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Gamchen

Complex in Russia

Last Eruption: -188

Key Facts

Elevation

2,539 m (8,330 ft)

Type

Complex

Location

54.974°, 160.703°

Region

Eastern Kamchatka Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Gamchen is a complex volcano composed of four stratovolcanoes, one of which is of Holocene age. Yuzhny Gamchen and Severny Gamchen are steep-sided eroded stratovolcanoes of Pleistocene age. Edifice-collapse events during the early Holocene produced several large debris-avalanche deposits below the eastern flanks.

Molodoi, a small stratovolcano with a shallow crater, is located on the E flank of Severvy Gamchen. Barany, a young stratovolcano with a crater 500 m wide and 200 m deep, is located on the SE flank of Yuzhny Gamchen. Barany is the source of a lava field extending to the E and NE that was active between about 3,600 and 3,000 years ago.

Lava domes are found on the flanks of the volcanoes; the youngest of these is Lukovitsa dome, which formed during the final stages of activity at Barany. No reported eruptions are known.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Basalt / Picro-Basalt
    Silica Content
    Low (45-52% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Eruption Dated

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent Activity2214 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • Smithsonian ID: 300210
    • Evidence: Eruption Dated
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The Gamchen massif, consisting of one Holocene and three late-Pleistocene cones, is seen here from the SE. The reddish Holocene cone in the foreground is Barany and has a 500-m-wide, 200-m-deep crater. Stratigraphic evidence indicates that it grew during several episodes of activity 3,600-3,000 years ago. Yuzhny Gamchen (center) forms the high point of the massif. Kizimen volcano is seen on the distant horizon left of Gamchen's summit.

    Copyrighted photo by Philippe Bourseiller (Holocene Kamchataka volcanoes; http://www.kscnet.ru/ivs/volcanoes/holocene/main/main.htm).

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.