Page 220 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Challenging Destinations 197

Figure CS10.1 Transport to the volcanoes of Kamchatka by helicopter

The Kronotsky State Biosphere Preserve has the east of Kamchatka peninsula, about 200km north-
highest designation of all the protected areas in the east of Petropavlovsk. It was discovered in 1941 by
UNESCO world heritage site ‘Volcanoes of the Russian geologist Ustinova (Rianovosti, 2007).
Kamchatka’. It is also one of the most dynamic, She found many geysers, hot springs, boiling mud,
geologically active protected areas in the world. vapour springs and geothermal fields close to the
One of the oldest protected areas in Russia River Shumnaya. Scientists of different disciplines
(gazetted 1939), Kronotsky is located in the started exploring and studying this area in the
south-eastern part of the Kamchatka peninsula, 1940s to explain why these geysers and hot springs
backed by the Vostochniy mountain range. This is appear, how they operate and to discover their
Russia’s largest preservation area; Kronotsky is a influence on the surrounding areas. Within the
multi-faceted place covering 1,007,134ha of land steep canyon valley approximately 200 geysers exist,
and a 5km zone of 243km of shoreline. Nestled in with many more hot springs and perpetual spouters.
a part of the Kronotsky Preserve is the Valley of The geysers of this particular valley are special as
Geysers. The valley is named for its multitude of many of them erupt at angles and few have the
geysers, situated between boiling mud pots, steam geyser cones that exist in many other geyser fields.
vents and warm to hot rivers. While there are Geysers are natural hot springs with a permanent
other important areas of the world that feature rhythmical activity and are quite rare. The cycle of
large geysers, such as Iceland and Yellowstone geyser activity consists of several phases. During the
National Park in the US, Kronotsky sets itself initial phase, water fills an underground basin and then
apart by its remoteness, true wilderness quality, a pool located at ground level. On its way up to the
and high concentration of geysers in one place surface the superheated water depressurizes and starts
(Kamchatka Explorer, 2009). boiling. The water converts into vapour and increases
The Geyser Valley (Figure CS10.2) is a unique its volume very rapidly, so the geyser starts exploding.
and world-famous natural feature situated on the These eruptions are very loud. The fountains of hot

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