Kamchatka, land of volcanoes and colors: impressions Sep 2019 - part 2: Tolbachik to Shiveluch
Some impressions taken during our recent Kamchatka expedition in Sep 2019: the plateau between the northern and southern volcanoes groups, with fantastic and rare views of 6 volcanoes at once: Ushkovsky, Klyuchevskoy, Kamen, Bezymianny, Zimina, Tolbachik... We then traveled to the north side of Klyuchevskoy and on to erupting Sheveluch. Photos taken during 9-13 Sep 2019.
Go to: Part 1: Karymsky, Mutnovsky and Gorely | Part 3: Tolbachik | Part 4: Avachinsky & Koryaksky
Go to: Part 1: Karymsky, Mutnovsky and Gorely | Part 3: Tolbachik | Part 4: Avachinsky & Koryaksky

A halo is visible around the sun above Tolbachik volcano - a storm is approaching from SW and sends ... [info]
(176 Éxitos)
(176 Éxitos)

We're on the tundra-covered plateau between the northern group of volcanoes and the Tolbachik massif... [info]
(157 Éxitos)
(157 Éxitos)

Ushkovsky, Klyuchevskoy and Kamen volcanoes are mighty landmarks visible from there. (Photo: Tom Pfe... [info]
(129 Éxitos)
(129 Éxitos)

To the SW where the sky starts to cover itself, the impressive Tolbachik complex is visible. (Photo:... [info]
(119 Éxitos)
(119 Éxitos)

After climbing higher areas of the plateau, also Bezymianny volcano (r) is visible. (Photo: Tom Pfei... [info]
(119 Éxitos)
(119 Éxitos)

Ushkovsky volcano (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(112 Éxitos)
(112 Éxitos)

Klyuchevskoy volcano, weakly active, is emitting white steam plumes, and its summit area at approx. ... [info]
(137 Éxitos)
(137 Éxitos)

Klyuchevskoy's steep-sided neighbor (inactive) Kamen volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(128 Éxitos)
(128 Éxitos)

Klyuchevskoy and Kamen volcanoes, both over 4500 m high, form an impressive duo of stratovolcanoes. ... [info]
(133 Éxitos)
(133 Éxitos)

View of Bezyianny, the volcano "without name", with its summit caldera and the active lava dome insi... [info]
(115 Éxitos)
(115 Éxitos)

To the W, Zimina volcano also becomes visible from the plateau. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(113 Éxitos)
(113 Éxitos)

Tolbachik consists of two overlapping volcanic edifices: to the right, the steeper, older part of Os... [info]
(157 Éxitos)
(157 Éxitos)

Group photo with no less than 4 (potentially) active volcanoes in the background! (Photo: Tom Pfeiff... [info]
(172 Éxitos)
(172 Éxitos)

A curious visitor - a ground squirrel. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(141 Éxitos)
(141 Éxitos)

He or she is checking out whether I have something... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(115 Éxitos)
(115 Éxitos)

It's funny to see them stand up, ready to grab small "gifts" in case I drop food or something. (Phot... [info]
(124 Éxitos)
(124 Éxitos)

A small lake on the top of the plateau provides opportunities to play with mirror images of the snow... [info]
(148 Éxitos)
(148 Éxitos)

Ushkovsky volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(108 Éxitos)
(108 Éxitos)

Klyuchevskoy, Kamen and Bezymianny (l-r) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(130 Éxitos)
(130 Éxitos)

Walking through the tundra with such views is pure pleasure. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(106 Éxitos)
(106 Éxitos)

Cloud cover increases by the minute, telling us that the (for this spot very unusually) good weather... [info]
(109 Éxitos)
(109 Éxitos)

From higher areas, a perfect young-looking cinder cone at the base of Kamen volcano is visible. (Pho... [info]
(119 Éxitos)
(119 Éxitos)

Famous brothers, Klyuchevskoy and Kamen. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(144 Éxitos)
(144 Éxitos)

We continue to walk towards the largest gorge in the volcanic massif. Fortunately, visibility remain... [info]
(91 Éxitos)
(91 Éxitos)

The first of us have reached the canyon. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(89 Éxitos)
(89 Éxitos)

At the rim of the largest canyon of Central Kamchatka: it is almost 1000 deep and the natural waters... [info]
(109 Éxitos)
(109 Éxitos)

The size of the canyon is difficult to understand. Opposite is Tolbachik massif. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffe... [info]
(109 Éxitos)
(109 Éxitos)

Looking west, Zimina volcano seems small compared to Tolbachik. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(110 Éxitos)
(110 Éxitos)

