Valley of Geysers
Encyclopedia
The Valley of Geysers is a geyser
field in Russia
, and has the second largest concentration of geysers in the world. This 6 km long basin with approximately ninety geysers and many hot spring
s is situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula
in the Russian Far East
, predominantly on the left bank of the ever-deepening Geysernaya River, into which geothermal waters flow from a relatively young stratovolcano
, Kikhpinych
. Temperatures have been found to be 250 °C, 500 m below the caldera
ground. It is part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve
, which, in turn, is incorporated into the World Heritage Site
"Volcanoes of Kamchatka". The valley is difficult to reach, with helicopter
s providing the only feasible means of transport.
, in 1941. She published her findings fourteen years later, but there was little exploration of the area until 1972. A systematic si survey was undertaken in the mid-1970s, and an automatic monitoring system was introduced in 1990. Over thirty geysers were given names; among these was the Giant geyser (Velikan), capable of producing a jet of water reaching up to 40 meters. From the 1980s, the area was promoted across the USSR as one of the tourist magnets of Kamchatka and the Russian Far East
. Foreign tourists were allowed into the valley in 1991. About 3,000 tourists visited the site annually.
inundated two thirds of the valley. Oleg Mitvol
of Russia's Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources said "We witnessed a unique natural event, but the consequences of such a natural catastrophe are irreversible". The World Heritage Site
also expressed its deep concern over the issue. "This is tragic for humankind, in that we have lost one of the great natural wonders of the world", the World Wildlife Fund spokesman commented. On June 5, it was reported that a thermal lake was forming above the valley.
The extent of permanent change is not yet clear, but may be less than was originally thought. As of June 9, 2007, waters have receded somewhat, exposing some of the submerged features. Velikan (Giant) Geyser, one of the field's largest, was not buried in the slide and has recently been observed to be active.
Geyser
A geyser is a spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by a vapour phase . The word geyser comes from Geysir, the name of an erupting spring at Haukadalur, Iceland; that name, in turn, comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush", the verb...
field in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and has the second largest concentration of geysers in the world. This 6 km long basin with approximately ninety geysers and many hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s is situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
in the Russian Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
, predominantly on the left bank of the ever-deepening Geysernaya River, into which geothermal waters flow from a relatively young stratovolcano
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
, Kikhpinych
Kikhpinych
Kikhpinych is a stratovolcano located in the eastern part of Kamchatka Peninsula and feeding the famous Valley of Geysers. At its foot is the 'Valley of Death' where volcanic gasses accumulate and kill birds and mammals that enter it....
. Temperatures have been found to be 250 °C, 500 m below the caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
ground. It is part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve
Kronotsky Nature Reserve
Kronotsky Nature Reserve is a nature area reserved for the study of natural sciences in the remote Russian Far East, on the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. It was created in 1934 and its current boundary contains an area of...
, which, in turn, is incorporated into the World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
"Volcanoes of Kamchatka". The valley is difficult to reach, with helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s providing the only feasible means of transport.
History
The "pulsating" geysers of Kamchatka were discovered by a local scientist, Tatyana UstinovaTatyana Ustinova
Tatyana Ustinova was a Soviet geologist, who discovered Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka.- Biography :...
, in 1941. She published her findings fourteen years later, but there was little exploration of the area until 1972. A systematic si survey was undertaken in the mid-1970s, and an automatic monitoring system was introduced in 1990. Over thirty geysers were given names; among these was the Giant geyser (Velikan), capable of producing a jet of water reaching up to 40 meters. From the 1980s, the area was promoted across the USSR as one of the tourist magnets of Kamchatka and the Russian Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
. Foreign tourists were allowed into the valley in 1991. About 3,000 tourists visited the site annually.
Mudflow damage and aftermath
On June 3, 2007, a massive mudflowMudflow
A mudslide is the most rapid and fluid type of downhill mass wasting. It is a rapid movement of a large mass of mud formed from loose soil and water. Similar terms are mudflow, mud stream, debris flow A mudslide is the most rapid (up to 80 km/h, or 50 mph) and fluid type of downhill mass...
inundated two thirds of the valley. Oleg Mitvol
Oleg Mitvol
Oleg Lvovich Mitvol is a Russian environmentalist, businessman and government official, well-known for his activity in the chair of environmental protection department.-Business career:...
of Russia's Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources said "We witnessed a unique natural event, but the consequences of such a natural catastrophe are irreversible". The World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
also expressed its deep concern over the issue. "This is tragic for humankind, in that we have lost one of the great natural wonders of the world", the World Wildlife Fund spokesman commented. On June 5, it was reported that a thermal lake was forming above the valley.
The extent of permanent change is not yet clear, but may be less than was originally thought. As of June 9, 2007, waters have receded somewhat, exposing some of the submerged features. Velikan (Giant) Geyser, one of the field's largest, was not buried in the slide and has recently been observed to be active.
External links
- Landslide buries Valley of the Geysers at NASA Earth ObservatoryNASA Earth ObservatoryNASA Earth Observatory is an online publishing outlet for NASA which was created in 1999. It is the principal source of satellite imagery and other scientific information pertaining to the climate and the environment which are being provided by NASA for consumption by the general public...
- Google Earth model of the Valley of Geysers - photos, movies, maps, schemes, landslide animation
- http://valleyofgeysers.com
Russian
- Map of the Valley of Geysers and scheme of the landslide and the landslide-dammed lake With English translation.
Russian and English
- Valley of Geysers - what actually happened, Leonov and Leonov, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 June 2007