Volcanoes and earthquakes are special natural phenomena that occur in connection with the peculiarities of plate tectonics. The volcanic eruption, as a rule, is accompanied by earthquakes related to a special state of tremor of the earth's crust, resulting in a sharp release of powerful energy. For the most part, these are seismic waves generated by earthly natural phenomena, and sometimes by certain technological events.
Volcanoes are various openings in the earth's crust, from the bowels of which large volumes of molten rocks are thrown to the surface with great speed and force.
Before we consider examples of volcanic eruptions in Russia, we briefly give some definitions and find out how such phenomena occur.
General information about volcanoes and earthquakes
Earthquakes occur in connection with a sudden surge in pressure that has accumulated under the earth's crust over a certain period of time. The seismic situation is determined by measurements using a seismometer (the size and strength of the earthquake).
The point of occurrence of an earthquake is called its epicenter. The hypocenter is a point on the earth's surface, and above the epicenter of volcanoes. Eruptions, including masses (extrusions) of molten magma, usually take the form of mountains or elevations after cooling of ejected materials.
These terrible natural phenomena can occur in any part of the earth's surface (even in the mountains), both on land, and on the seabed and in the oceans. Often there is an eruption of volcanoes in Russia, which will be discussed in more detail below in the article.
Volcanoes are divided into 3 types: extinct, dormant (not yet active) and active.
Maps with places of volcanic outbreaks and earthquakes demonstrate that for the most part (as noted above) these phenomena are closely interrelated, and the basis for their occurrence is to a greater extent a feature of the tectonics of the Earth's lithospheric plates.
The most terrible cataclysms in the world
Before we describe the largest volcanic eruptions in Russia, we will present the most terrible such phenomena that have ever occurred on the entire planet.
The most famous and catastrophic volcanic eruption in all history is the activity of the famous volcano Vesuvius in August 1979. As a result, there was a complete destruction of three cities in Italy, including the largest of them - Pompeii. Killed 16, 000 people.
The following are considered the most terrible earthquakes: in 1976, the city of Tangshan in China was destroyed (800 thousand people died); in 2011, an earthquake triggered a terrible tsunami on the island of Honshu (Japan), which destroyed the nuclear power plant in the city of Fukushima (large-scale emission of radiation).
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Russia
Earthquakes in Russia are also quite common. So far, for residents of megacities and the central part of the country, this phenomenon, fortunately, is unfamiliar.
Of course, many remember the terrible event that occurred in the country during the USSR. The worst earthquake was in Armenia in December 1988, when the city of Spitak was completely destroyed.
In Russia, a similar activity of the earth's crust is often observed, but relatively with a small amplitude. For example, at the end of 2011, an earthquake of 3.2 points occurred in the territory of the Republic of Tuva. And to this day, seismic activity in this area does not stop.
Volcanic eruption in Russia is also not uncommon. In the vast territories of the vast state there are about 200 of the most diverse volcanoes, most of which are located in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. This includes 8.3% of all active volcanoes on Earth.
Below are several volcanoes in Russia that have been active over the past five years, and a brief history of their activity is given.
Flat Tolbachik
In November 2012, a volcanic eruption in Russia occurred in the east of Kamchatka. This place is the Tolbachiksky volcanic massif, which is part of the Klyuchevsky group of volcanoes (its southwestern part). Its structure includes Flat Tolbachik (with a height of 3140 m) and Ostry Tolbachik (3682 m). They are located on an ancient shield volcano.
This was a new eruption, which began with the opening of a crack (length of about 5 km). Lava flows flooded the hospital (the former base "Leningradskaya"), located at the foot of the volcano, and the building of the base of the natural park "Volcanoes of Kamchatka".
Kizimen
This is a stratovolcano in the shape of a regular cone. His last active eruption happened in 2013. The volcano (2485 m) is located on the southern side of the Tumrok ridge (western slope), 265 kilometers from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and 115 kilometers from the village. Milkovo.
Its greatest activity was observed in 2009, as a result of which many of them intensified in the valley of geysers. Ashes as a result of the volcano that year scattered into large areas of the biosphere reserve (Kornotsky). This volcano appeared 12 thousand years ago.
Nameless
This is another volcano located in Kamchatka near Klyuchevskoy hills. It is located about 40 kilometers from the village of Klyuchi (Ust-Kamchatsky district). Its absolute height is 2882 meters.
His last eruption happened in 2013, but the most famous - in 1955-1956. The eruption cloud at that time reached an altitude of almost 35 km. As a result, a horseshoe-shaped crater was formed, open in the eastern direction (1.3 km in diameter). At the eastern foot of an area of 500 square meters. km, all bushes and trees were broken and tumbled down.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka
More recently (August 1913), a strong volcanic eruption in Russia occurred in the east of Kamchatka. This stratovolcano is the highest of all active in Eurasia. Its age is approximately 7000 years, and its height varies periodically (4750-4850 m).
In October 2013, the main phase (after 4 lava flows) of the eruption occurred with the ash column rising to 10-12 kilometers. The train from it stretched in a south-westerly direction. Ashes fell in the villages of Atlasovo and Lazo and Atlasovo, moreover, the thickness of its layer was approximately two millimeters.
Karymskaya Sopka
The last eruption of this stratovolcano located in Kamchatka (Eastern Range) occurred in 2014. Its absolute height is 1468 meters. This is one of the most active volcanoes. Since 1852, a total of more than 20 eruptions have been recorded.
Near the Karymskaya Sopka there is a lake of the same name, in which, in 1996, with a large-scale underwater explosion, almost all living things that live in it died.
The last volcanic eruption in Russia
Shiveluch Volcano is also located on the Kamchatka Peninsula (Eastern Range). It is the northernmost of all active Kamchatka volcanoes. Its absolute height is 3307 meters.
In June 2013 (early morning), Shiveluch threw a powerful ash column to a height of 10, 000 meters. As a result, an ashfall occurred in the village of Klyuchi (47 km from the volcano). All streets and houses were covered with a millimeter layer of ash of red color. In October (after the eruption of Klyuchevskaya Sopka) Shiveluch again erupted a column of ash to a height of 7600 meters. In February 2014, this mark reached more than 11 kilometers, and in May the volcano monster immediately 3 pillars (from 7, 000 to 10, 000 meters).
