Volcanoes of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Kurile Islands. History, photos, volcanoes, population, climate, nature of the Kuril Islands. Plants, animals, geography, relief of the Kuril Islands

Volcanoes of the Kuril Islands

Volcanic activity is observed exclusively in the Great Kuril Ridge, the islands of which mainly have volcanic origin and only the northernmost and southernmost are composed of sedimentary rocks of the Neogene age. These rocks serve here as the foundation on which volcanic structures arose.

Volcanoes Kuril Islands confined to deep faults in the earth's crust, which is a continuation of the faults of Kamchatka. Together with the latter, they form one volcanic and tectonic Kurile-Kamchatka arc, convex towards the Pacific Ocean. There are 25 active volcanoes on the Kuril Islands (of which 4 are underwater), 13 are attenuated and more than 60 are extinct. The volcanoes of the Kuril Islands have been studied very little. Of these, the Alaid, Sarychev Fuss, Snow and Milya volcanoes stand out for their increased activity. Volcano Alaid is located on the first northern island (Atlasov Island) and of all Kuril volcanoes the most active. It is the highest (2239 m) and beautifully rises in the form of a regular cone directly from the surface of the sea. At the top of the cone in a small depression is the central crater of the volcano. By the nature of the eruptions, the Alaid volcano belongs to the ethno-Vesuvian type. Over the past 180 years, eight eruptions of this volcano and two eruptions from the lateral cone of Taketomi, which formed at the time, are known. eruptions of Alaid in 1934. Volcanic activity on the Kuril Islands is accompanied by numerous hot springs with temperatures from 36 to 100 C. The springs are diverse in form and salt composition and are even less studied than volcanoes.

Underwater volcanic group "Paramushirskaya"

Within this volcanic group, the underwater volcano Grigorieva, an underwater volcano located to the west of about. Paramushir and underwater lava cones at about. Paramushir.

Underwater volcano Grigorieva. The flat-topped underwater volcano Grigoriev, named after an outstanding Russian geologist, is located 5.5 km northwest of about. Atlasov (Alaid volcano) (Fig. 17).

It rises from depths of 800-850 m, and its base has grown together with the base of the Alaid volcano. Grigoriev volcano is located on the general line of the north-north-western direction of the location of the side cones of the Alaid volcano.

The dimensions of the base of the volcano along the isobath 500 m 11.5 8.5 km, and the volume of the building is about 40 km 3 . The steepness of the slopes reaches 10o-15o.

The top of the underwater volcano Grigorieva was cut off by abrasion and leveled to a level of 120-140 m (Fig. 18), which practically corresponds to the sea level in the Late Pleistocene. In the southern part of the peak, rocky ledges were noted, rising to a depth of 55 m. Apparently, these rocky ledges represent a prepared neck.

Judging by the records of continuous seismic profiling, the volcanic edifice is composed mainly of dense volcanic rocks.

An intense magnetic field anomaly with a amplitude of more than 1000 nT is confined to the underwater volcano Grigoriev (see Fig. 18). All rock ledges, marked in the southern part of the flat top, are clearly fixed in the magnetic field by the presence of local anomalies. The volcanic edifice is magnetized in the direction of the current magnetic field.

During the dredging of an underwater volcano, basalts were raised, varying in composition from very low-silica to high-silica varieties. The remanent magnetization of these basalts varies in the range of 7.3-28.5 A/m, and the Koenigsberger ratio - in the range of 8.4-26.5.

Data from echo sounding, continuous seismic profiling, hydromagnetic surveys, and measurements of the magnetic properties of dredged samples suggest that the entire edifice of the underwater volcano Grigoriev is composed of dense basalts.

The presence of a pre-Holocene 120-140 meter terrace and the magnetization of the volcanic edifice in the direction of the modern magnetic field allows us to estimate the age of the formation of the volcano in the range of 700-10 thousand years ago.

An underwater volcano to the west of about. Paramushir. In 1989, during the 34th and 35th cruises of the R/V Vulkanolog in the rear part of the Kuril arc, 80 km west of the island. Paramushir was discovered and studied in detail previously unknown underwater volcano.

This submarine volcano is located at the intersection of the Atlasov trough with the continuation of the transverse structure of the 4th Kuril trough. Like the Belyankin and Edelstein underwater volcanoes, it is located far in the rear of the Kuril Island Arc and is 280 km away from the axis of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench.

