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Chikurachki

The Red-Capped Giant of the Northern Kurils

Elevation

1,781 m

Last Eruption

2023

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Russia

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity3 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Russia Volcanoes
Explore by country
Stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Kuril Islands, Paramushir Island
Regional volcanoes

Other Volcanoes in Russia

Interesting Facts

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Chikurachki is notable for producing basaltic Plinian eruptions, a rare eruption style in which typically fluid basaltic magma generates towering explosive columns more associated with viscous, silica-rich magmas.

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The volcano's upper slopes are distinctively reddish-brown, colored by oxidized basaltic and andesitic scoria deposits — earning it the informal description as the 'red-capped' volcano of the Kurils.

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With 29 recorded eruptions, Chikurachki is the most frequently active volcano on Paramushir Island and one of the most active in the entire 1,300-km Kuril arc.

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Lava flows from Chikurachki have reached the Sea of Okhotsk on the northwest coast, physically extending Paramushir Island by forming small capes and headlands.

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The volcano has erupted at least 11 times since 2002, averaging one eruption roughly every two years in the 21st century.

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Chikurachki's ash plumes pose a significant hazard to North Pacific aviation, as busy polar routes connecting Asia and North America pass through the region.

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The November 1986 eruption reached VEI 4, making it the most powerful eruption at Chikurachki in roughly three centuries.

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Tephrochronological studies have identified at least three VEI 4 eruptions during the prehistoric Holocene, around 6310 BCE, 1950 BCE, and 1500 BCE.

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Paramushir Island, on which Chikurachki stands, has a human population of only about 2,500, nearly all concentrated in the settlement of Severo-Kurilsk.

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The Chikurachki-Tatarinov volcanic complex is a north–south-trending chain of at least eight volcanic centers on northern Paramushir.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chikurachki an active volcano?
Yes, Chikurachki is an active stratovolcano and one of the most frequently erupting volcanoes in Russia's Kuril Islands. It last erupted in January 2023 and has produced at least 11 eruptions since 2002. In volcanological terms, a volcano is considered active if it has erupted during the Holocene epoch (the last ~11,700 years). Chikurachki's 29 confirmed Holocene eruptions and its ongoing pattern of activity at intervals of one to three years make it unambiguously active. The volcano is continuously monitored by Russia's KVERT team via satellite remote sensing.
Where is Chikurachki located?
Chikurachki is located on Paramushir Island, the northernmost major island in Russia's Kuril archipelago, which stretches between Japan's Hokkaido and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Its coordinates are 50.324°N, 155.461°E. The nearest settlement is Severo-Kurilsk, approximately 30 km to the south, with a population of around 2,500. Paramushir Island lies in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the Sea of Okhotsk to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The island is extremely remote and is accessible only by sea or helicopter.
How tall is Chikurachki?
Chikurachki rises to 1,781 m (5,843 ft) above sea level, making it the tallest volcano on Paramushir Island. It is built atop a higher Pleistocene-age base, so the modern cone itself is somewhat smaller than the total elevation suggests. For comparison, nearby Fuss Peak stands at 1,772 m (5,814 ft), while Alaid — the tallest volcano in the entire Kuril chain — reaches 2,339 m (7,674 ft) on Atlasova Island further north.
Why does Chikurachki have a red summit?
Chikurachki's distinctive reddish-brown summit coloration comes from oxidized basaltic and andesitic scoria deposits that blanket the upper cone. When iron-rich volcanic material is exposed to air and moisture over time, the iron minerals undergo oxidation — essentially rusting — which produces vivid red and brown tones. This process is particularly pronounced on Chikurachki because the volcano frequently deposits fresh scoria on its summit, and the exposed position at 1,781 m elevation subjects these deposits to constant weathering in the subarctic maritime climate.
Does Chikurachki affect air travel?
Yes, Chikurachki poses a significant hazard to aviation. The Kuril Islands lie beneath major North Pacific air corridors used by commercial flights between East Asia and North America. When Chikurachki erupts, ash plumes can reach altitudes of 6–10 km (20,000–33,000 ft), well within commercial flight levels. Volcanic ash can damage jet engines, abrade windshields, and clog pitot tubes. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) issues aviation color code alerts for the volcano, and SIGMETs are published when ash threatens flight routes.
What type of eruptions does Chikurachki produce?
Chikurachki is scientifically notable for producing basaltic Plinian eruptions — powerful explosive events that generate tall eruption columns despite the typically low viscosity of basaltic magma. Most eruptions worldwide that generate Plinian columns involve silica-rich, viscous magmas. Chikurachki's basaltic Plinian behavior may relate to high eruption rates, high volatile content, or rapid magma ascent. More typical activity includes Strombolian to Vulcanian explosions rated VEI 1–2, along with lava effusion on the flanks. Major eruptions such as the 1986 VEI 4 event can reach sub-Plinian to Plinian intensity.
When did Chikurachki last erupt?
Chikurachki's most recent confirmed eruption began on January 28, 2023, producing ash emissions from the summit crater. The eruption was detected by satellite imagery and rated VEI 2 by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Prior to that, the volcano erupted in January 2022 (VEI 2) and March 2021 (VEI 1). Chikurachki's pattern of eruptions roughly every one to three years in the 21st century means another eruption could occur at any time.
Is Chikurachki dangerous to people?
The direct risk to human life is low, given Chikurachki's extreme remoteness. Paramushir Island has a population of approximately 2,500, concentrated in Severo-Kurilsk about 30 km south of the volcano. No fatalities have been recorded from Chikurachki's eruptions in modern times. However, the volcano's indirect hazard is substantial: ash plumes threaten North Pacific aviation, and a large eruption could affect Severo-Kurilsk with ashfall or trigger lahars from snow and ice melting on the cone.