Source: PHY
Subject: Mapping
Context: The Shiveluch volcano, one of the most explosive in Russia, erupted twice sending massive ash columns nearly 9,000 meters (29,500 feet) into the sky.
About The Shiveluch volcano:
What is it?
- Shiveluch (also spelled Sheveluch) is a massive stratovolcano—a cone-shaped volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. It is renowned for its superhydrous magmas (water-rich) which contribute to its highly explosive nature.
Located in:
- Region: Kamchatka Peninsula, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia.
- Proximity: Approximately 450 kilometers (280 miles) north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and 50 kilometers from the nearest settlement, Klyuchi.
Origin & Age:
- Geologic Age: Estimated to be between 60,000 and 70,000 years old, dating back to the late Pleistocene epoch.
- Formation: Created by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Okhotsk Plate, part of the geologically intense Pacific Ring of Fire.
Key Features:
- Structure: Composed of three main elements: the Old Shiveluch (extinct), an ancient caldera, and the Young Shiveluch (the currently active peak).
- Elevation: Reaches a peak height of 3,283 meters (10,771 feet).
- Activity Level: It is the northernmost active volcano in Kamchatka and has experienced at least 60 major eruptions in the last 10,000 years, remaining in a state of near-continuous eruption since 1999.
Strategic Significance:
- UNESCO World Heritage value: Shiveluch forms part of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka UNESCO site (1996), noted for its dramatic landscape shaped by active volcanoes and glaciers.
- Global aviation relevance: Located under major trans-Pacific air routes, Shiveluch eruptions threaten aviation safety as volcanic ash can damage jet engines.
- Scientific importance: Its water-rich magmas help scientists understand subduction-zone volcanism and the role of volcanoes in the global water cycle.
