of not only a guide, but also a cook are usually provided. In addition, tents and other equipment are offered to tourists who have bought an excursion.

Mutnovsky Volcano, an excursion to which is very interesting, is a truly bewitching place. However, tourists who decide to go to him by car have the opportunity to see other sights along the way:

spring Zaikin key;
bridge across the Paratunka River.

Also, travelers are invited to climb the observation platform of the Vilyuchinsky pass. With you on the route, you must definitely take waterproof jackets, gloves, hats, a backpack for personal belongings. Mosquito repellent and sun cream may also come in handy. Of course, you should definitely take it to the volcanoMutnovsky and photo or video equipment.

Extreme lovers have the opportunity to go to this famous mountain and on foot. Travel agencies of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky organize multi-day group hikes with guides to the volcano. Getting to the place in this way, you can not only admire the nature of Kamchatka, its virgin forests and magnificent waterfalls, but also improve your he alth. Almost all hiking routes to the Mutnovsky volcano pass by Kamyshinskiye hot healing springs. Near them, groups always arrange h alts in order to rest and swim.

Active volcano Mutnovsky: reviews

Every year this most interesting place is visited by a huge number of tourists both from Russia and from other countries of the world. Reviews about him on the network are only good, and often simply enthusiastic. Many tourists are happy to talk about this volcano on the forums of the relevant specialization, while presenting the most interesting photo and video materials. Most lovers of unusual places consider the "Martian" landscapes of Mutnovsky truly magnificent.

This mountain is actually very interesting. Those who decide to visit the Mutnovsky volcano, as a rule, are very worried about how to get to it. In order to get to this mountain, first of all, of course, you need to fly to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by plane. Next, you just need to purchase a tour. For those who are not afraid of the dangers of independent travel, it is best to take a ticket for a regular bus to the Termalnoye village, and then go on foot, referring to the map, or goon the road. You can also start climbing the volcano from Dachnoye.

Mutnovskaya geothermal station

This object also arouses quite understandable interest of tourists. The Mutnovskaya geothermal station operates due to volcanic activity. Of course, it will not work to get on it on your own initiative. The object is modal. However, you can still buy a guided tour here. To visit the station, you will need to apply for an admission by writing an appropriate application and sending a copy of your passport to the security service.

You can look at this facility, for example, at geothermal blocks, steam wells, turbines, generators, etc. A very beautiful view of the Mutnovsky volcano itself opens from the territory of the GeoPP.