Oct/25

Gorely – One of the Most Popular Volcanoes in Kamchatka

No comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in Nature, Regions, Travel

Gorely Volcano is an active volcano located about 70 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in southern Kamchatka. This volcanic complex consists of 11 cones and 30 craters, some filled with lakes of acidic or fresh water. The volcano formed approximately 38-40 thousand years ago.

About 6,000 years ago, explosive eruptions with violent lava flows occurred here, but since the 15th century, the eruptions have become more moderate. The last recorded volcanic activity was in the summer of 2010. Gorely Volcano on Google Maps. Photos by: Slava Stepanov.

The ascent to the volcano’s summit is one of the most popular tourist routes. The difficulty of the route is moderate. The ascent takes an average of 2.5-3 hours. The walk through the craters takes another 1-1.5 hours, and the descent takes another 1-1.5 hours. The drive from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the volcano takes a long time, averaging 2-2.5 hours.

The climbing tour includes transportation to and from the climb site, meals as per the itinerary, and insurance. A permit for travel and stay within the park is provided free of charge. Those in moderate physical fitness can conquer this summit.

One of the most picturesque spots is the Blue Lake, a lake with acidic water in the eastern crater. When the volcano is dormant, the lake remains blue. However, when an eruption is imminent, the water begins to change color and boil away.

The weather is the most unpredictable thing in this part of Kamchatka. Gorely is located in the mountain tundra zone. Summers here are very short and cold. The Pacific Ocean is to the east, and the Sea of Okhotsk is not far to the west. Precipitation is high and sunny, windless summer days are few.