After enjoying the grand views, a picnic snack, it's time to start the 2-3 hours hike back to our hu... [info]
(85 Éxitos)
(85 Éxitos)

Yellow, brown and red tundra (still lots of berries in there...) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(83 Éxitos)
(83 Éxitos)

Red tundra around an outcropping surface of the underlying lava flow plateau, with Tolbachik in the ... [info]
(105 Éxitos)
(105 Éxitos)

The forests on the lower slopes of the volcanic massifs are enchanting in autumn. (Photo: Tom Pfeiff... [info]
(105 Éxitos)
(105 Éxitos)

Green and red colors dominate the ground, while trees offer all shades of green. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffe... [info]
(105 Éxitos)
(105 Éxitos)

Birch forest (1) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(138 Éxitos)
(138 Éxitos)

Birch forest (2) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(105 Éxitos)
(105 Éxitos)

On the way to Klyuchevsky volcano from the northern side: we're in the endless flood plain at its fe... [info]
(106 Éxitos)
(106 Éxitos)

The size of Klyuchevskoy volcano is difficult to grasp: a perfect cone rises almost from sea level t... [info]
(100 Éxitos)
(100 Éxitos)

Fields of tall grass with Klyuchevskoy (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(119 Éxitos)
(119 Éxitos)

The gently sloped lower slopes seem endless. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(99 Éxitos)
(99 Éxitos)

We have reached the tundra at around 1000 m elevation. Many cinder cones dot the area. (Photo: Tom P... [info]
(90 Éxitos)
(90 Éxitos)

A young lava flow, probably from the 1940s. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(98 Éxitos)
(98 Éxitos)

Side of a slightly older flow. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(100 Éxitos)
(100 Éxitos)

We use the fine weather to stroll around between cinder cones, young and old lava flows. (Photo: Tom... [info]
(79 Éxitos)
(79 Éxitos)

The colors of the tundra never cease to fascinate me. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(87 Éxitos)
(87 Éxitos)

In this area, the presence of black lava and a thin layer of white pumice (probably from Bezymianny'... [info]
(82 Éxitos)
(82 Éxitos)

Yellow and black (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(83 Éxitos)
(83 Éxitos)

The sky is still very cloudy and we won't have a chance to see neighbor Shiveluch today. (Photo: Tom... [info]
(73 Éxitos)
(73 Éxitos)

Shiveluch volcano is in the horizon hiding behind thick cluods. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(97 Éxitos)
(97 Éxitos)

View of an old wide lava channel. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(95 Éxitos)
(95 Éxitos)

Next morning is perfectly clear in Klyuchi village. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(101 Éxitos)
(101 Éxitos)

View towards Klyuchevskoy volcano from our hotel (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(103 Éxitos)
(103 Éxitos)

Strong winds pick up recent ash from Shiveluch, creating a dust layer. View back to Klyuchevskoy fro... [info]
(152 Éxitos)
(152 Éxitos)

First view of Shiveluch volcano's lava dome, after clouds have partially lifted in the afternoon (an... [info]
(104 Éxitos)
(104 Éxitos)

Clouds and fog continue to play hide and show until sunset. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(91 Éxitos)
(91 Éxitos)

Gradually, visibility becomes better. The lava dome is producing small rock avalanches from time to ... [info]
(113 Éxitos)
(113 Éxitos)

The remnants of the older Shiveluch volcano form a U-shaped collapse scar with rugged peaks surround... [info]
(110 Éxitos)
(110 Éxitos)

Silhouettes of Klyuchevskoy and Kristovsky / Ushkovsky volcanoes looking back S during the blue hour... [info]
(110 Éxitos)
(110 Éxitos)

A fine, purple haze is visible for a short time after sunset high in the atmosphere - aerosols in th... [info]
(93 Éxitos)
(93 Éxitos)

Volcanic sunset sihouettes (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(75 Éxitos)
(75 Éxitos)

A rockfall lifts a trace of dust. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
(99 Éxitos)
(99 Éxitos)

As it gets darker, small red spots become visible in the upper right part, where the currently activ... [info]
(101 Éxitos)
(101 Éxitos)

A large lava lobe is visible on the south-eastern flank of the dome (left). It was generated probabl... [info]
(88 Éxitos)
(88 Éxitos)

Apart from the active part of the dome visible as a mound on the upper right, a bright spot of incan... [info]
(98 Éxitos)
(98 Éxitos)

At the end of the blue hour. Overall, the dome has been relatively calm during our stay, thank god. ... [info]
(97 Éxitos)
(97 Éxitos)