The volcano is located on a gentle slope of a trough, rising 650–700 m above the surrounding bottom of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk (Fig. 19). Its base is slightly elongated in the northwest direction and measures ~ 6.5 7 km. The top of the mountain is complicated by a number of peaks. The negative shape of the relief encircles the base of the volcano in an almost closed ring.

In the vicinity of the volcano, there are no extended scattering horizons in the sedimentary section. Only at the very base, an unextended "acoustically muddy" wedge sometimes stands out, apparently due to the accumulation of detrital material and landslide sediments. The position in the section of this “acoustically muddy” wedge corresponds to the estimated time of the formation of the volcano, which, according to the NSP, is 400-700 thousand years.

Structural features of the sedimentary cover indicate that the magma breakthrough to the bottom surface here was not accompanied by a large-scale accumulation of volcanic-sedimentary material, and most likely ended with the formation of one or a series of volcanic extrusions. Most likely, the entire building is composed of volcanic rocks.

At a distance of 5-10 km from the volcano, according to the NSP data, three small (apparently magmatic) bodies were identified that did not reach the bottom surface. Overlying sediments are folded into anticlinal folds.

The anomalous field (T) a in the area of ​​the underwater volcano is characterized by positive values. Only in the northwestern part of the study area, negative field values ​​with an intensity of up to -200 nT are noted. The areas of positive and negative values ​​of the magnetic field are separated by a linear zone of high gradients, which strikes northwest. The horizontal field gradient in this zone reaches 80–100 nT/km. A positive anomaly of the magnetic field with an intensity of up to 400-500 nT is associated directly with the volcanic edifice. Near the summit part of the structure, a local maximum with an intensity of up to 700 nT was noted. The maximum of the anomaly is shifted to the south of the top of the volcano. Marked magmatic bodies that have not reached the bottom surface are not expressed as independent anomalies in the anomalous magnetic field.

The observed pattern of the anomalous magnetic field indicates the direct magnetization of the underwater volcanic structure.

Apparently, the age of the formation of the volcano is not older than 700 thousand years, which is in good agreement with the NSP data.

During the dredging of the near-top part of the mountain, mainly amphibole andesites were raised, with a subordinate amount of pyroxene andesite-basalts and plagiobasalts. In small quantities, there are fragments of granitoids, andesitic pumice, cinders, pebbles of sedimentary rocks, iron-manganese formations, and benthic biota.

Echo sounding, NSP, HMS and geological sampling data suggest that the bulk of the volcanic edifice is composed of rocks of andesite-basalt composition.

Underwater lava cones at about. Paramushir. On a number of cruises of the R/V Vulkanolog and on cruise 11-A of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, a study was made of underwater gas-hydrothermal activity on the northwestern slope of the island. Paramushir. On cruise 11-A of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, either 11 dives of the Pisis VII and Pisis XI, or 13 submersibles, were performed in the study area.

The signal for such a close study of this area was a radiogram sent on March 20, 1982 by the captain of the fishing vessel "Pogranichnik Zmeev" to the newspaper "Kamchatskaya Pravda" that near about. Paramushir "an active underwater volcano was discovered at a depth of 820 m, the extreme height of the ejection is 290 m ...". In April of the same year, on the 13th cruise of the R/V Vulkanolog, acoustic noise was detected at the indicated point, which is clearly manifested in the echo sounder records. Similar records were repeatedly recorded during research from the board of research vessels in the area of ​​active volcanoes and were associated with the action of underwater fumaroles. In its form, the identified interference resembled a torch. Subsequently, when conducting research at the indicated point, acoustic interference on the records of various echo sounders installed on board the R/V Vulkanolog was noted until 1991, when the last specialized cruise No. 40 of this vessel was performed within the RCD.

Prior to the start of research in the area of ​​the "torch" were not known any signs of manifestation volcanic activity. To establish the nature of the "torch" of anomalous water, so many studies were carried out. They made it possible to establish that the "torch" was formed by underwater gas-hydrothermal vents (SGTV), similar to an underwater fumarole, but not directly related to any volcanic center. Therefore, the application of the term "underwater fumarole" to it would be incorrect.

