The fantastic, incredible, magical land of the Kamchatka Geyser Valley is an amazing land, as if materialized from the most interesting and unusual works of science fiction writers. Moreover, it is unbelievable that this magnificent, amazing imagination region was opened not so long ago, in 1941.
Discovery of the Valley
April 1941 was marked by the largest world discovery - the Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka lifted the veil over the mystery of its existence. It was discovered by geologist Tatyana Ustinova together with a guide, a native of these places, Anisifor Krupenin. This discovery was random in nature and occurred when studying the life and water regime of the Shumnaya river with its tributary flowing from the caldera of the Uzon volcano in one of the most inaccessible gorges.
Prior to this, no one had found geysers on the Asian continent, nor even scientific assumptions were put forward that in these areas, despite the abundance of volcanoes, there may exist such special and extremely rare thermodynamic conditions that are required for their occurrence and functioning. There are no such unique places on the continent.
Kamchatka pearl
The Geyser Valley in Kamchatka is located in the canyon of the Geysernaya River, occupying about 6 square meters. km of the area on which there are numerous exits of hot springs, geysers, mud boilers. Unique thermal platforms, lakes and waterfalls - it seems that in this small-sized territory all natural wonders are collected. The incredibly high contrast of the microclimate and natural conditions has created such a huge biological diversity of living organisms and their species in the ecosystem that it is hard to believe.
Several hundred thermal water sources are located in the riverbed and at the bottom of the Geyser Lake. There are more than 20 large geysers in the Valley, from which periodically almost boiling water gushes out and hot jets rush up couple. In 1996, the Valley added to the list of natural sites under the protection of UNESCO.
Seventh Wonder of the World
The whole ecological system of the valley is a unique symbiosis of the rarest thermodynamic conditions with underground volcanic activity, which amazes the imagination and it is no coincidence that it is Russia's seventh miracle. This high-profile status was obtained by the Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka in 2008.
The uniqueness of its ecosystem is very vulnerable, therefore, environmental monitoring is necessary and constantly carried out , and the excursion load in the reserve is strictly limited. Since 1992, travel companies under the agreement created a clear organization of helicopter tours in compliance with a whole set of strict rules and requirements for maintaining the balance of the system. Significant restrictions apply to self-access to the canyon. The geyser valley in Kamchatka, a photo of which has spread around the world for a long time, is a unique object for ecological tourism.
Geysers
In the same 1941, a description of all open geyser sources was made. Tatyana Ustinova recalls that at the same time they were given names based on design features, steam and water emission power, geyserite coloring or any other signs of each. For example, the Giant geyser in Kamchatka is a name that speaks for itself. This is the largest hot spring. The Firstborn is the geyser seen by researchers first. “Slit” releases jets of steam and water from the gap, and “Triple” - from three holes at once. Geysers in Kamchatka have both romantic and practical names: Malachite Grotto, Pearl, Pink, Gates of Hell, Treacherous, Frying Pan, Double, Small, Large, etc. The geyser "Avery" immortalized the name of the famous hydrogeologist Valery Averyev.
The eruption of the Giant Geyser is a magnificent sight. It begins with a powerful surge, the discharge of a column of water up to 30 m, and bursting clubs of steam - up to several hundred meters. The fountain beats for two minutes, then the geyser “lets off steam”. And again preparation for the next eruption begins - the gradual filling of the griffin with water. The entire cycle of the source takes almost 5 hours. Each geyser lives in its own specific mode and operates with the accuracy of a Swiss watch. The temperature of the discharged water and steam reaches maximum boiling points.
Cataclysms of the Valley
Unfortunately, the wonders of nature are eternal. They themselves suffer from elements that cannot be curbed. So, typhoon Elsa, which flew in 1981, caused downpours that significantly increased the water level in the river. And the result of the flood was the partial destruction of many sources and the complete - geyser Big Pechka.
June 2007 was disastrous for the geyser valley. The giant landslide, which formed a mudflow flow of 20 million m 3 of rock, blocked the channel of the Geysernaya river. Sel not only blocked the channel, but also rushed down it, stopping the destructive movement only at the Triumphal Gate. At the same time, the ongoing collapse of the landslide in the upper reaches of the Geyserny stream formed fragmentary avalanches that descended and completed the formation of the dam. Only a miracle saved the helipad and the visit center of the reserve from destruction. Mud flow has covered more than half of the area of this amazing natural site. In the resulting dam hid 13 of the most interesting sources.
Like a phoenix bird
Despite the fact that the Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka undoubtedly suffered from a landslide and its consequences, after breaking the dam, the water level dropped by 9 meters, and most geysers recovered. A new mudflow event in 2013 finally stabilized the ecosystem of the valley, resumed functioning of the previously existing hot springs and promoted the formation of new ones.
The Valley of Geysers, as a living creature, is constantly changing. It is impossible to perceive it separately from the peculiar unusual ecological system that has developed around it. Unique places, interesting discoveries, the name of geysers in Kamchatka - an unpredictable land full of mysteries and magic that you can’t get used to.