12 years ago, lava rivers flowed across Kamchatka

On the night of November 27, 2012, a new fissure eruption began at Tolbachik in Kamchatka, showcasing the power and beauty of nature.

The eruption of the Plosky Tolbachik volcano lasted nine months, featuring powerful lava fountains, intense lava flows, and ash emissions.

The landscape of Tolbachik Dol was transformed dramatically. Lava flows, reaching the height of multi-story buildings in some areas, altered the once-flat plateau into fields of lava piles up to 15 meters high.

Later, researchers and travelers discovered lava caves, and reports emerged of previously unknown diamonds found in the solidified lava, named Tolbachik diamonds.

The volcanic event left a lasting impression on all who witnessed it. Scientists and tourists alike flocked to Tolbachinsky Dol, eager to capture the spectacle of hot lava fountains.

However, the most significant event associated with Tolbachik occurred nearly 40 years earlier. The Great Fissure Tolbachik Eruption of 1975-1976 is one of the most renowned eruptions of the last century.

This eruption turned Tolbachik into a mecca for volcanologists and later into a major tourist attraction in Kamchatka. The 17-month eruption created features that have drawn tourists for decades: the Dead Forest, lava grottoes, cinder cones of the Northern and Southern breakthroughs, and the Gorge of Sculptures with its fantastic relief.

After this eruption, Plosky Tolbachik remained silent for 36 years.

Photo: kamchatinfo.com

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