PGTV is located on the west-north-western slope of about. Paramushir in the rear part of the KKOS, approximately in the middle between the Alaid and Antsiferov volcanoes. Its coordinates are 50o30.8 "N and 155o18.45" E. It is confined to a weakly manifested transverse volcanic zone, represented by almost completely buried extrusive domes or small volcanic cones, stretching from the Chikurachki volcano in a west-northwest direction. On the NSP records, these structures are similar to the side cinder cones of the Alaid volcano, which also have a transverse orientation with respect to the RCD. Most of the buried structures are 0.5-3 km in size at the base and 50-400 m in height. Taking into account that these dimensions are smaller than the inter-tack distance, excluding a small area around the PGTV itself, it can be assumed that the number of buried structures in the described area is somewhat larger. It should be noted that the buried structures in the KOD area during volcanological expeditions aboard the R/V Vulkanolog were found only in two places: in the PGTV area and near an underwater volcano to the west of the island. Paramushir.

Judging by the HMS data, not all volcanic buried structures have the same structure. Some of them are not expressed in any way in the magnetic field, but are only fixed on the NSP tapes, distinct positive or negative anomalies of the magnetic field are confined to others, and they are, most likely, lava domes or cones, frozen mainly in the sedimentary mass. Non-magnetic cone-shaped structures can be composed of cinder cones or acid rocks.

The largest lava cone is located at the northeastern end of the detailed study area. It is almost entirely located inside the sedimentary sequence, which here has a thickness of more than 1500 m. Only its near-top part rises above the bottom surface, forming a hill 100-120 m high. The recorded depth above the top is 580 m. The dimensions of this structure in its lower part at a depth of 800 -1000 m from the bottom surface reach 5-6 km. The size of the building according to the buried base is 7.5 11 km, the area is ~ 65 km 2, the total height is 1600 m. The steepness of the slopes of the building is 5o-8o. A smaller cone with a base size of ~3 km adjoins it from the south-southwest. Both of these structures are magnetic and form an anomaly, within which two extrema with an intensity of 370 and 440 nT are noted (Fig. 4). The buildings are magnetized in the direction of the modern magnetic field, and the age of their formation is not older than 700 thousand years.

The performed two-dimensional modeling showed that the effective magnetization of the northern cone is 1.56 A/m, and that of the southern cone is 3.7 A/m. Based on the average values ​​of the effective magnetization for underwater volcanoes, it can be assumed that the northern cone is composed of andesites, and the southern cone is composed of andesite-basalts.

During PHA dives on the northern cone, plagioclase-hornblende andesites and predominantly homogeneous basalts were sampled.

Comparison of geomagnetic modeling results with geological sampling data suggests that the upper part of this cone is composed of basalts, while the deeper parts are composed of andesites.

Estimates of the age of the northern cone, given in various works, vary within the Neogene-Quaternary.

A small cone, located in the southern part of the detailed work area, has a base size of ~ 1.5 km in diameter. A negative anomaly of the magnetic field with an intensity of -200 nT is confined to it (see Fig. 4). The effective magnetization of this cone is 1.3 A/m, which corresponds to the magnetization of andesitic volcanoes. The negative nature of the magnetic field suggests that the age of formation of this cone is no younger than 700 thousand years.

It should be noted that the PGTV is located in a zone of increased fracturing with big amount minor discontinuities.

PHA subsidence in the PGTV zone showed that the most characteristic landforms in the PGTV area are chaotically located sinkholes and pits. The size of the pits varies from 1 to 10 m in diameter and has a depth of up to 3 m. The distance between the pits is 0.5-2 m.

PGTV is associated with deposits of solid gas hydrates.

Employees of the IO RAS believe that the investigated outlets are gas, and not hydrothermal.

The studies performed have shown that the PGTWs are located within a weakly expressed Quaternary (Neogene-Quaternary?) volcanic zone. They are confined to a zone of increased fracturing and are not directly connected with any volcanic center. The nearest non-magnetic (slag?) cone is located ~ 2 km to the east-south-east of the point of manifestation of acoustic interference.

Underwater volcanic group "Makanrushi".

Within this volcanic group, the contrasting underwater volcanoes Belyankina and Smirnov, named after prominent Russian geologists, were studied. These underwater volcanoes are located in the rear of Onekotan Island (see Fig. 17). The underwater volcano Belyankina is located 23 km northwest of about. Makanrushi (Fig. 21). On navigation charts, prior to the work from the R/V Vulkanolog, two distinctive depths were shown in this area, which could be the depths marked above the peaks of this underwater volcano. Our studies unequivocally showed that the Belyankin underwater volcano has only one peak.

