An explosive eruption on Mount Karymsky, considered to be Russia's most active volcano, produced an ash column 6.5 km high on Tuesday 6 August 2013. Karymsky, which has been more-or-less constantly active since 1996 had been relatively quiet since mid-June this year, is one of around 150 volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, of which 29 are currently active. There is unlikely to be any risk to people on the ground, largely since nobody chooses to live near the volcano, but authorities in the Russian Far East have issued a warning to aviation.
An eruption on Mount Karymsky in July 2004. Alexander Belousov/Earth Observatory of Singapore.
The Kamchatka Peninsula lies on the eastern edge of the Okhotsk Plate, close to its margin with the Pacific and North American Plates. The Pacific Plate is being subducted along the margin, and as it does so it passes under the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, and as it does so is partially melted by the friction and the heat of the Earth's interior. Some of the melted material then rises through the overlying Okhotsk Plate as magma and fueling the volcanoes of southern Kamchatka.
The approximate location of Mount Karymsky. Google Maps.
See also Eruptions on Mount Shiveluch, New eruption on Mount Shiveluch, Eruption on Mount Shiveluch, Eruption on Mount Kizimen and Volcanic activity on Mount Alaid.
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