Mutnovsko-Gorelaya group of volcanoes

The Mutnovsko-Gorelaya group of volcanoes is located 80 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The group combines three large volcanoes: Mutnovsky, Gorely and Zhirovsky.

We are going to visit two of the most interesting ones, Mutnovsky and Gorely, in two days.

The Mutnovsky (2322 m) is one of the most active volcanoes in Kamchatka. The volcano consists of four craters with diameters up to 2 m, which are created by ancient explosions. Even in winter one can visit the crater of Mutnovsky Volcano approached it by snowmobile and watch the volcanic activity at a fumarolic field. There are vapor columns breaking out of the snow blanket to the height up to 1000 meters and mud pots are boiling all the time.

The Gorely (1829 m) is famous for its numerous craters, there are about 30 of them. Some are filled with acid, some — with fresh water. In winter the craters are covered with snow but their exposed slopes continue to steam. Many years ago there was an ancient volcano with 25 km diameter of the bottom. Later its central part descended and created a circle of craters which were erupting and imposing one over another.