Belyankina volcano has the shape of an isometric cone and rises above the surrounding bottom to a height of about 1100 m. The sharp peak of the volcano is located at a depth of 508 m. Belyankina volcano is located not only outside the mountain structure of the Kuril-Kamchatka island arc, but even on the other side of the Kuril basin - on its northwestern slope. The maximum size of the base of the volcanic edifice is 97 km with an area of ​​about 50 km 2 . The volcano has steep slopes. Their steepness increases in the direction from the base to the top from 15o-20o to 25o-30o. The slopes of the volcano rising above the bottom of the basin are devoid of a sedimentary cover. The base of the overlying volcano is covered by a thick layer of sediments. On the seismograms of the NSP, they correspond to the pattern of the seismoacoustic image, which is generally typical for the sedimentary strata of this region of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The volume of the volcanic edifice, taking into account the part covered by sediments, is ~35 km3. The thickness of sedimentary deposits near the volcano exceeds 1000 m. With the available estimates of the rate of sedimentation in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk (20-200 m/m.y.), it would take from 1 to 10 m.y. to form this sequence.

Underwater volcano Belyankina clearly manifests itself in a magnetic field. It is associated with a magnetic field anomaly with a swing of 650 nT, the extremum of which is shifted to the southeast of the peak (see Fig. 21). The volcanic edifice has a direct magnetization.

During the dredging of the Belyankin underwater volcano homogeneous olivine basalts were raised. Based on the study of dredged rocks, some authors believe that the volcanic eruptions occurred in underwater conditions, while others - that in land conditions.

Measurement of the magnetic properties of the dredged samples showed that their residual magnetization varies within 10-29 A/m, and the Koenigsberger ratio - within 5.5-16.

To interpret the HMS data, 2.5-dimensional modeling was performed according to the method proposed in the work. As a priori information, the materials of the echo-sounding sounding and NSP were used. One of the most realistic models, in which the best coincidence of the curves of the anomalous and model magnetic fields is observed, is shown in Fig. 6.

It follows from the modeling results that the anomalous magnetic field in the region of the volcano is mainly due to its construction. The role of the deep roots of the volcano is very insignificant. The rocks that make up the volcanic edifice have a direct magnetization and are quite homogeneous in composition, which is in good agreement with the geological sampling data. Modeling performed by two other independent methods gave similar results.

Comparing the modeling results with the NSP and echo sounding data, and taking into account the freshness of the dredged material, it can be assumed that, most likely, the sedimentary sequence was cut through during the formation of the volcanic edifice. The base of the volcano apparently began to form in the Pliocene, while the main part of the edifice formed in the Pleistocene.

The underwater volcano Smirnov is located 12 km north-north-west of about. Macanrushi (see Fig. 21). Its base merges with the base of Macanrushi Island at a depth of about 1800 m. Slopes about. Makanrushi are covered with a thick (up to 0.5 s) cover of "acoustically opaque", probably volcanogenic and volcanogenic-sedimentary deposits. These deposits cover southern part the bases of the Smirnov volcano and, as it were, “flow around” it from the southwest and southeast. From the north, the foot of the volcano is blocked by sedimentary deposits typical for this region of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, at least 1000 m thick. According to available estimates of the rate of sedimentation in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, it would take at least 5 million years for the formation of this sequence.

The flat top of the volcano is located at a depth of 950 m and is covered with horizontally layered sediments 100-150 m thick. The maximum size of the base of the volcano is 8 11 km, with an area of ​​~ 70 km 2, and a flat top - 2? 3 km. Relative height volcanic structure is 850 m, and the volume is about 20 km 3.

The underwater Smirnov volcano also clearly manifests itself in the magnetic field, and a magnetic field anomaly with an amplitude of 470 nT is confined to it (see Fig. 21). The volcanic edifice has a direct magnetization.

During the dredging of the Smirnov volcano, various rocks were raised, varying in composition from basalts to dacites.

Dredged andesite-basalts have a residual magnetization of 1.5-4.1 A/m and a Koenigsberger ratio of 1.5-6.9, and andesites - 3.1-5.6 A/m and 28-33, respectively.

To interpret the HMS data, 2.5-dimensional modeling was performed according to the method proposed in . One of the most realistic models, in which the best coincidence of the curves of the anomalous and model magnetic fields is observed, is shown in Fig. 6. The discrepancy at the beginning of the profile of the observed and calculated curves of the anomalous magnetic field is due to the influence of the nearby Makanrushi Island. It follows from the simulation results that the anomalous magnetic field in the region of the volcano is due to its structure, and not to deep roots. Despite the heterogeneity of the dredged material, the vast majority of the structure is rather homogeneous in composition of its constituent rocks, which have a direct magnetization. Based on the magnitude of the effective magnetization, such rocks can be high-potassium amphibole-bearing andesites, typical of the rear zone of the Kuril-Kamchatka island arc.

