The Erupting Peninsula

  • Released Thursday, November 20, 2014
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Explorer Stepan Krasheninnikov first pointed it out in 1755: there may not be another land mass on Earth where so many volcanoes and hot springs are crammed into so little space. Situated along the Pacific Coast of Russia, the Kamchatka Peninsula is part of the Ring of Fire, one of the most geologically active zones on the planet. More than 300 volcanoes dot the peninsula, including 29 active ones. The volcanoes are as diverse—in shape, size, geologic formations, and eruptive styles—as they are numerous. The logistics of maintaining ground-based sensors in this rugged region make satellites a necessity for monitoring the volcanoes. In September 2014, the USGS-NASA Landsat 8 satellite captured six clear images of Kamchatka's often cloudy east coast. The images were stitched into a mosaic, providing a seamless look at five volcanoes with plumes of steam, gas, or ash rising from their summits. Watch the video for a tour of the mosaic.

Along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Kamchatka is home to more than 300 volcanoes, 29 of them active.

Along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Kamchatka is home to more than 300 volcanoes, 29 of them active.

Five erupting volcanoes are highlighted in this video. From north to south, they are: Shiveluch, Bezymianny, Kizimen, Karymsky, and Zhupanovsky.

Shiveluch is one of the largest and most active Kamchatkan volcanoes. It has been spewing ash and steam intermittently for a decade.

Shiveluch is one of the largest and most active Kamchatkan volcanoes. It has been spewing ash and steam intermittently for a decade.

Once thought to be dormant, Bezymianny roared to life in 1955. A lava dome has grown recently, punctuated by eruptions in 2010 and 2012.

Once thought to be dormant, Bezymianny roared to life in 1955. A lava dome has grown recently, punctuated by eruptions in 2010 and 2012.

Kizimen began erupting in 2010. Rocks and ash frequently fall from its summit.

Kizimen began erupting in 2010. Rocks and ash frequently fall from its summit.

Karymsky is a stratovolcano and the most active on the Peninsula. It has been erupting steadily since 1996 and sporadically for at least 200 years.

Karymsky is a stratovolcano and the most active on the Peninsula. It has been erupting steadily since 1996 and sporadically for at least 200 years.

Zhupanovsky is known for phreatic eruptions, caused by the nearly instantaneous vaporization of water by hot material below the surface.

Zhupanovsky is known for phreatic eruptions, caused by the nearly instantaneous vaporization of water by hot material below the surface.

For More Information

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Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Earth Observatory
Satellite images courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory/Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon
Cover image courtesy of NASA/JSC/Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth

This page was originally published on Thursday, November 20, 2014.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:50 PM EDT.