Avacha volcanic group

Avacha volcanic group is situated in the southeast of Kamchatka, 25 km from the Pacific coast and 30 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It consists of 5 volcanoes that stretch in the NW direction. The extinct Kozelsky volcano is the easternmost, then come Avacha and Koryaksky volcanoes, both active, then there are extinct Aag and Arik volcanoes. Avacha, Koryaksky and Kozelsky are the most often-visited and admired volcanoes.

Kozelsky volcano has a complicated volcanic structure with a large crater that opens on the east side. A glacier occupies the crater. The absolute height of the volcano is 2189 m. The volcano is of interest for alpinism, trekking, flower watching, and mountain skiing. As for alpinist tours on the southern rims of Kozelsky, there are routes of types 1, 2, 3. At the foot of the volcano there is a ski station and the house of the Kamchatka alpine club "Koutkh". One can ski on the snow of the eastern and southern slopes up to the beginning of June.

Avacha volcano is situated to the northwest of Kozelsky volcano. Its absolute height is 2751 м. The volcano has a compound structure of the Somma-Vesuvius type: it consists of two parts: somma (the main part of the volcano, the remains of the ancient exploded volcano) and the cone. The diameter of the somma is more than 4 km. It is destroyed and opened in the southwest. Its eastern, undestroyed part has the absolute height of 2317 m. The modern cone has the regular shape; there is a crater on the top whose fumarolic work is very active. The last eruption of the volcano took place in 1991.

      At the foot of the volcano at an altitude of 800 m there is the base camp. A little higher a mountain ski station is situated. The volcano is interesting from the point of view of alpinism and mountain skiing. The ascending route is very easy (type 1), i.e. during summertime there is no need of special equipment to ascend it. Weather permitting, any one in reasonably good shape can ascend the Avacha volcano and it is very popular among the Russians as well as foreign visitors.

Koryaksky volcano is located to the northwest of the Avacha volcano. It is a typical stratovolcano with a regular cone. Its top is cut in the west. The absolute height of the volcano is 3456 m; the relative height is 2300 m in the north, 3300 m in the south. On the northern and eastern slopes there are two glaciers. The length of the first one is 1 km, of the second one - 4.2 km. In the western part of the summit there are the remains of a crater with the diameter of 180-200 m with destroyed sides 20-30 m high. The crater is open in the south from where a relatively young lava stream goes down the slope. The slopes of the volcano are mostly steep; in the upper part the steepness is up to 30-35°, in the lower part - 15-20°.

      The ascent usually begins from the Avacha base camp. On the southern, eastern and southeastern slopes there are climbing routes of types 1, 2, 3. On the northern slope there is also an extreme ice route of the 4th type. Those attempting to ascend Koryaksky even on the easiest route need to have training in mountaineering techniques.