The flat top of the volcano indicates that it once rose to sea level, and then experienced a significant subsidence. Extensive underwater terraces about. Makanrushi are located at depths of about 120-130 m. This practically corresponds to the sea level in the late Pleistocene, i.e. no significant subsidence has occurred in this area since the late Pleistocene. Therefore, we can assume that the lowering of the flat top of the Smirnov volcano to a depth of 950 m occurred before the beginning of the Late Pleistocene. The nature of the relationships between the Smirnov volcano edifice and the sedimentary deposits of the bottom of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the deposits of the submarine slopes of Okhotsk Island. Makanrushi suggests that this volcano is one of the most ancient parts of the massif about. Macanrushi. Its age is at least Pliocene.

There are about 100 underwater volcanoes in the waters of the Kuril Islands. Volcanoes that erupted in the memory of people are classified as active, volcanoes that are showing signs of activity at the present time are classified as potentially active.

Active and potentially active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands

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Notes

Literature

• Atlas of the Kuril Islands / Russian Academy Sciences. Institute of Geography RAS. Pacific Institute of Geography FEB RAS; Editors: V. M. Kotlyakov (chairman), P. Ya. Baklanov, N. N. Komedchikov (chief editor) and others; Rep. editor-cartographer Fedorova E. Ya .. - M .; Vladivostok: CPI "DIK", 2009. - 516 p. - 300 copies. - ISBN 978-5-89658-034-8.

Links

• SVERT-
• Global Volcanism Program
• KVERT-

An excerpt characterizing the Volcanoes of the Kuril Islands

On the evening of September 1, after his meeting with Kutuzov, Count Rastopchin, upset and offended that he was not invited to the military council, that Kutuzov did not pay any attention to his proposal to take part in the defense of the capital, and surprised by the new look that opened to him in the camp , in which the question of the calmness of the capital and its patriotic mood turned out to be not only secondary, but completely unnecessary and insignificant - upset, offended and surprised by all this, Count Rostopchin returned to Moscow. After supper, the count, without undressing, lay down on the couch and at one o'clock was awakened by a courier who brought him a letter from Kutuzov. The letter said that since the troops were retreating to the Ryazan road beyond Moscow, would it please the count to send police officials to lead the troops through the city. This news was not news to Rostopchin. Not only from yesterday's meeting with Kutuzov on Poklonnaya Hill, but even from the battle of Borodino itself, when all the generals who came to Moscow unanimously said that it was impossible to give another battle, and when, with the permission of the count, state property was already taken out every night and the inhabitants left halfway, Count Rostopchin knew that Moscow would left; but nevertheless this news, reported in the form of a simple note with an order from Kutuzov and received at night, during the first dream, surprised and annoyed the count.
Subsequently, explaining his activities during this time, Count Rostopchin wrote several times in his notes that he then had two important goals: De maintenir la tranquillite a Moscou et d "en faire partir les habitants. [Keep calm in Moscow and expel from If we admit this dual purpose, any action of Rostopchin turns out to be irreproachable. Why weren’t the Moscow shrines, weapons, cartridges, gunpowder, grain supplies taken out, why were thousands of residents deceived by the fact that Moscow would not be surrendered, and ruined? in order to keep calm in the capital, answers the explanation of Count Rostopchin. Why were piles of unnecessary papers taken out of government offices and Leppich's ball and other objects? - In order to leave the city empty, the explanation of Count Rostopchin answers. One has only to assume that something threatened people's peace, and every action becomes justified.
All the horrors of terror were based only on concern for the people's peace.
What was the basis of Count Rostopchin's fear of public peace in Moscow in 1812? What reason was there to suppose a tendency to rebellion in the city? Residents were leaving, the troops, retreating, filled Moscow. Why should the people revolt as a result of this?
Not only in Moscow, but throughout Russia, when the enemy entered, there was nothing resembling indignation. On the 1st and 2nd of September, more than ten thousand people remained in Moscow, and, apart from the crowd that had gathered in the courtyard of the commander-in-chief and attracted by him, there was nothing. It is obvious that even less one should have expected unrest among the people if, after the Battle of Borodino, when the abandonment of Moscow became obvious, or at least probably, if then, instead of disturbing the people with the distribution of weapons and posters, Rostopchin took measures to the removal of all sacred things, gunpowder, charges and money, and would directly announce to the people that the city was being abandoned.
Rostopchin, an ardent, sanguine man, who always moved in the highest circles of the administration, although with a patriotic feeling, had not the slightest idea about the people he thought to rule. From the very beginning of the enemy's entry into Smolensk, Rastopchin in his imagination formed for himself the role of the leader of the people's feelings - the heart of Russia. It not only seemed to him (as it seems to every administrator) that he controlled the external actions of the inhabitants of Moscow, but it seemed to him that he directed their mood through his appeals and posters, written in that jarring language, which in its midst despises the people and whom he does not understands when he hears it from above. Rastopchin liked the beautiful role of the leader of popular feeling so much, he got used to it so much that the need to get out of this role, the need to leave Moscow without any heroic effect took him by surprise, and he suddenly lost the ground on which he stood from under his feet, in resolutely did not know what to do. Although he knew, he did not believe with all his heart until the last minute in leaving Moscow and did nothing to this end. Residents moved out against his will. If exported government offices, then only at the request of officials, with whom the count reluctantly agreed. He himself was busy only with the role that he had made for himself. As is often the case with people endowed with ardent imagination, he had known for a long time that Moscow would be abandoned, but he knew only by reasoning, but he did not believe in it with all his heart, he was not transported by his imagination to this new position.

