Gorely Volcano
Updated: Aug 26, 2025 21:05 GMT -
Stratovolcano (caldera)
Southern Kamchatka, 52.55°N / 158.03°E 
Summit height: 1829 m (6,001 ft)
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 9 Dec 2021 (degassing)
The eastern central crater of Gorely, often filled with an acid lake.
Gorely volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in southern Kamchatka and located 75 km SW of Petropavlovsk. It is a complex of several overlapping stratovolcanoes with many summit and flank craters. Activity in historic times were mainly small to medium-sized ash and steam eruptions.
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Gorely volcano eruptions: 1821 (?), 1828, 1832, 1855, 1869, 1929-30, 1930-31, 1931, 1932 (?), 1947, 1961, June 1980 - July 81, Aug 1984- Sep 86, June 2010 (?)
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 10:42 am (Kamchatka) | 0.7 2.3 km | 14 km (8.8 mi) to the SE | Yelizovskiy Rayon, 74 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia | Info | |
| Aug 26, 03:31 am (Kamchatka) | 2.4 15 km | 17 km (10.3 mi) to the SW | Yelizovskiy Rayon, 87 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia | Info | |
| Aug 26, 03:30 am (Kamchatka) | 2.1 8.1 km | 20 km (12 mi) to the SW | Ust'-Bol'sheretskiy Rayon, 89 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia | Info | |
| Aug 25, 08:11 pm (Kamchatka) | 1.6 14 km | 20 km (12 mi) to the SW | Ust'-Bol'sheretskiy Rayon, 89 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia | Info | |
| Aug 25, 05:19 pm (Kamchatka) | 1.0 1.4 km | 15 km (9.1 mi) to the SE | Russia: 71 km From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy | Info | |
| Aug 25, 04:30 pm (Kamchatka) | 0.6 1.8 km | 13 km (7.9 mi) to the SE | Russia: 69 km From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy | Info | |
| Aug 25, 04:14 pm (Kamchatka) | 0.8 2.6 km | 13 km (8.3 mi) to the SE | Russia: 70 km From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy | Info | |
| Saturday, August 23, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Aug 24, 01:15 am (Kamchatka) | 2.0 9.7 km | 9.4 km (5.8 mi) to the NE | Yelizovskiy Rayon, 41 km southwest of Vilyuchinsk, Yelizovsky District, Kamchatka, Russia | Info | |
| Tuesday, August 19, 2025 GMT (2 quakes) | |||||
| Aug 19, 11:37 pm (Kamchatka) | 1.9 16 km | 15 km (9.4 mi) to the SW | Yelizovskiy Rayon, 85 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia | Info | |
Background
The large Gorely volcano has a very complex structure: The edifice fills a large 9 x 13.5 km caldera occupied by 3 closely spaced overlapping stratovolcanoes with 11 summit craters and more than 30 flank craters. The lavas of Gorely are mainly basalt and basaltic andesite and the volcano developed along a WNW-ESE line within the caldera. It is cut by 3 rift zones. Some of the craters contain acid or freshwater crater lakes.The caldera formed after a giant plinian eruption that produced about 100 cubic miles of tephraabout 38,000-40,000 years ago.
Historic activity of Gorely volcano can be traced since the 19th century. 4 explosive eruptions from summit craters occured in 1828, 1832, 1855, and 1869. The first historic eruptions in 1929-30 produced several strong eruptions which ejected ash and larger fragments of rock, and ash plumes that reached the Pacific coast, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and the village of Nachiki at 150 km from the volcano.
In the 20th century, seven eruptions occured in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1947, 1961, 1980-1981, and 1984-1986. During the last 1984-1986 eruption, the ash plumes reached 3.5 km height and a crater was formed that is now filled with a lake.
Gorely Volcano Photos
A cinder cone on Gorely's NE flank. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Crater of Gorely volcano, Kamchatka (Photo: AndreyNikiforov)
The crater lake of the central summit crater of Gorely is partially frozen. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Vilyuchik volcano is always visible behind as we decide to climb Gorely in the afternoon. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Gorely volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Gorely has had at least 50 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 11 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Gorely volcano.
Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Gorely volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Gorely volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Gorely can be found on the news page of Gorely volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2? | |||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | ? | |||
| 2? | |||||
| 2? | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
Remark:
Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution
Gorely Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Gorely volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Gorely occurred in 2010.
+How often does Gorely volcano erupt?
Since 1828, Gorely volcano has had at least 11 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 17.9 years.
Many eruptions of Gorely have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 14 out of 197 years until now. In other words, Gorely has been active at least one in 14.1 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Gorely is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.
+How active is Gorely volcano at present?
Gorely volcano is infrequently active: Since 1900, it has had 11 eruptions, and been active during 11 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Gorely has been in eruption one in 11.5 years on average. The last eruption was in 2010 and ended 15 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Gorely volcano?
The largest eruption of Gorely volcano in historic times occurred during 1980 - 1981. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
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Gorely Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Gorely volcano (scale of few kilometers)
