🌋VolcanoAtlas

Bezymianny

The Original Lateral Blast Volcano

Elevation

2,882 m

Last Eruption

2025

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 Activity1 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.

Other Volcanoes in Russia

Interesting Facts

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Bezymianny's name means 'Nameless' in Russian — given because scientists classified it as extinct and too insignificant to deserve a proper name.

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The 1956 lateral blast devastated approximately 500 km² of forest, traveling at speeds exceeding 300 km/h — a nearly identical precursor to the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.

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The term 'Bezymianny-type eruption' is now standard volcanological terminology for directed blast eruptions preceded by sector collapse.

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The volcano has erupted 71 times since reawakening in 1955 after approximately 1,000 years of dormancy.

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The 1956 eruption column reached approximately 35 km into the stratosphere — among the highest eruption columns documented in the 20th century.

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The sector collapse in 1956 removed approximately 200 m from the summit, reducing the volcano's height from ~3,100 m to ~2,900 m.

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Bezymianny produces paroxysmal explosive eruptions roughly 1–4 times per year, making it one of the most frequently exploding volcanoes on Earth.

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The growing lava dome within the 1956 crater has nearly refilled the collapse scar after nearly 70 years of near-continuous growth.

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Despite its extraordinary level of activity, Bezymianny has caused zero known fatalities — thanks entirely to its extreme remoteness in the Kamchatka wilderness.

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Bezymianny is dwarfed by neighboring Klyuchevskoy (4,754 m), Eurasia's tallest active volcano, which stands just 10 km to the north.

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Soviet volcanologist Georgy Gorshkov's documentation of the 1956 eruption became foundational literature that helped scientists worldwide understand directed-blast volcanic hazards.

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The volcano lies beneath the North Pacific air corridor connecting North America with Asia, making its frequent ash emissions a persistent aviation hazard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bezymianny still active?
Yes, Bezymianny is one of the most persistently active volcanoes on Earth. It has been in a state of near-continuous eruption since 1955, with 71 recorded eruptions through early 2025. The volcano's current activity centers on ongoing lava dome growth within the 1956 crater, punctuated by explosive paroxysms that occur roughly 1–4 times per year. KVERT monitors the volcano continuously and frequently issues Red aviation color codes during explosive events. The most recent eruption began in December 2024 and was continuing into 2025.
What happened during the 1956 Bezymianny eruption?
On March 30, 1956, Bezymianny produced a catastrophic eruption rated VEI 5. The southeastern flank of the volcano collapsed, triggering a devastating laterally-directed blast that flattened and scorched forests over an area of approximately 500 km². The directed blast traveled at speeds exceeding 300 km/h, and a vertical eruption column reached approximately 35 km into the stratosphere. The collapse removed the upper 200 m of the summit, creating a horseshoe-shaped crater 1.3 × 2.8 km in size. No one was killed because of the volcano's extreme remoteness.
How is Bezymianny related to Mount St. Helens?
Bezymianny and Mount St. Helens produced nearly identical eruptions separated by 24 years. Both involved: reawakening after long dormancy, gradual bulging of one flank, catastrophic sector collapse, a devastating lateral blast, and subsequent dome growth. Soviet volcanologist Georgy Gorshkov's documentation of the 1956 Bezymianny eruption provided the theoretical framework that helped scientists understand what happened at St. Helens in 1980. The term 'Bezymianny-type eruption' is now standard in volcanology. Both eruptions were rated VEI 5 and produced devastation zones of comparable size.
How tall is Bezymianny?
Bezymianny currently stands at 2,882 m (9,455 ft) above sea level. Before the catastrophic 1956 eruption, the volcano reached approximately 3,100 m. The sector collapse during the 1956 lateral blast removed about 200 m from the summit and created a horseshoe-shaped crater 1.3 × 2.8 km in size. Since then, the lava dome growing within the crater has gradually rebuilt the summit, and it now approaches the pre-1956 elevation. Bezymianny is notably smaller than its neighbor Klyuchevskoy at 4,754 m, Eurasia's tallest active volcano.
Can you visit Bezymianny?
Visiting Bezymianny is an expedition-level undertaking requiring significant logistical planning. The volcano lies in remote central Kamchatka, accessible only by helicopter from Klyuchi or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Specialized Kamchatka tour operators offer helicopter flights over the Klyuchevskoy volcanic group that include aerial views of Bezymianny's active dome and the 1956 blast zone. Climbing the volcano is extremely dangerous due to ongoing eruptions, toxic gases, and pyroclastic flow hazards. The broader Kamchatka volcanic region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Why was Bezymianny called 'Nameless'?
Early Soviet volcanologists gave the volcano the dismissive name 'Bezymianny' (Безымянный, meaning 'Nameless') because they classified it as an extinct, insignificant peak overshadowed by its massive neighbors Klyuchevskoy (4,754 m) and Kamen (4,585 m). The volcano had been dormant for approximately 1,000 years, and there was no historical record of eruptions. The irony became world-famous when this 'nameless' volcano produced one of the 20th century's most scientifically important eruptions in 1956. The name has been kept as a humbling reminder.
Is Bezymianny dangerous to aviation?
Yes, Bezymianny is a significant aviation hazard. The volcano lies beneath the heavily traveled North Pacific air corridor connecting North America with Asia, and its frequent explosive paroxysms (roughly 1–4 per year) inject volcanic ash to altitudes of 10–15 km — well within commercial cruising altitude. KVERT monitors the volcano and issues aviation color codes, frequently raising the alert to Red during explosive events. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers in Tokyo and Anchorage collaborate to track ash clouds from Bezymianny and reroute flights as necessary.
How often does Bezymianny erupt?
Bezymianny is one of the most frequently erupting volcanoes in the world. Since its reawakening in 1955, it has produced 71 recognized eruptions — an average of more than one per year over seven decades. In its most active phases, the volcano produces explosive paroxysms 1–4 times annually, interspersed with continuous dome growth. The dome grows gradually over weeks to months, then a portion is destroyed by an explosion, and the cycle repeats. This makes it one of the best-studied examples of cyclic dome growth and destruction in volcanology.