There are about 100 underwater volcanoes in the waters of the Kuril Islands. Volcanoes that erupted in the memory of people are classified as active, volcanoes that are showing signs of activity at the present time are classified as potentially active.

Active and potentially active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands

Write a review on the article "Volcanoes of the Kuril Islands"

Notes

Literature

• Atlas of the Kuril Islands / Russian Academy of Sciences. Institute of Geography RAS. Pacific Institute of Geography FEB RAS; Editors: V. M. Kotlyakov (chairman), P. Ya. Baklanov, N. N. Komedchikov (chief editor) and others; Rep. editor-cartographer Fedorova E. Ya .. - M .; Vladivostok: CPI "DIK", 2009. - 516 p. - 300 copies. - ISBN 978-5-89658-034-8.

Links

• SVERT-
• Global Volcanism Program
• KVERT-

The Kuril Islands are a 1,200-kilometer chain of 56 islands stretching from the Kamchatka Peninsula to Japanese island Hokkaido. They form two parallel ridges, which are called the Greater Kuril and Lesser Kuril.

All islands are part of Sakhalin region RF. Many of them have rich and picturesque nature. There are many volcanoes here.
There is evidence of fighting with the Japanese in 1945. The economy of a few settlements is mainly associated with fishing and fish processing. These places have a huge tourist and recreational potential. Several islands in the South Kuriles are disputed by Japan, which considers them part of Hokkaido Prefecture.

In the northern part of Iturup Island on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, there are unusual volcanic phenomena called the White Rocks. They are composed of pumice or a glass-like porous mass and stretch for 28 kilometers.

The ridges created by nature have a fantastic view and are cut by beautiful canyons. The shore near them is a beach covered with white quartz and black titanomagnetite sand. The sight of such an unusually beautiful natural object leaves an indelible impression.

On one of the islands is unusually beautiful bay called Crater. It is a biological reserve. Its uniqueness lies in the isolation of flora and fauna from surrounding nature. Here, along with those living at the bottom sea ​​urchins Several new animal species have been discovered.

South-facing bay deep 56 meters has a shallow entrance width of 300 meters and protrudes into the island for a kilometer. A 388-meter volcano operates in the bay Ushishir, picturesque slopes which are covered with dense vegetation, descending directly to the water.

This island volcano is the highest active volcano on the islands. Its height is 2339 meters and the correct shape of the cone, which is often compared with the outlines of the Japanese volcano Fuji.

At the base and on the slopes there are more than three dozen cinder cones. The volcano is located 70 kilometers from the Kamchatka coast and 30 kilometers from the largest North Kuril island, Paramushir. It is classified as a double stratovolcano, on top of which there is an explosive crater 200 m deep and up to 1300 m in diameter.

The city of Severo-Kurilsk, located on Paramushir Island, is its administrative center. 2587 people live in it. After the war, fish processing plants operated here on the basis of former Japanese enterprises.

Residential buildings, schools, hospitals, etc. were built. In 1952, a tsunami with a wave height of 10 meters that arose as a result of an earthquake destroyed the city and surrounding settlements. In the 60s of the last century, the city was restored.

