Thursday, Dec 25, 2008
Koryaksky volcano (Kamchatka), eruption news: new activity - ash emissions
Koryaksky volcano, one of Kamchatka's most majestic stratovolcanoes, near Petropavlovsk in the SE, began erupting late on 24 December. According to KVERT, the volcano emitted a dense ash plume that rose to around 4 km altitude and extended more than 60km north-east of the volcano, as well as a wea...
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Koryaksky volcano

Koryaksky in the SE of the Kamchatka peninsula and near its capital Petropavlovsk is one of Kamchatka's most beautiful and prominent stratovolcanoes.
Volcano type stratovolcano
Location Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia), 53.320°N / 158.688°E
Summit elevation 3456 m ( 11,338 ft)
Last eruptions 1890, 1926, 1956-57, 2008 (ongoing)
Typical eruption style explosive

Background:

The large symmetrical Koryaksky stratovolcano is the most prominent landmark of the NW-trending Avachinskaya volcano group, which towers above Kamchatka's largest city, Petropavlovsk.
Erosion has produced a ribbed surface on the eastern flanks of the 3456-m-high volcano; the youngest lava flows are found on the upper western flank and below SE-flank cinder cones. No strong explosive eruptions have been documented during the Holocene. Extensive Holocene lava fields on the western flank were primarily fed by summit vents; those on the SW flank originated from flank vents. Lahars associated with a period of lava effusion from south- and SW-flank fissure vents about 3900-3500 years ago reached Avacha Bay. Only a few moderate explosive eruptions have occurred during historical time. Koryaksky's first historical eruption, in 1895, also produced a lava flow.
(Source: Global Volcanism Program)