🌋VolcanoAtlas

Gorely Volcano

Kamchatka's Acid Lake Caldera

Elevation

1,799 m

Last Eruption

2010

Type

Caldera

Country

Russia

Location

Loading map...

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows and surges
  • Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
  • Ash fall and tephra deposits
  • Lahars and debris flows

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 Activity16 years agoRecentRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Watch
Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Russia Volcanoes
Explore by country
Caldera Volcanoes
By volcano type
Kamchatka Peninsula
Regional volcanoes
brown and gray mountains near body of water under blue sky during daytime

Mariya Tereshkova

via Unsplash

brown rocky mountain near lake under blue sky during daytime

Mariya Tereshkova

via Unsplash

snow covered mountain under cloudy sky during daytime

Mariya Tereshkova

via Unsplash

a volcano erupts lava as it erupts into the night sky

Soliman Cifuentes

via Unsplash

A small island in the middle of a body of water

Salvatore Tonnara

via Unsplash

a very tall mountain under a cloudy sky

🇻🇪 Jose G. Ortega Castro 🇲🇽

via Unsplash

Other Volcanoes in Russia

Interesting Facts

🌋

Gorely's caldera-forming eruption approximately 38,000-40,000 years ago ejected roughly 100 km3 of tephra — nearly two-thirds the volume of the 1815 Tambora eruption, the largest in recorded history.

🌋

The volcano's 9 x 13 km caldera is one of the largest in Kamchatka and contains approximately 40 cinder cones, 11 craters, and multiple lakes of strikingly different colors.

🌋

Gorely's most famous feature is a turquoise acid crater lake with a pH below 2 — comparable to battery acid — sustained by dissolved volcanic gases from the underlying hydrothermal system.

🌋

Approximately 50,000 commercial flights per year pass through airspace potentially affected by eruptions from Kamchatkan volcanoes like Gorely, making aviation hazard monitoring a critical function.

🌋

The name 'Gorely' translates from Russian as 'burned' or 'scorched,' referencing the volcano's barren, fire-scarred summit landscape.

🌋

Gorely has produced 53 recorded eruptions over approximately 9,400 years — an average of roughly one eruption every 177 years, though the actual distribution is highly clustered.

🌋

The volcano sits adjacent to Mutnovsky, whose associated geothermal power station provides a significant portion of the electricity supply for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka's capital city.

🌋

Gorely's five overlapping summit cones were all built inside the caldera after its formation — essentially five volcanoes growing within the ruins of a much larger one.

🌋

Kamchatka contains over 30 Holocene volcanoes, making it one of the most volcanically dense regions on Earth, and Gorely is among its most frequently active.

🌋

The 1980-1981 eruption was the first at Gorely to be monitored with modern seismological equipment, confirming that detectable seismic precursors precede eruptions.

🌋

Gorely's basaltic composition is unusually mafic for a volcano with such a complex eruption history, including a caldera-forming event that typically requires more evolved magma.

🌋

Brown bears are frequently encountered on the approaches to Gorely, and trekkers are advised to carry bear spray and make noise while hiking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gorely Volcano active?
Yes, Gorely is classified as an active volcano. It last erupted in 2010 with a VEI 1 phreatic explosion from its summit crater. The volcano has produced 53 recorded eruptions over approximately 9,400 years and currently exhibits persistent fumarolic activity, acid crater lakes sustained by volcanic gas emissions, and periodic seismic swarms. It is monitored by KVERT (Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team) and the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Scientists consider future eruptions likely, with the most probable scenario being a moderate VEI 2-3 Vulcanian eruption similar to the 1929-1931 events.
Where is Gorely Volcano?
Gorely is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, at coordinates 52.555 N, 158.036 E. It lies approximately 75 km southwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of Kamchatka Krai and the only major city on the peninsula. The volcano is part of the southern segment of the Kamchatka volcanic arc, within the Ring of Fire. It sits adjacent to the Mutnovsky volcano and is accessible by 4WD vehicle from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky via the Mutnovsky road, a drive of approximately 2-3 hours.
Can you hike Gorely Volcano?
Yes, Gorely is one of the most popular trekking volcanoes in Kamchatka. The standard ascent from the trailhead (reached by 4WD) to the summit craters takes approximately 3-5 hours over volcanic scree and snowfields. No technical climbing equipment is required, but reasonable fitness and preparation for harsh weather are essential. The summit offers views of the famous acid crater lakes and active fumaroles. The hiking season runs from late June through September, with July-August offering the best conditions. A local guide is strongly recommended due to volcanic gas hazards, rapidly changing weather, and brown bear presence on the approach trails.
What are the acid lakes at Gorely?
Gorely contains several crater lakes of dramatically different colors, ranging from turquoise to deep blue-green. The most famous is a brilliant turquoise acid lake in the active crater, with a pH below 2 — comparable to battery acid. The extreme acidity results from the dissolution of volcanic gases (SO2, HCl, HF) emitted by fumaroles beneath and around the lake. Different colors reflect varying concentrations of dissolved minerals and sulfur compounds. These lakes are among Gorely's most photogenic features and a major draw for trekkers, though visitors should maintain distance due to toxic gas concentrations near the lake surfaces.
When did Gorely last erupt?
Gorely's most recent eruption occurred in 2010, consisting of a brief phreatic (steam-driven) explosion from the summit crater rated VEI 1. The eruption produced a small ash-and-steam plume that rose several kilometers above the summit. Prior significant eruptions occurred in 1980-1981 (VEI 3), 1961 (VEI 2), and 1947 (VEI 2). The most substantial historical eruption sequence was in 1929-1931, which included multiple VEI 3 events with Vulcanian explosions visible from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 75 km away.
How big is Gorely's caldera?
Gorely's caldera measures approximately 9 x 13 km, making it one of the largest calderas on the Kamchatka Peninsula. It formed approximately 38,000-40,000 years ago during a massive eruption that ejected roughly 100 km3 of tephra. The caldera floor contains five overlapping stratovolcano cones (the modern Gorely complex), approximately 40 cinder cones, and multiple crater lakes. The caldera walls rise up to 200-400 meters above the floor in places. For comparison, the famous Aso caldera in Japan measures 17 x 25 km, while Yellowstone's caldera is approximately 45 x 85 km.
Is Gorely dangerous?
Gorely poses a moderate hazard. The nearest significant population center, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (~180,000 people), lies 75 km away — far enough to be safe from pyroclastic flows but potentially within range of ashfall during larger eruptions. The primary modern concern is aviation safety: ash clouds from Kamchatkan eruptions can disrupt North Pacific air corridors used by approximately 50,000 flights per year. For trekkers visiting the summit, hazards include toxic volcanic gases near the crater rim, rapidly changing weather, unstable terrain, and brown bear encounters. The prehistoric record shows Gorely is capable of extremely large eruptions, but such events have intervals measured in tens of thousands of years.
How does Gorely compare to other Kamchatka volcanoes?
Gorely is one of over 30 Holocene volcanoes on Kamchatka, ranking among the more frequently active but not the most explosive in historical times. Klyuchevskoy (4,750 m) is far taller, more active, and more explosive; Sheveluch produces more violent dome-collapse eruptions; and Bezymianny had a catastrophic directed blast in 1956. Gorely's distinguishing features are its large caldera, its acid crater lakes, and its accessibility for trekkers. In terms of eruption frequency (53 events in 9,400 years), Gorely is moderately active by Kamchatkan standards. Its caldera-forming eruption was among the largest in the peninsula's geological record.