In 1982, on some islands belonging to the Lesser Kuril Ridge, a federal natural state reserve. Its purpose is to increase the number and preserve rare birds and sea animals.

Among them are Red Book birds, as well as local sea otters, seals, sea lions, northern fur seals, killer whales, gray dolphins and humpback whales. Most The reserve is occupied by coniferous and broad-leaved forests. On its territory there are nesting places for sea birds and a rookery for a seal listed in the Red Book.

In the south of the island Iturup created nature reserve, where there are two volcanoes, three mountain range, isthmuses, large picturesque lakes and many streams. Spruce and mixed forests covering the island are extraordinarily beautiful. They have a huge amount of mushrooms and berries, there are thickets of bamboo.

Eat unique plants like a huge Sakhalin champignon. In Lake Krasivoye, which is 48 meters deep, salmon spawn. The reserve can be accessed through small airport and a pier in Kasatka Bay.

This unique place on the planet got its name due to its ring-shaped form surrounding the Krenitsyn volcano, which is considered one of the largest in the world.

A lake with a volcano is located on a quiet and calm desert island Onekotan. The depth of the reservoir does not exceed a meter. This perfect place for connoisseurs untouched nature who admire the surrounding landscapes while climbing a huge volcano.

This small island-volcano with a constantly smoking upper cone has a square shape with a side of 3.7 kilometers.

The island is almost impregnable because of the rockiness, you can moor to it only by boat in one place in the absence of wind and waves. At the same time, you need to focus on a beautiful 48-meter rock. The vegetation is sparse, there are mosses and grasses, alder bushes. Hundreds of thousands of birds gather here for bird markets.

This is the name of the border and southernmost of the Kuril Islands. It is separated from Japan by two straits. The city of Yuzhno-Kurilsk is its main locality. In fact, the island consists of a chain of volcanoes, which bear the names of Golovin, Mendeleev and Tyat.

They are connected by washed sandstone. The island has rich flora and fauna. There are many thermal springs here, unique volcanic lakes. One of them - Boiling, is considered the main South Kuril attraction.

This island is the largest in the northern part of the Kuriles. Its length about 120 kilometers, a width of about 30. It has a rich relief, consisting of mountain ranges, which are a chain of volcanoes, some of which are active. There are many grassy meadows, many rivers, streams and lakes.

The forests are predominantly willow. Wild rosemary and rhododendrons bloom beautifully, there are a lot of lingonberries, blueberries and other berries. IN major river Tuharka is inhabited by salmon fish. You can meet brown bears, hares, rodents, sea otters, sea lions and seals.

This North Kuril island was an important military facility of the Japanese army. Here was located 8.5 thousandth garrison with aircraft, tanks, guns, mortars, underground fortifications.

This 15 km strait connects the Sea of ​​Okhotsk with Pacific Ocean. He received the name of the Russian naval officer I.F. Kruzenshtern, who first walked along it in 1805 on the Nadezhda sailboat.

The strait is picturesque, along it there are uninhabited rocky and steep islands, and in the center there are the Trap rocks dangerous for sailors. At its narrowest point, it is 74 kilometers wide. At maximum depth 1764 meters there are two 150-meter shallows.

On the slopes of the Baransky volcano there are unique thermal springs and reservoirs. On a rocky plateau there is a geothermal station that generates electricity.

There are geysers, lakes, sulfur streams, baths with boiling mud. In the lake with the name "Emerald Eye" the temperature reaches 90 degrees. It feeds the picturesque four-kilometer-long rapids river Boiling with hot and sour water.

In one place, it ends with an incredibly beautiful 8-meter waterfall, the water temperature in which is 43 degrees.

There are 21 active volcanoes on the Kuril Islands, of which five stand out for their more active activity, among the most active volcanoes Kuril ridge, these include Alaid, Sarychev Peak, Fuss, Snow and Milna.

Among the active volcanoes of the Kuril Islands, the most active volcano is Alaid. It is also the highest among all the volcanoes of this ridge. As a beautiful cone-shaped mountain, it rises directly from the sea surface to a height of 2,339 m. At the top of the volcano there is a small depression, in the middle of which the central cone rises.

It erupted in 1770, 1789, 1790, 1793, 1828, 1829, 1843 and 1858, that is, eight eruptions in the last 180 years.

