The list of places in Russia worthy of visiting tourists can be continued endlessly. In addition to various cultural and historical sights, in our country there are also very interesting natural sites, which are definitely worth visiting for people who love to travel. One of such 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 on impassability for about 80 km.
In principle, this volcano is located not so far from the city. However, experienced tourists do not recommend visiting it without a guide. Independent climbing to Mutnovsky volcano can end in disastrous condition.
The dangers of beautiful, but inhospitable Kamchatka land are fraught with mass. For example, in just 30 seconds, a thick impenetrable fog can envelop everything around. If a person moves along a path, a particular disaster will most likely not happen. But in the event that the earth is covered with snow, you can get lost just instantly.
Everything else, in these places there are also many bears. 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. A huge connecting rod wanders along the slopes of this mountain.
Unaccompanied to the volcano is not worth going even by car. You can get to the Mutnovsky volcano (Kamchatka) through the Thermal village. Behind this small village, the asphalt ends, and terrible off-road begins, which it is unlikely to overcome without proper experience.
What is a mountain?
The height of Mutnovsky volcano is 2322 m above sea level. That is, this mountain is pretty big. The volcano is popular among tourists primarily because it is one of the most hectic and lively in Kamchatka. In any case, the columns of steam rising from its top to a height of a kilometer can be seen constantly.
It is a volcano Mutnovsky mountain with a very complex structure. Its array is formed immediately by four cones. The northwestern and southeastern craters are most pronounced in it. They appeared in several stages and currently reach two kilometers in diameter. The southwestern crater of Mutnovsky is completely clogged with ice. The slopes of the volcano are picturesquely covered with frozen lava flows and slag cones.
A little to the west of the craters is the so-called Active Funnel. Here you can see the most violent manifestation of volcanic activity.
Eruption history
As already mentioned, Mutnovsky volcano is still active. Over the past hundred years, eruptions have occurred here about ten times. Moreover, the source of hot mud stream output was mainly an Active Funnel. The last eruption was observed in 2000.
A huge mass of gases, solid rock and ash then burst to a height of 2.5 km. At the same time, a hot mud stream descended in a northeast direction. Its total length was 600 m. As a result of this eruption, another crater formed on the volcano, which was subsequently filled with water from a melting 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, as well as ordinary mountains, to enjoy the views. Mutnovsky is an exception in this regard. Since the volcano is very hectic, people come here mainly to look at the manifestations of its activity.
The slopes of the volcano Mutnovsky - the place is actually very dangerous. You should not move along them without a guide, since the activity of this volcano is manifested in the form:
- Fumarol - cracks that are a source of steam and volcanic gases. Because of them, Mutnovsky stinks very badly with rotten eggs. The slopes of these cracks are covered with sulfur deposits. Guides advised to hold their breath for tourists who get into the gas. Otherwise, you can simply be poisoned by hydrogen sulfide vapors.
- A pool of boiling mud. You cannot get too close to such boilers. The fact is that they sometimes "spit" hot slurry over fairly large distances. It also happens that these puddles hide under the snow. In this case, they do represent a deadly trap.
Climb to the Mutnovsky volcano for several kilometers on foot. There is, of course, no car gauge on its rather gentle slope. Skis should be taken with you. Even in summer, in some places, the slopes of the volcano are covered with impassable snow.
River
From one of the craters of Mutnovsky flows a large stream of melted glacial water. Throughout its entire length, this river, called Vulkannaya, dissolves just a huge amount of minerals and arsenic. In addition, sulfur is contained in its waters. Volcano flows into the Mutnaya river. From here, most likely, the name of the volcano itself went. By the way, the water in Mutnaya is so polluted by sulfur and arsenic that throughout its entire course, right up to the ocean, it is absolutely lifeless.
What else can you see
Fumaroles and boiling puddles - a sight, of course, unusually interesting. However, having climbed the Mutnovsky volcano, you can admire other natural attractions. These include, for example, a truly mesmerizing, very deep failure with absolutely vertical walls - Dangerous. From one of its edges, the Vulkannaya River erupts down a waterfall.
Streams flowing from Mutnovsky, heated by volcanic activity, form very beautiful bizarre labyrinth grottoes in a glacier on the slopes. If you go into one of these tunnels, you can admire the colorful rays of sunlight penetrating through the thickness of frozen water.
Top Routes
There are several ways to get to the mountain. The most popular are routes to Mutnovsky volcano on off-road vehicles. Such an excursion costs only about 5-6.5 thousand rubles per person. Not only a guide, but also a cook are usually provided on such routes. In addition, tourists who have bought an excursion are offered tents and other equipment.
Mutnovsky Volcano, an excursion to which is very interesting, is a truly fascinating place. However, tourists who decide to go to him by car have the opportunity to see other sights along the road:
- spring Zaikin key;
- bridge over the river Paratunka.
Also, travelers are invited to climb to the observation platform of the Vilyuchinsky pass. You must take waterproof jackets, gloves, hats, a backpack for personal belongings with you on the route. A mosquito repellent and sun cream may also come in handy. Of course, you should definitely take photographic or video equipment to Mutnovsky volcano.
Extreme lovers have the opportunity to go to this famous mountain on foot. Travel agencies of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky organize multi-day group trips to the volcano with guides. 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 health. Almost all walking routes to the Mutnovsky volcano pass Kamyshinsky hot healing springs. Near them, groups always arrange halts in order to relax and swim.
The active volcano Mutnovsky: reviews
Annually this 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 just enthusiastic. Many tourists are happy to talk about this volcano in the forums of the corresponding 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. Deciding to visit the Mutnovsky volcano, how to get to it, as a rule, is very worrying. In order to get to this mountain, first of all, of course, you need to fly to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by plane. Then you just need to get a tour. For those who are not afraid of the dangers of traveling on their own, it is best to take a ticket for a regular bus to the village of Termalny, and then go on foot, checking on the map, or go on the way. You can also start climbing the volcano from the village of Dachnoye.
Mutnovskaya geothermal station
This object also causes quite understandable interest of tourists. Mutnovskaya geothermal station operates due to volcanic activity. To get on it on their own initiative, of course, will not work. The object is modal. However, you can still get a guided tour with a guide here. To visit the station, you will need to obtain clearance by writing a statement and sending a copy of the passport to the security service.
You can look at this object, for example, at geothermal blocks, steam wells, turbines, generators, etc. A very beautiful view of the Mutnovsky volcano opens from the territory of the GeoPP.
Excursions to the geothermal station are carried out by appointment daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A walk through its territory lasts about 60 minutes.