In addition, near the northeastern shores of Alaid, an accident occurred in 1932. underwater eruption, and in December 1933 and January 1934 eruptions occurred 2 km from its eastern coast. As a result of the last eruption, a volcanic island with a wide crater was formed, called Taketomi. It is a side cone of the Alaid volcano. Taking into account all these eruptions, we can say that over the past 180 years, at least 10 eruptions have occurred from the Alaid volcanic chamber.

In 1936, a spit formed between Taketomi and Alaid volcanoes, which connected them. The lavas and loose volcanic products of Alaida and Taketomi are basaltic.

Sarychev Peak is in second place in terms of the intensity of volcanic activity and is a stratovolcano located on the island of Matua. It has the form of a two-headed cone with a gentle slope in the lower part and with a steeper one - up to 45 °, in the upper part.

On the higher (1497 m) peak there is a crater with a diameter of about 250 m and a depth of about 100 - 150 m. There are many cracks near the crater on the outer side of the cone, from which white vapors and gases were emitted (August and September 1946).

WITH south side the cliff surrounds Sarychev Peak in a semicircle, which, most likely, is a remnant of the crest of the original volcano. To the southeast of the volcano are, apparently, small secondary cones.

From the 60s of the XVIII century to the present, its eruptions occurred in 1767, around 1770, around 1780, in 1878-1879, 1928, 1930 and 1946. In addition, there are numerous data on its fumarolic activity. So in 1805, 1811, 1850, 1860. he "smoked". In 1924, an underwater eruption occurred near it.

Thus, over the past 180 years, there have been at least seven eruptions. They were accompanied by both explosive activity and outpourings of basaltic lava.

The last eruption occurred in November 1946. This eruption was preceded by a revival of activity of the neighboring volcano Rasshua, located on the island of the same name. On November 4, it began to rapidly emit gases, and a glow was visible at night, and from November 7, an increased release of white gases from the crater of the Sarychev Peak volcano began.

On November 9, at 17:00, a column of gases and black ash rose above its crater, and in the evening a glow appeared that was visible all night. During November 10, ash was thrown out of the volcano and light, but frequent tremors occurred, and an uninterrupted underground rumble was heard, and occasionally thunder peals.

On the night of November 11-12, mainly hot bombs were thrown to a height of up to 100 m, which, falling along the slopes of the volcano, cooled rather quickly. From 22:00 12 to 14 November, the eruption reached its maximum stress. First, a huge glow appeared above the crater, the height of the flight of volcanic bombs reached 200 m, the height of the gas-ash column - 7000 m above the crater. Particularly deafening explosions occurred on the night of the 12th to the 13th and on the morning of November 13th. On November 13, the outpouring of lava began, and side craters formed on the slope.

The eruption was especially beautiful and spectacular on the night of November 13 and 14. Fiery tongues descended from the crater down the slope. The entire top of the volcano, 500 m down from the crater, seemed red-hot from a large number thrown bombs, debris and sand. From the morning of November 13 to 2 pm on November 14, the eruption was accompanied by different kind lightning that flashed almost every minute in different directions.

Fussa Peak Volcano is located on the island of Paramushir and is a separate beautiful gkonus, western slopes which abruptly break off into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Fuss Peak erupted in 1737, 1742, 1793, 1854 and H859, and the last eruption, i.e., 1859, was accompanied by the release of asphyxiating gases.

Snow Volcano is a small low domed volcano, about 400 m high, located on Chirpoy Island (Black Brothers Islands). At its top (there is a crater about 300 m in diameter. In the northern part of the bottom of the crater there is a depression in the form of a well, with a diameter of about 150 m. Numerous lava flows erupted mainly to the south of the crater. Apparently, it belongs to shield volcanoes. It is known an indication without an exact date of the eruption of this volcano in the 18th century.In addition, Snow volcano erupted in 1854, 1857, 1859 and 1879. Miln volcano is located on Simushir Island, is a two-headed volcano with an inner cone 1,526 m high and bordering on the western side parts of the ridge - the remains of a destroyed more ancient volcano, 1,489 m high. Lava flows are visible on the slopes, which in some places protrude into the sea in the form of huge lava fields.

There are several side cones on the slopes, of which one, called the “Burning Hill”, acts along with the main cone and, thus, is, as it were, independent volcano.
There is information about the volcanic activity of the Milna volcano dating back to the 18th century. According to more accurate information, it erupted in 1849, 1881 and 1914. Some of them, in all likelihood, refer only to the eruptions of the Burning Hill.

To less active volcanoes include the Severgin, Sinarka, Raikoke and Medvezhiy volcanoes.